Ryan Collins '20 Recruiting Profile

I started playing soccer when I was 5 and continued to the age of 9, from the age of 10 to my Freshman year in High School, I focused on tackle football and track where I was known for my speed, endurance, agility, my jump, and ball handling where I played Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Linebacker and Defensive Back. During my freshman year of football, I was approached by the goalkeeping soccer coach to see if I would consider trying out for the position of Goalkeeper. Once football season was over, I joined the High School Varsity Soccer Team as Goalkeeper. I put in countless hours of training to catch up to the level I needed to be and as of today, I have not stopped! I fell in love with the sport and knew that Soccer was what I wanted to continue to do. I’ve had a few hard milestones to persevere through, one of them being my Sophomore year during a championship tournament game I went one on one with a forward in my goal, as I was in the air deflecting the ball, the forward came in cleats up and as a result snapped my tibia. The outcome was a hard one, 2 surgeries and a permanent titanium rod in my right tibia. I didn’t let it get me down and it is the reason I am the player I am today! I started off two weeks after surgery training on the ground to strengthen my core and hands and as the doctor allowed I added more and more to my regiment, By the 4^th month after surgery I was ready to test my abilities and from that day I haven’t stopped my extensive training and playing routine and my mindset of never giving up. So, I can honestly say that if I didn’t have to learn to overcome that set-back, who knows where I’d be today! My goal in life is to always push myself beyond what I think I can do, continue to learn, and to always help others.