BURG Sports Network

1.     Who was your biggest role model growing up?

I have two older brothers and growing up I wanted to be better than them in all things I did. My age and lack of ability made it impossible for me to beat them at much of anything, but it made me extremely competitive and set the stage for me to accomplish things in high school and college. They weren’t necessarily my biggest role model but were extremely important to how I grew up.

 

2.   What was it like to play for former Tuscarora High School head coach Michael Burnett?

Coach Burnett did an amazing job of building Tuscarora from scratch. He knows how to build programs and lay the groundwork for high school boys to become young men. That encompasses so much more than X’s and O’s and Coach Wheelbarger has taken the foundation Coach Burnett built and continues to build upon it and make it his own. I’m very proud to say I went to Tuscarora and played football there.

 

3.   How did you feel when you were named a two-time Captain, Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year and VHSL 5A player of the year?

Our group my senior year was such an incredible team. We all bought in to maximizing our potential and playing for each other. God certainly blessed me, and I believe the individual accolades I garnered was a result of me buying in just like so many others did. Being a captain was special because that was a team where you could truly feel the love between each other, and it was an honor to be a leader.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.   When you set school records in the category of run how does it feel to know that many of those records still stand today?

The records are certainly fun to have. Maybe someday I can tell my kids about them if they’re still there. I have a feeling that Bryce Duke might shatter some of those records as they stand today and I think that’s awesome. Records truly are meant to be broken and someone comes along to do it better than you did. Bryce is an extremely talented player and I hope he continues to raise the bar at Tuscarora. That’s what it’s all about.

 

5.   How did the late Coach Fortune make an impact on you and what is your favorite memory of/with him?

Coach Fortune made such an impact on our team and all of Tuscarora. It was hard to spend a lot of time around Coach Fortune without it ending in a big smile. He had such a radiant personality and was one of those people you could just really tell he cared about you. He had a way of making so many people feel special. Coach Fortune enjoyed every day and his attitude and energy was contagious. I know he taught me and so many others some incredible life lessons and for that I am forever grateful. My last memory of Coach Fortune is one of my favorites. I had to leave a summer camp of ours a little bit early to prepare for a college showcase combine. As I was running off, he made sure to ask me about it and wish me luck. It was such a small moment, but even in the moment I could tell he meant it and cared about me and how I did there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.   What was it like to be part that special year when you lead Tuscarora to The State Championship game vs L.C. Bird?

My senior year of football was almost unbelievable. Coach Fortune’s death had really rocked our team that summer. We decided to carry on going forward and honor him in the best way we could: to give absolutely everything we had in us and play to the best of our ability. Our team had a ton of talent but more importantly we all played with so much love for one another. We put it all on the line for each other and knew the other person was doing the same. I’ll never forget many of those moments from that season. Even though we came up a few points short of winning the state championship, our ultimate goal was to make Coach Fortune proud, and I know we did that.

 

7.   When you committed to play college football at Harvard what made you choice them?

During my sophomore year my parents and I had a conversation with Coach Burnett. We talked about the prospects of me playing football in college and where that could lead me. That discussion led me to focus on using football to get into the best school I could. By my senior year that was solely focused on getting into Harvard and it all worked out. They are the perfect combination of academics and football.

 

8.   What was it like to play your first college game at Harvard?

My first game in college was against the University of Rhode Island. I was extremely nervous leading up to it. So many young players in college can get into their own head and think that they don’t belong and I certainly had some of that imposter syndrome. Some of the seniors on our team were able to keep me calm and allow me to settle in a little bit better.

 

9.   What was it like to play in those Harvard rivalry games? 

The rivalry games in the Ivy league are special. They all have such a rich history behind them and that makes the games mean that much more. Even without the fanfare of the bigger college football programs, the history and tradition in those games make them really special.

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10.          What was your favorite game you played in during your time at Harvard?

 

My freshman year we played against Dartmouth in one of the most exciting games I’ve ever been a part of. Funny enough I didn’t step on the field for the game but even just being on the sideline was exhilarating. We scored a touchdown with less than a minute to play to take the lead and then blocked a Dartmouth field goal attempt to win the game. We won the Ivy League Championship that season.

 

11.       What advice would you give a young man who wants to join The Tuscarora or Harvard Football program?

 

I’d say to set tangible and realistic goals and work as hard as you can to achieve them. Be honest with yourself about your effort and abilities. It’s important to identify weaknesses in your game and improve them. I’d also say that it’s vital to lift and condition with your own high school team. Outside trainers are great and can be very beneficial but you should be at every lifting or running session with your high school team.

 

12.     As an athlete what is it like to see alumni like yourself, Trace McSorley, Jonathan Allen, and so many guys from your

hometown area make an impact and play at the college or pro level? 

 

The Northern Virginia area is full with elite talent and it’s been amazing to see some of the athletes from our area make it to (and accel in) the NFL. I’m proud to say that Northern Virginia is the place that I grew up in playing football. I hope the area continues to improve and college coaches continue to take notice of all the talent around the area.