Personal Statement
I have been playing sports since I was four years old. My grandfather was a college basketball player and a head basketball coach for Grapevine and Plano, Texas. I am an only child and an only grandchild and formed a very close relationship with my grandfather, Stanley Hicks. He coached my basketball teams in elementary school and summer leagues in my junior high and high school. I played soccer, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, and track through my junior high and high school. I love basketball but my true love is football. As a high school freshman, I was Trinity Christian Academy's starting junior varsity quarterback. I am told I have an eye for the game and a high IQ for sports. This is something I attribute to my grandfather. While I enjoyed playing quarterback, I found that I excel on defense. A few games into my freshman season, I became the only freshman starter on the varsity football team at Trinity Christian Academy coached by Mike Singletary. I was the starting safety the rest of the season but continued to play a couple of quarters each junior varsity game as quarterback.
My sophomore and junior seasons, I started as weak side and middle linebacker. I would continue to play offense but I thrived on defense.
At an early age, I knew I would want to continue being an athlete well past my high school days. I know my dream to play college football will require effort, determination, and pure willpower to succeed. I plan to give my all, all the time to reach this lofty goal.
I am a team leader and try to set an example for the rest of my peers, on and off the field. I am a great encourager and try to offer positive motivation to my teammates as well. I have always been told that I am very coachable. I desire criticism to make me a stronger student athlete. I am told that of the 24 positions on a football team, I could play 22. I will do whatever is necessary to help my team, including leading by example, making sure our players know their assignments and offering encouragement when needed.
In the middle of my junior year, I tore my UCL on a tackle that hyper extended my elbow. I played the rest of the season with a torn UCL. We won our state division that year and immediately after the season, I had Tommy John surgery. I have spent the last few months rehabilitating and am anxious to start my senior season. Initially, the injury devastated me. However, I learned to play through the pain, using an elbow brace and have a higher respect for the need to stay physically fit to limit further injuries.
I've also learned the importance of giving all my efforts in the classroom, As a result of the UCL injury and the required physical therapy, my motivation in the classroom faltered. I have a 3.6 GPA but I received C's (C+) in a few classes. It was a rude awakening to realize that this could limit some of my options in college and I refocused my last trimester and achieved a 4.167 that trimester. I now know that studying very hard and keeping my grades up is absolutely required in order to make sure that I can continue my success on, and off the field.
I have grown up entirely in the Dallas metroplex but I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively. I have found something interesting and enjoyable in each place I've visited. My mindset is to attend a college where I can challenge myself both academically and athletically. I am open to ALL options and want to ultimately find the college that is best fit for me. With these things said, I desire to play at the highest level possible, positively impacting myself and the college I choose. Above all else, I aspire to become a successful student, athlete, and role model to all around me.
