Samahd McBride '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Samahd McBride and I’m 6'0" and 218 lb, Linebacker. I have loved football since I was 4 years old starting with flag football. As a freshman for high school, I was starting DE and starting tight end. Our team went undefeated throughout the season with me being a key contributor to the defense. Unfortunately, we lost in our final game for the league championship. I was able to work with the varsity team over the off-season. Experiencing high school football in Durham, NC was an amazing experience. This year, our football season is getting pushed back to February due to Covid-related reasons. I pride myself to put my best foot forward when on and off the field. I plan to play on the Hillside Varsity football team. I have been training for football every year, visiting football camps for the last 2 years in preparation. Working out on my own and being able to train even with the problems going on in the world definitely lets me know that I am going to make an impact on my team this year. 

I have really admired the game of football for a long time. It was all stimulated by me sitting down and watching football with my dad at a young age. I would mainly watch the Giants play, which was my dad’s favorite team. Seeing how much amusement it brought me, I wanted to try it out for myself. I spent much of my childhood playing the sport which was challenging for a good part. Although this was the case, I never lost passion in it and aspired to one day making it to the pros.

Grades were a concern for a very little portion of my life, mainly through the 5th grade. I was not as focused as I should have been throughout the year and it almost caused me to get held back. Over that summer, I made it a priority to work on subjects that I was struggling with instead of spending more time playing video games. Ever since then, I have been a top notch performer as far as grades since the 6th grade. I’ve also been acknowledged every year for this by receiving different awards (Academic awards and Principal awards).  I’ve realized that grades play a major factor in the course of my life, whether I am playing football or if I have another career.

Going into my freshman year, I had very little experience of lifting weights. During the end of the season, I saw myself becoming more comfortable when it comes to lifting, being able to push myself on my own and going to the gym to workout. Since COVID has delayed our football season for 2020-21, we have transitioned our garage to a mini gym. I have gotten a bench press set at home for me to work on different parts of my upper body, lower body, and mid-section in preparation for the season coming up.

Throughout the years of playing this sport, I really have seen it as being more. It brings joy to me by being on the football field and competing against different people from around my district. The competitiveness in me wants to do better than the next guy and make a statement for myself. The support from my family and attending all of my games really helps as well. I will continue to work hard and put everything I have out on the field along with anything else I do in life.