Richard Buckley '21 Recruiting Profile

              My name is Richard (“RD”) Buckley, and I am a Class of 2021 middle linebacker at Chaminade College Preparatory.  I first started playing football in 8^th grade for the Pop Warner LA Valley Seahawks.  We were very successful and made it to the regional championship game (making us a top-eight team in the nation), and I was a two-way starter, playing center and defensive tackle.  For my freshman season, I was a two-way starter as well, playing center and middle linebacker.  At the end of the season, I was named Freshman Scholar Athlete and Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.  For my sophomore season, I won the Junior Varsity Ironman Award, playing both middle linebacker and center.  

               The main reason why I started playing football was my interest in the physical and aggressive aspects of the game.  I played baseball many years before playing football, and I wanted to compete in a full contact sport. 

               My goal is to play college football and to earn a degree that will serve me well in the future.  I believe that academics are extremely important, and I value a balance between schoolwork and athletics.  My goal for high school is to maintain a GPA of 4.3 or higher.  Currently, I am looking to major in either engineering, biology, or military science.   

               I believe that my work ethic helps me to succeed as an athlete and as a student.  Not only do I apply myself on the field, but I also work incredibly hard in the classroom, which is why I finished my first semester of high school with a GPA of 4.38.  Additionally, I try to be a leader for my peers and teammates.  I believe that actions speak louder than words and that my actions set a good example for those around me.

               By playing football, I have learned many new things that I will apply in real-life scenarios.  First, I learned that in order to succeed, you have to be dedicated and to devote many hours of hard work.  Additionally, I developed a sense of camaraderie with my team. By practicing and playing games with my teammates, I developed strong relationships with them as we dealt with the same physical and mental challenges (such as dealing with intense practices, staying up late to finish homework, competing during games, and dealing with failure).  By supporting one another, we developed a strong brotherhood, which is important on and off the field.