School: University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Position: Quarterback
Height and Weight: 6’0, 190 lbs
What is your horoscope sign: Gemini
Dream Career: Play pro Football and open a business

When did you start playing football? 

I began playing football in 2004  for the Halifax Argos. After that, I went on to play high school football for the Halifax West Warriors from 2010-2013, where I won a provincial championship in 2012. I was the first-team All-Star quarterback, in 2011, and in 2012 I won league offensive player of the year. In the summer of 2012, I was selected to represent Nova Scotia at the Canada Cup in London, Ontario. After that, I accepted an athletic scholarship to play at Saint Mary’s University (SMU), where I played until 2015. In 2016 I decided to transfer, so I played a year with the Westshore Rebels in the CJFL (Canadian Junior Football League) and went on to win a conference championship that year. I have since accepted a scholarship to the University of Alberta for the 2017 Season.

How important is it for you to balance education and sports, and why? 

It is very important to balance education and sports because you can’t play any sports in high school with bad marks, and if you have bad marks in high school, universities won’t even look at you. I know most people think, “if I’m good enough they’ll take me regardless of my marks,” but it doesn’t work like that. A lot of people don’t know this, but in Usports (Canadian University Sports) you need an 80% average out of high school to get an athletic scholarship in Canada. So, education plays a huge part in your athletic future. Coaches look into every detail about you and if you have bad marks coming into university, most likely you would bring those habits with you to university and be a “one and done,” which means one year and you’re out. Coaches want someone who’s going to stay in school at least 4 years and develop as a student in the classroom, and as a player on the field.

What are some of the obstacles you face in this profession? 

One obstacle I had to face was in 2014 when I broke my throwing arm in a game, which threatened my career. Plus, I had to overcome transferring from SMU in 2015. In university, if you transfer from one school to another, you have to wait a full year before you play again, so I had to sit out 2016 and play junior football in the CJFL in Victoria, BC, which was a blessing for me because I had the chance to be coached by the best quality coaching in my career, and travel to the US to get coached by some really good QB coaches down there, who helped me develop as a quarterback. I also got to play on one of the best teams I have ever played on in my career. All of which landed me a full scholarship to the University of Alberta, which was my goal in going to BC. With every obstacle I face, I take something from it to help me. Now I embrace adversity because I know how to overcome it and use it.

What message can you give up-and-coming football players? 

A message I have for up-and-coming football players is that you can do anything you want if you believe in yourself and if you work hard to get it. There will always be people against you, but there will always be people for you. Who you listen to and who you believe is up to you.