Benjamin Flores '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Benjamin Michael Flores. I was born in Landover, MD, but was raised in El Paso, TX. I am the oldest of two. I am 10 years older than my brother Joseph. I started my athletic journey when I was 6 years old. Being an only child at that time, my parents enrolled me in the YMCA program to expose me to different sports. It seems like I was too aggressive for the sport I participated in (basketball and tee-ball) in. My parents decided to try football. I think some of my assertiveness comes from having a speech impediment, which I continue to work on daily. I played on several El Paso youth league teams (Suncity Stars, EP Irish, EP Broncos, and Crowned Kings). I have always been adaptable to the positions the coaches placed me in. I preferred being on defense, especially the linebacker position. We moved to Arlington, TX where I played with the DFW Cowboys before playing in junior high school. I attended Workman Junior High and played outside linebacker, defensive end, safety, and wide receiver. Before every game, I would set stat goals for myself. I averaged 5+ tackles and 2 sacks a game. Not only did I set goals on the field, but I also made sure my grades were up to par. My parents have always instilled in me that I am a student first. Though UIL rules say I need a 70 or greater to play sports. My parents say that I need 80’s and above for grades. During my eighth-grade year, I decided to apply for the STEM Academy at Arlington Martin High School. Out of 400 students, only 140 were accepted into the STEM Academy program and I was one of the lucky ones that made it into the program after several interviews. My freshman football season was an eye-opener, there were 81 players trying out for the freshman football team. I started on the freshman B team as starting outside linebacker, but I was determined to advance to the freshman A team and become a starter. In conclusion to my freshman A team season, my contribution resulted to a Texas 6A Freshman District Championship title. Not only was I following the coach’s workouts of the day, but my dad and I would train in the evenings and on the weekends. I eventually moved up to the freshman A team in the middle of the season. As I continue my high school football journey, I am working towards reaching my goal of playing college football and becoming a Biomolecular Engineer. I have had my share of adversities, but I have not let them prevent me from reaching my goals. Competing with other highly skilled Texas 6A high school football teams, has taught me how to handle tough situations and test my capabilities. I have always been the type of player who takes initiative and is vocal towards my fellow teammates. Not only do I motivate with my words, I also motivate with my actions. I push myself harder each and every time. I get to my practices and training 1 hour prior to stretch and to prepare myself mentally. I stay behind to go over my drills and run extra sprints to improve my run times and skill set. Ultimately, my goal is to be a part of a college football program that inspires me to be the best student, teammate, and athlete.