Alejandro Figueroa '20 Recruiting Profile

I grew up with an immigrant father who works very long hours to provide for his family and takes pride in doing so. Hard work and pride are what I inherited from my father and this is the mentality I bring when I step on the field. One of the first things I was exposed to when I was a child was coming back home after two and a half years stuck in Mexico and watching my brother play football. Though my brother played in a struggling program, he would always talk about the excitement of playing football and even going as far as saying it's the best decision he has made, but one of the most important aspects he showed was pride. Instantly, I fell in love with football but my family could not afford to put me in a youth football team, so I waited through elementary and middle school itching for the chance to play football at the end of my eighth-grade year. 

Once I started summer practice, I realized how grueling the regiment of this sport is. I missed the third day of football practice because I wasn't able to move but once I recovered I stepped back onto the field. I wanted to play football, I want to feel the Friday night lights, but most importantly I wanted to feel the pride and glory I would bring to my community. The traits I learned in football were determination, sacrifice, and the desire to improve myself with my teammates around me and with these traits, it helped me become a stronger person and a leader. During my senior year, I took on the responsibility of training my linemen to make up for not having a lineman coach, where I not only dedicate time to myself but to my teammates that depended on me.