Mahmoud Elarag '20 Recruiting Profile

I became very interested in soccer when I was 6 years old and watched the 2009 Champions League. I watched players like Cristiano Ronaldo use their fast footwork to get past their opponents, and defenders like Rio Ferdinand slide tackling to get the ball from the opponents. I fell in love with the number of tricks and freedom a person has with a soccer ball.  I noticed that I am extremely talented in soccer at the age of 8 as people my age had a very hard time taking the ball away from me, and not many kids were able to get passed me as a defender.  Through soccer,  I have learned that with hard work and practice anything is possible. In addition,  I learned that I am persistent as I I make sure that my next play is the better play after making a mistake. My academic goals are to keep a G.P.A of 4.2 or higher and carry out with that same mindset throughout college. 

In order to get where I am right now, I had to overcome many obstacles such as my parents not being able to afford travel or soccer academies, but I was lucky enough to get some financial aid from my clubs to help my parents afford the expenses. In addition, I didn't always make the first team for every team that I tried out for, but that didn't prevent me from getting better and trying to prove those coaches wrong.  Unique characteristics and skills that I possess are that I am very physical and possess good control of the ball.  Furthermore, other than being a good player that can make a difference, I support my teammates and I am always there for them.