AJ Simon-Ogan '18 Recruiting Profile

AJ Simon-Ogan                                                                        January 25, 2015

PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR FOOTBALL

(MAIN POINTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN COLOR)

My name is AJ Simon-Ogan. I am 15 years old, 9th grader at Manassas Park High School, Manassas Park, Virginia U.S.A. I was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A. I Moved to England before my 4th year birthday. Since then, my dream has been to come back to the United State to live and play football in America at the early age up to college and to professional level. I came also to have opportunities to further my career in Mechanical Engineering. On February 15, 2014, my dream and desire for several years came to pass to relocate back to America. My dearly beloved mother (bless her) after constant persuasion and pleadings agreed to relocate to continue my education. In order for my mother to do this, she forfeited her career in Law and other things for this to happen. This means a lot to me and I promised not to let my mother down but to make her proud for all the sacrifices she’s made and continues to make for us. All glory to God.

As I’m aspire to play Football, I realized I’ll need lots of support from agents, like NCSA college coaches, family and friends to achieve my goals and live my dream. With this in mind, my dear mother tirelessly continues to attend sports meetings, games, research information online for college football scholarship opportunities we could get out there. On January 10, 2015, my mother found information about NCSA. She contacted NCSA member by email and on phone, got immediate responses with more details. As I returned back home from basketball game, mother told me about NCSA. I was very excited about it. I often call mother from school, if she got any more information from NCSA. Then one day, she told me about the emails and telephone calls she received from NCSA members, that a telephone conference has been scheduled for us with an NCSA football coach from Chicago. The meeting that day went very well. Since then I have received several emails and calls from Jared Reddy NCSA National scout and recruit for college football, letter from Dean of Admissions Anita H. Garland from HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE, Virginia and online invitation from NCSA athlete recruiting Coach Je’Mone Smith, former NFL athlete with full scholarship athlete at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

My grades at my former school, Notre Dame were A’s and B’s which I still continue to maintain here in Manassas Park High School with honor roll achievements from Middle school to High school. I currently, assist my Math teacher in class, to explain topics to the class, which I really enjoy doing because I love Math. I am in AP class in Biology and History, quite challenging but I still pull through it.

Other activities outside sports are not many as am really busy year round with sports activities.However, I assist my mother with her orphanage projects and fundraising activities for children education in Africa. I assist her to type, print, scan and file documents, send out emails, and post letters. Assist to source information online regarding, education, fundraising activities, directions to meetings and conferences and as needed. I assist in church and participate in activities quiz competitions.

My interest for football all began as a little boy in America, watching super bowl games with family and friends, although I did not understand the game then. As we arrived England I started to play soccer. At High School in England I opted to play Rugby, similar to American football. I also played Basketball for my school and played soccer for a local Norwich team in England.Presently, I play basketball; JV and Varsity. I played soccer too and was the highest goal scorer became the captain of the team.

As soon as football season began in the summer 2014, I was so excited to go for try out and made it. From then on, I have not looked back nor allowed anything to interfere with my goals and dream. I want to give my 100% commitment to play Football at the college level because my mother didn’t particularly like the sport. But again, I had to convince her and continue to express my passion for football since childhood to the present day. I aspire to further my education to study Mechanical Engineering in a good University with the hope to get full football scholarship. With hard work and 100% commitment; I can achieve my goals and live my dream. Mother believes in me and willing to give all her support.

I am passionately and pro-actively pursuing my dream to play college football to professional level. I play for my High school as the starting running back. I am fully committed to the team. At my first football game, I scored 8 touchdowns in the season leading the team. Due to my performances during games and practice I was asked by my coaches to play for Varsity but due to circumstances beyond my control, I could not play, reason being that the 2 days I was to play I had to go for a funeral with the family due to this reason, I was not scheduled to play for varsity. I hated that happening to me because I am a very dedicated and committed player in all my sports.

It is very important for me to continue to work hard at school and in sports; get myself out there, be spotted and get recruited by college couches. I hope to achieve this through support from NCSA and my family. I want to make my mother proud for all the sacrifices for my sister and myself.

I love the game of football and I believe it is the best choice of sport for me because it helps to keep me focus. It inspires me to watch people like LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray and Marshawn Lynch during NFL games. This encourages my maturation and personal growth. I love the competitive environment and teamwork of football with even greater satisfaction in the stimulation presented by my heroes. I eagerly anticipate the challenge of football games. Through football, I learn important lessons regarding hard work, discipline, and critical thinking that I will directly apply to my work when I graduate as mechanical Engineer in future. I am confident that I can succeed in the demanding and competitive football world. God bless.