Tavion (Mike) leatherdale '21 Recruiting Profile

When I was two years old, I was put into foster care.  Every once in a while I would get to visit my mom, but not very often.  I spent a few months, no longer than eight, at my first foster home.  At that time my younger brother, Chase was with me.  When we moved homes we moved together.  We lived at our second foster home for a few years with an older lady we called "Grandma Tina".  Then we moved to a third house along with my new and youngest brother, Joe where we were supposed to be adopted.  I was sent away from that home wasn't able to see either one of them; I didn't see them for eight months. 

At the time, I wasn't really into sports.  I just sat in my room and wasn't allowed to play outside.  I think that is when I first wanted to play sports.  Finally we moved into the house that would become my actual home.  My brothers came also, so it would be all three of us again.

We lived on a 24 acre farm with our adoptive parents so we spent a lot of time working.  There were always hay bales to stack when I got in trouble!   We also spent more time playing.  I loved playing outside, and that's when I realized I really wanted to play sports.  When I was little, even though it doesn't seem like I ever was, I wanted to play every sport (I still have that problem today!).  I loved it, but I wanted to play tackle football the most.  I wasn't able to until sixth grade.  I loved tackling people and everything about football and wanted to do it more!  In seventh grade, in addition to my other sports my mom signed me up for weight lifting.  I liked lifting and worked hard at it. 

I want to go on and play college football because I love this sport.  It gives me something to work hard for, and something to keep me focused in other aspects of my life as well.  Playing college ball is the goal I have set for myself and I plan to continue doing what it takes to achieve this goal.