Nikko Genova '22 Recruiting Profile

What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

I am 15 years old and LIVE for the game of football! Many will say I am too short for the positions I play and some will say, “You don’t measure up to the standards.”  Although this may be true, what they cannot say is I don’t work HARD,  train HARD,  compete HARD and set goals just like the rest ...

I have been playing football since the age of 4.  I have played on multiple town teams throughout the Long Island, NY area, as well as, tryout national tournament teams.  Since the age of 4 I have played multiple positions and sides of the ball;  C, G, TE, HB, FB, SL, OL and DE.    Since I have played multiple positions throughout the years it has helped greatly with my football knowledge and has allowed me to be considered a versatile player, usually playing both sides during a game.

My 2018 JV/Freshman season was played at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, Merrick, NY.   During this season I played  a 4-3 DE.   During my JV season,  our Varsity team made the playoffs  so I was asked to move up to play on their varsity team.  While on varsity, I played special teams for the  2018 conference  game against Garden City at Hofstra University.  

During the fall of 2019 I transferred high schools and began my 2019 football season attending  Long Island Lutheran High School in Glen Head, NY.  Playing for LuHi was very exciting to say the least. Our team went overall 8-1 and won the Metropolitan Independent League Championship for the first time in LuHi's football history.  Being a part of this team and knowing my impact while playing with this team has been an honor and a  blessing! 

 When I started playing football at LuHi my coach moved my position from DE to OLB/FB and special teams.  Playing OLB was a slight challenge for me since this is the one position I had not played in the past, and I  knew I had a lot of work ahead of me.  I began training during my off hours, studied a lot of game film and put 100% into our practices.  My season stats were 56 solo tackles, 6.5 tackles per game, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries  and 2 TD.  I was named Defensive Player of the Game vs Riverdale on October 5, 2019.  

Unfortunately, due to the current COVID pandemic, Long Island Lutheran  high school has cancelled their 2020 football season.  Because of this set back,  I have once again had to transferred schools.  Transferring schools has been a challenge, however, my love for football makes these decisions easier for me.  Starting in the Fall of  2020 I will be playing for Christ The King High School in Middle Village, NY.  I will be starting MLB. I  look forward to finishing my schooling at this institution.   Christ The King (CTK) is ranked 12th in New York State and 3rd in the Catholic division (CHFSL).  The coaches and players for CTK have made my transition smooth and are an amazing group to be around! The training, talent,  and knowledge this team brings to the field is beyond what I have ever experiences in my 12 years playing this sport.  I look forward to this new journey and proving to myself ,and others, I am capable of playing football at this level, as well as,  along side this high level talent.  Being accepted to this school and to be given a starting position for the 2020 season is an extreme blessing !  It is an opportunity I have been waiting for, for years!  

Other than my playing ability I feel I am a team player and a “valuable” player to my coaches. I enjoy rallying up my teammates before, during and after each game,  as well as,  during the off season.  I work with my peers often reviewing film, discussing football IQ, and with position specific support.  I was a USA Football certified Junior Coach for the Roosevelt Rising Stars 7/8 year old team in 2017 under the supervision of my coach and mentor Coach Dave Smalls.  I enjoy teaching, learning and playing football.  I respect ALL my coaches because I feel they are the reason I am who I am today.  Each one of my coaches,  from little league to present,  have shaped me into the player I am and have helped set the foundation for my future goals. They have all taught me so much throughout my 12 years.  I always respect their decisions regardless if I agree or not. I enjoy listening to their corrective criticism and always try to do what I am told. I enjoy keeping an open line of communicate with them before, throughout and after each game, as well as, during the off season.

The greatest honor for me as a student athlete would be blessed to play this game at the next level.  My love, dedication and knowledge of this sport makes me determined to make an impact on any team I play for in the future.  Although, I have some measurable issues which my damper me from playing at the highest level,  these issues DO NOT put a damper on my future dreams and ambitions.  These issues ONLY make me more determined to succeed!  There have been a number of success stories in the past....I believe, one day, I will be one of "those stories" if given the opportunity.