Owen Richardson '21 Recruiting Profile

My name is Owen Richardson.  I attend IMG Academy in Bradenton Florida.  This is my first year at IMG and my senior year in high school.  I play for the U19 International Elite Team at IMG coached by Gary Bruce.  I was a multipart athlete in Michigan until 11 grade but I am now focusing on college and college soccer.  The importance of team sports my life inspired my college application essay, "Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork".   

I will play college soccer somewhere.  I play striker but have played in numerous formations so Im flexible at forward.    I am over  6'1" and 165 lbs. and still growing according to my doctor.  My strengths are size and speed, scoring with both feet, strong passing skills, defensive disrupter at forward, strong in box on offense and defense on set pieces.  As a teammate...I am dependable, very hard working and aggressive.  I try to be a positive teammate and I am fairly easy player to coach. 

I am currently working an Independent Development Plan at IMG that includes; off ball movement in order to become more dangerous, first touch, field awareness and Professional game film study by position.    

I have been playing in Florida at IMG now for 5 months on my own now.  I live in the dorms like a college student.  I have had to grow up in the last few months and feel extremely blessed to be in a position to actually play soccer and attend classes in person.  IMG is preparing  me for the intense structure  of a college athlete.  I am learning how to balance school, sport and life.  I feel like I will have a familiar advantage as a freshman wherever and whenever that is.

I have also had the opportunity of a lifetime being placed on the U19International Elite Team/Premeir White this year.  Growing up in Birmingham Michigan, I had a all the opportunity to experience life, but it is not culturally diverse.  My IMG team is a picture of diversity.   I am learning about different cultures, playing a different game of soccer than I ever have and learning who I am as a person.  This group of boys at IMG police themselves.  Ive grown thick skin and proven to myself that Im stronger than I thought.  The first couple months were very difficult.  I didn't feel like I belonged.  IMG is my home now.               

My IMG coaches have told me that I have made huge improvements since I arrived this September both in terms of soccer and maturity.  They also tell me I have "a high ceiling" and I will continue to show great improvement over th next few years.   I am seriously considering coming back to IMG after I graduate for a 5th year(PG) for a September2022 college start.   I would take college classes, have another year to mature as young adult and try to become as good as I can become in soccer in the IMG training environemnt prior to freshman year.      

I have been taught to work hard, be grateful and give back to others.  In my free time, I try to help those less fortunate by donating my efforts e.g. Gleaners Food Bank, events such as Basketball for Alzheimers and Summer in the City (youth program in Detroit).

I look forward to speaking to you about your school and soccer program.  Highlights and updates to follow. 

Sincerely,

Owen Richardson