Expert: Thom Brooks - 2/1/2008

Question
my name is mike olszewski i am 6'1 325.  my grades are not well enoughf to get into a good college due to personal reasons. i graduate high school this year and am going to comunity collge for 1 year. i bench 375  my forty is a 5,0 if could i walk onto a d 1 football team ?

Answer
Mike, hello!

You are a big man that will only get better over the next year, so keep working out on your sprints, weights and stay on a healthy diet that builds.  You didn't mention the positions you seek to play but if you follow your Coach's guidelines, yes you can be successful at a Walk On.  Obviously, the Div-I schools have the most talent trying to compete for those roster spots, so you can't walk on unprepared.  The Coaches already know most of the talent in their pool but are looking for the man that shows the spark of Leadership, so do you have the Leadership?  Can you show confidence as well as the skill?  If you walk in like a Lamb, it will be your slaughterhouse.  

You need to get into practices, especially with some players that will be on that same team, or tryouts.  Will you be going to a JUCO that offers Football?  Getting one year of seasoning would be tremendous to get accepted into the bigger schools.  

Keep me posted.  I want to follow your career.  You are living a dream so Do It Right.  You do not get to play that game very long.  Take advantage and enjoy every day!!

Thom Brooks
Savannah, Ga.

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