My dad always calls me a sponge because I'm able to absorb information so quickly. 

But there's a reason for that.

I've pretty much seen and experienced it all, at least when it comes to my career as a student-athlete.

In my four years of playing high school football, I had four different head coaches.

If that wasn't enough, I've had three coaches in my collegiate career between my time at Georgia State and Kent State.

I'm not going to lie to you, I would've preferred for my football career to be a bit more linear. Change and transition isn't easy for anyone, and I'm certainly no exception to that.

But it's made me better.

I'm of the belief that you can't grow if you never experience change, and my life is a testament to that.

If I never stepped foot on Kent State's campus, I wouldn't be the person I am today. This is where I've learned to get involved and be a part of something that's bigger than myself and the game of football.

Thanks to my ever-changing journey that led me to Kent State, I've discovered a place where I can thrive outside of my sport and prepare for life when my playing career comes to an end.

Changing course

My recruitment process was a bit unusual, to say the least. 

Since I had so many different coaches, it was mostly up to me and my family to go through the process and decide where I was going to play college football.

That's when Georgia State entered the picture.

The coaches offered me a walk-on spot, but I was fortunate enough to have academic scholarships as well.

I've always had an interest in computer science and dreamed of being a software engineer one day, so I credit Georgia State for giving me the chance to fuel that passion and continue my love for computer science.

When I graduated from Georgia State with my degree, I was faced with another decision. 

I was proud of everything I accomplished on and off the field, but I was ready to move on and enter the transfer portal with my remaining years of eligibility. 

In all honesty, I zeroed in on returning to my home state of Florida, but in what's been a central theme in my life, plans were about to change.

A fulfilling college experience

I don't want to say snow angels influenced my decision, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't completely blown away by the snow in Kent, Ohio.

Being from Florida, I'd never seen snow in my life, and believe me, the snow wasn't the only thing that impressed me about Kent State's campus.

My dad's the one who convinced me to take a visit to Kent State, and I'll never be able to thank him enough because it was truly an eye-opening experience.

There was a sense of community and avenues to get involved like I'd never experienced before.

I met incredible people like Sam Allan and Isaac Vance – who would become mentors and teammates – and they were heavily involved in various organizations on campus. They showed me the importance of giving back and making the most out of my college experience.

That really struck a chord with me because one of my major regrets from my time at Georgia State was not being as involved as I would've liked to be.

At Kent State, I saw a direct path to do that and make a difference in various organizations, and that's when I knew this was the right school for me.

Opportunities to lead

In my second year now at Kent State, I've taken advantage of the opportunities around campus and immersed myself in several different organizations.

I'm proud to serve on several organizations around campus, such as SAAC, COSA, FCA, and the Computer Science Graduate Assistant Association. I wholeheartedly believe these organizations are helping me to prepare for life after football.

In my future career, I don't only want to be a hard worker – I want to be a leader. And these organizations give me a chance to do just that.

SAAC is a perfect example of that. 

SAAC allows student-athletes to use their voices to help grow and improve the student-athlete experience.

Anyone who knows me knows I love to talk. It's hard to get me to stop sometimes, just ask my teammates. So, when I heard about SAAC and how I could be a voice for people, I couldn't wait to join and make an impact for my fellow student-athletes.

As a leader in these organizations, my role is to be a voice to a community that's embraced me as one of their own.

I also strive to be a positive influence and motivate those around me. 

Kent State won me over by establishing a culture of community and support, and I'm going to continue to help strengthen that culture in each organization I'm blessed to be a part of.

Finishing my career here

I went through another change this past year when Coach Burns was hired as the new coach for the 2023 season.

I know when coaches leave, there's always that temptation to enter the transfer portal, but I never gave it much consideration.

I didn't start my career here, but this is where I'm going to finish mine.

Football aside, I don't believe there are very many universities in the country like Kent State. Whether it's the resources, community involvement, and overall sense of family, this is a special place.

That being said, I know coaching changes are never easy, and as a leader on this team, I've taken it upon myself to be there for my teammates that are having a difficult time with the transition. 

For me, dealing with change starts with a positive attitude. I told my teammates all offseason that as difficult as change is, that doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

Look at me.

As a Florida kid, I never would have guessed I'd be playing football in Kent, Ohio, but it turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of my life.

And, fortunately, it's not over yet.

After finishing out this season strong, I'm graduating in December with my master's in computer science. As of this moment, I'm leaning toward coming back one more year and beginning my PhD to set me on the path of becoming a software engineer and starting my own company one day.

While change has been a major theme in my life, it's also been the catalyst for growth and new possibilities. 

I've learned to embrace change, get involved, and find my purpose both on and off the field. As I prepare for life after football in the next couple of years, I know that the experiences and lessons I've gained along the way will continue to shape my future.

For more Kent State of Mind narratives, click here.