Personal Statement
Dear Prospective Coach –
Thank you for taking a few minutes to consider my fit with your football program.
As my junior year draws to a close, it’s a natural time to reflect on the past and envision the future. I appreciate the hard work and coaching that have gotten me to this point in my life. And I feel excited to take the next step of becoming an exceptional placekicker at a top tier college.
Team sports have been a constant throughout my childhood. I’ve always loved the camaraderie and the challenge to win. I played competitive soccer from age three until talking my parents into letting me switch to tackle football in 4th grade. Because of the success I was achieving in soccer, my folks asked me to prove my commitment to football by playing a season of flag football before stepping up to tackle.
From the very first football scrimmage, I knew that I had found my sports passion. As a running back and linebacker, my strength and speed have always given me a physical advantage on the field. Other intangibles – including work ethic, coachability and team first mentality – have helped me grow into a top performer and respected leader at every level. It’s important to me to set an example through my actions. Things like being the first in line for every drill and bringing maximum effort at all times.
I also love accepting new challenges. Growing up in Colorado, I’ve summitted 14,000’ peaks and skied daunting chutes. A few years ago, I pursued an opportunity to start playing lacrosse. Though several years behind most of my teammates, I felt energized to get out of my comfort zone and build skills in a new team sport. Midfield was a natural fit for my skill set. While I’ve never been the most technically gifted lax player on the pitch, my attitude and effort led me to be selected as team captain of the freshman and JV lacrosse teams in high school.
It’s the thrill of trying new things that eventually led me to kicking in football. I’ve always had a cannon of a leg – dating back to my soccer days. To give our club football team a competitive advantage, I started kicking extra points starting in 6th grade. Over the years, I’ve put in the hours, I’ve worked with top coaches to hone my craft, and I’ve seen success.
I earned the starting varsity kicker position for my high school – one of Colorado’s top 5A football programs – in my sophomore year. I’ve been named All-Conference Honorable Mention for two consecutive years. I kicked the longest made field goal – 49 yards in the cold – in Colorado 5A this past year. Kohl's has rated me a 5 star prospect and currently ranks me as the nation’s #47 top kicking prospect in Class of 2021.
Then the unexpected happened. I completely tore the ACL in my left knee at the end of the regular season in late-October 2019. It was a freak play where a defender was blocked into my knee while I was about to score on a 20-yard rush. My season was over. My kicking future was in doubt. Fortunately, surgery was a success, I’ve stayed positive and focused on my physical therapy. It felt incredible to start kicking again in March 2020. Fortunately, my distance and accuracy are better than ever. I demonstrated my skills this summer with strong showings at Kohl’s and ProKicker.com invitational events.
One silver lining to my knee injury was the reminder of the importance of academics. Being a top student remains my highest priority in high school. I’m a driven, self-motivated learner who strives to do my best work in the most demanding classes. I’ve maintained a weighted 4.2 GPA with a loaded schedule that includes multiple honors and AP courses. While my scheduled SAT was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I finally was able to sit for the SAT in September 2020 and scored a 1400. This fall, I received Academic All-State First Team distinction for my sports and academic achievements.
As for the future, I’m looking forward to my senior year in high school, and then, finding a new home at a top college where I can continue to be a top student-athlete. Understandably, I’m not yet certain what field of study I plan to pursue. Perhaps a business degree or maybe a yet undiscovered major in a liberal arts program. Regardless, I can’t wait to embrace the change while continuing to be a premier kicker (and team member) for my next football family.
Once again, thank you for your time and consideration.
Zach Levy
Class of 2021
