Playing football at the next level has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I recently got invited to tour the Wyoming Cowboy’s football facilities to see how the team/coaches operate, and it was a great opportunity and another step in the direction of my football dreams.
Some high school athletes have the desire and opportunity to play at the next level. I am one of them. As a junior, I have already had some colleges contact me about the possibility of playing for them. After next year, I hope to have picked the right one.
The University of Wyoming was the first college I visited. After a second visit, I was really impressed with aspects of the Cowboy program that most other colleges do not have, including a top-of-the-line weight room with screens that tell you how fast you are lifting the bar and target zones for how fast it should be moving. With five full-time strength coaches dedicated solely to the football program, players see big gains in their speed and strength year-round.
The university also has a full-time nutritionist on staff. He makes sure that the players stay hydrated and take in the right amount of supplements to maximize performance. Each player has a personalized meal plan specific to their gains and body size. Team members eat the right amount of calories a day with a lot of fluids for health and target weight to be ready for the season.
The coach at the university told this story about as kid they offered a scholarship to who weighed 239lbs. By the time he completed one winter of workouts and meal planning, he had gained almost 50 pounds to weigh 285 for the start of the season. The weight he gained wasn’t fat; it was pure muscle developed through their program.
To play my current lineman position in college, I need to tip the scales upwards of 300 pounds. I need to gain a lot more weight, but I worry about doing it in a healthy way. However, the coach told me not to worry about gaining weight, and that I was fine where I am. He said I will make all my gains when I get into college.
I see college sports as a great way to continue playing the sport I love and have my schooling paid for as I are prepare myself for my future occupation.
