Carter Pruitt '24 Recruiting Profile

As a kid, I avoided social interaction and conversation with everyone but close friends and family. This stemmed from a speech impediment and a considerably high pitched voice. I looked forward to my sporting events because it was a place where I could feel comfortable and connect with my teammates. Sports have always been a huge part of my life. I’ve used sports and specifically football, to grow into a confident and hardworking person. Through my speech impediment and sports I have become a leader, more disciplined, determined, mentally strong, and caring.

    My speech impediment has been a massive part of my childhood and has taught me valuable lessons. I was put in speech class in second grade. Everyday me and a couple other kids would leave the class around 11 and come back at lunch. I always felt embarrassed leaving the class and dreaded when that time came. I felt insecure about myself. I thought that people would think badly about me because I was in speech class. In reality my classmates probably cared less whether or not I was in speech therapy. At the time the thought of people making fun of me, or thinking badly about me, made me want to work hard at fixing my speech problems. After 3 years of hard work and dedication, I was able to completely fix my speech impediment. This experience of persevering through a major insecurity, and something I was ashamed of, has taught me lifelong lessons and developed my core values; working hard, determination, and discipline. I will hold these values forever.

    Playing sports is the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. Sports have given me something to look forward to every day and have helped me make so many long lasting friendships and connections. More recently the sport I play, football, has become the main focus of my life and has completely changed me as a person. I was very fortunate to be able to start on varsity as a sophomore and it was after that season that I made the goal to play football at the collegiate level. Through chasing this goal for nearly two years I have physically and mentally grown a great deal. Mainly I have learned leadership skills and a good work ethic. These leadership skills and good work ethic have crossed over to every aspect of my life. From football I have the confidence to be the real version of myself at all times and not just a shell of myself.