Colton Knopp '26 Recruiting Profile

     I was introduced to multiple sports when I was younger. Being a multi-sport athlete kept me active year-round. I played football, baseball, and soccer for several years but as the level of soccer competition quickly grew, I focused all my attention on playing soccer. However, I wasn't always a goalkeeper. Like every other kid, I wanted to be the one who scores the goals. When I was in my first season of Club soccer, my coach decided to see if I could play goalkeeper, and it so happens that I was good. I kept seeing more time in goal and playing on the field. I have been playing soccer for as long as I can remember, and my goal is to play soccer at the collegiate level. Until 9th grade, I played on the field and in goal. After club season ended my 8^th grade year, I decided to switch to the full-time goalkeeper for both my club and high school teams and my skills have only gone up from there.

     One advantage I have is being able to see the field from a field player's point of view while playing in goal. This gives me the ability to lead the team with my player IQ from the backfield. I am quick off my line and very quick to react. I communicate well with my defenders and have a good touch. I attend as many training sessions as I can, I've been training with Columbus Goalkeeper Academy and have been developing quicker reactions, agility, and positioning. Throughout the offseason, I have been building muscle and improving my speed, and agility. I am still indecisive about my future profession and the studies I want to pursue in college, but I’m focused on maintaining an overall 3.5 GPA or higher to keep my options open. Although I am a Junior, I look forward to pursuing an academic degree while playing competitive soccer. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me!