COLT THOMPSON- HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Colt Thompson. I am a freshman at Houston High School in the Memphis area. I play football, basketball, and rugby. In football, I play center and some defensive line along with some linebacker. I'm a very good student and am also president of my grade. I always work to get better. Performance is a result of work ethic.

What was your best game?
I would say my best game was my first one against Cordova. I had 3 pancake blocks. It just felt great to get back on the field again after the long offseason. We won by about 21.

Who is the best player you have played against?
Connor Harris and BJ Nagle. I got a chance to play with Connor in 6th grade, but I also had to play against him the next two years. He is a great running back and he is very hard to tackle. I played with BJ in 8th grade. Everyday in practice, I got to play against him on scout team defense. He plays quarterback. It really made be a better player because he is so hard to tackle as he is a dual-threat QB.

How do you make your team better?
I make my team better in many ways. It all starts with me on offense, so I must make sure the ball gets to the quarterback. I am a leader, whether vocally or by example. I'm not afraid to tell someone when they are not acting right.

Who is your favorite player?
Brian Urlacher, he is a great leader on Chicago's defense. He is such a great player and always has a great attitude. He comes to work every day no matter what.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports are fun to me. I love all of them, and I am very competitive. I think you must have good grades to play sports. I don't think you deserve the opportunity to play sports if you don't have good grades.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Just work hard. On the field, in the classroom, and don't ever give up. If you want it the most, you will get it.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
SoSportz is awesome! Thank you so much SoSportz!

CHRIS TAYLOR- FOUNDER OF SOSPORTZ

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Chris Taylor, the Founder/CEO of SoSportz. I’m from Memphis, TN. I went to Cordova High School, class of 2002. After graduating from Indiana University in 2005, I played running back for the Houston Texans during the 2006-2008 seasons and I’m currently a member of the New England Patriots. For me, playing at the professional level has been a dream come true. My dream is also to help young people reach their goals in any way I can. I’m very passionate about sports and helping people, that’s why I’m starting SoSportz. This will allow student-athletes to get FREE exposure to college coaches, help you academically, and help you become great people in society.

What was your best game?
My best game would probably be against the University of Kentucky my senior year in college. I had 17 carries for 176 yards in 3 quarters. I caught cramps in both of my calves in the middle of the 3rd quarter and couldn't finish the game because the cramps would not go away. I hate those cramps! Lol!

Why are sports/education important to you?
I started playing sports at the age of 4. Sports are so important to me because they have taught me so much. At a young age I was always taught to view sports as a tool that teaches. Sports teach so many life skills and that’s part of the reason I have a passion for sports the way that I do. It has taught me how to be a team player, leadership, dedication, discipline, hard work, and so many other attributes. Education is the key to success. Sometimes we get so consume with our sport, we forget about the big picture. I can’t play sports forever, that’s just the reality. That’s why I always say to put the same hard work and passion in your education as you do in your sport. My education will take me so much farther in life than sports and that is something I want to instill in the SoSportz Athletes.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
Never be satisfied. Work hard everyday on all my skills to be the best player I can be.

What was your dream college?
My dream college was the University of Tennessee. I had always dreamed of running on the field wearing that orange and white. I ended up going to Indiana University which was a better fit for me for football and academically. I’m proud to be a Hoosier!

If a Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I will bring tenacity and passion to the team as a running back and a special teams player. I’m going to come to work each day ready to work. When it gets hard, I will work harder! I’m a TEAM player, it’s not about me. It’s all about doing whatever I can to help the TEAM win. Having more points on the scoreboard than our opponent at the end of the game is all that matters to me.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
If you have dreams in life, and you work hard to make those dreams become a reality, anything is possible. Never let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. God has blessed us all with different talents and abilities and we can’t let those go to waste. Put yourself around people who do the right things and want to be successful in life. Education, Education, Education!

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
I’m very excited about SoSportz! I hope it helps everyone and everyone enjoys it! “SUCCESS IS CONTAGIOUS”

CAMERON WALTON- COROVA HIGH SCHOOL

Tell us about yourself?
I am a 15 year old student athlete that runs track and cross country. I attend Cordova High School in Memphis, Tennessee. I take my sport and school work very seriously as I focus on being an honor student in class and excelling on the track as well. Besides running, I also love playing football and basketball. This year, I stopped playing football for the school so that I can get better at track.

What was your best race?
My best track race was last year at the Freshman/JV Invitationals at Houston High School. I ran a 2:15 in the 800m and a 4:59 in the 1600m. My best cross country time was a 17:54 at the Jesse Owens Classic in Oakville, Alabama.

Why are sports/education important to you?
An education is the important thing that a person can have, epically to an athlete. There are thousand of amazing athletes out there that won't make it to the collegiate level just because their grades aren't high enough. That's why I make good decisions and do my best both at in school and outside; Every action you make can affect you in a big way.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
It's the extra things that you do that makes you stand out. I work hard on my own out of practice and in the off-season to give me that edge over others that just do what's required. Being mentally tough makes you serious competitor. In my opinion, toughness outweighs skill.

What is your dream college?
As of right now, I have no idea of where I want to go to college. In my Junior year, I will start visiting campuses to find a place that fits me. I'm hoping to get a scholarship, so I will probably go to a school that is most interested in me.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I can make the team better with my leadership. I lead by example and I think I can help others without even saying a word. With good leadership skills, comes good following skills. No matter how good you are, you can always learn something new and improve yourself.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Handle your business in the classroom first. Keep your skills sharp and take advantage of every opportunity you get.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
Big shout out to the SoSportz Team for making this dream possible, and to all the supporters of SoSportz that keep this dream alive!!!