Makani Stenger '21 Recruiting Profile

Growing up in a military family has given me the skills necessary to be resilient and adaptable. With all of the relocations and fear of the unknown, the one constant that I could rely on was football. While others may play football for fun, I play it as a way for me to stay grounded and connected to the one static thing in my ever changing life. While my love for football started at a young age, my hunger for the sport continues to grow each year as I learn new ways to not only develop my own skills, but also to develop those around me. Those developmental skills combined with my ability to adapt makes me very coachable, and  transitioning from the teams in Florida to Germany  made me love the sport even more. My ability to be flexible and adjust to the different teaching methods of various coaches while playing football increased my ability to communicate and build a rapport with my coaches and team. I thrive on any and all feedback that encourages my growth as both a player and teammate. While I can sometimes be considered too serious, I am mostly found on the field with a smile and having fun while striving to build my team up in a positive manner rather than discourage them if mistakes are made. My ability to treat mistakes as lessons learned opportunities in addition to my willingness to help my team, has made me a reliable mentor among my peers and invaluable teammate. Sadly, due to the Coronavirus my school decided to cancel their football season, but I was able to join a German football team, their season was only 2 games.

While playing college football is a life goal of mine, getting a good education is equally important. With my 3.8 GPA, I am looking for a University that will provide me with the well-rounded college experience and education that develops me in the Kinesiology or Sports Medicine field. Ideally, this University will educate, coach and develop my performance both on the field and in the classroom. At 6’0”, 170 pounds and my ability to run a 40 yard dash in 4.6 seconds, I would like to have the opportunity to play at the highest possible competition level. After spending over 50% of my life dedicated to developing my football skills throughout my life, I would like to attend a college that continues to challenge both my athleticism and my mind. In the end, I am excited for any opportunities that allow me to be part of a great team, make an impact, and ultimately live my dream.