Graham Pierce '15 Recruiting Profile

I have always wanted to go to college and play football.  I started playing in the 5th grade (the earliest we could start where I live) and have worked very hard each year to improve and grow as a player and a leader.  This year I'm the team captain for the second time and I take that responsibility very seriously.  I do my best to be a good example, leader, motivator, and team mate.  I always try to remain positive and upbeat and do my best to get the team ready for the next challenge.  I like how my team mates all respect each other and work together.  We might not all be best friends, but we are team mates and to me, that means a lot.

I really love football and always have.  It's my passion and I can't imagine life without it.  I might not be the biggest player or the absolute best, but 100% of my heart is in the game and I am one of the hardest working players you'll meet. I don't stop when the season does - I work out, practice, and keep my head in the game year round.  That's how my grandfather went to college for his sport and I'm hoping it will work for me too.

I've achieved the following in high school:

Senior Year: 2014
·  Team Captain
·  Selected as “Section IX All-League Honorable Mention” by Section Nine Football Coaches Association
·  Achieved status as one of the top ranking players for tackles
·  Starting defense, punter, starting offense

Junior Year: 2013
·  Lead defensive player with 71 solo tackles and one fumble recovery
·  Award recipient, "Scholastic Football Section 9 All-League"
·  All Star Defensive Team, Poughkeepsie Journal
       -- "He was all over the field," Red Hook coach John Kravic said. "He even covers any kind of screen passes or any flat passes. He was   all over them. He ended up getting a lot of solo tackles out of those flat passes."
·  All Star Honorable Mention, Daily Freeman
·  Starting defense, punter, starting offense

Sophomore Year: 2012
·  Team Captain
·  Defensive Player of the Year

I'm looking forward to college and all of the new experiences and knowledge it will give me.  I have to be honest - my grades haven't been as good as they should be.  I knew I always wanted to go to college, but I didn't fully realize until last year how my not working to my full potential could affect my future.  Once that clicked for me, my grades improved and I'm as committed to school as I am to football.

You can see pictures of me playing on my Flikr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/126420940@N02/