**1352 Words**
“My family has always lived by its own rules. Making our own way through life and not relying on handouts or anything like that. It makes us very strong as people, in body,mind and heart. I think that’s part of the reason why I want to make it to the NSFL and to win a Ultimus trophy. There are so many obstacles in the way to get to that point but I think the challenge is why I want to get there. It’s my family's way to take the hard path in life.”
It is said that we are all authors or our own life stories. Some are triumphs while others are tragedies. Some collect dust while others become best sellers. Like most, Raphael d’Alcott’s story has its ups and downs, but in the end, his story is one of proving the world wrong. A story of conquering odds and adapting to new environments. Of becoming a star in the face of heartbreak. As he prepares himself for the DSFL draft, he shares with us his story that has moulded this young man into a potential future star.
Our story begins in Austin, the capital of Texas. A 36 year old woman has just given birth to her 7th child. The boy’s face is pure and innocent, a mop of golden hair on his head and beautiful blue eyes. One of his older sisters casually said he looked like an angel. For some a completely innocuous statement, something you would say about a baby just born, but for a deeply devout woman like Christine d’Alcott, it was a sign of what she would name her child…. Raphael d’Alcott.
Being raised with that kind of close knit group on the family farm in Corpus Christi, Raphael was raised in the american way. In Christainity, in barbecue and in sports. Raphael enjoyed every sport that his family could offer him to play and with 4 older brothers, he had a chance to play all the major american sports. It soon became apparent that he excelled the most at football. He was naturally quick and had soft hands that could catch any ball no matter how it was thrown to him. He fell in love with the sport the first time his father took him to Texas Memorial stadium. Being a part of a 100,000 crowd watching a football game was an incredible experience and Raphael couldn’t help but think about what it would be like to play in front of all those people.
“I remember that day as if it were yesterday. Just hearing and seeing that huge crowd in the stadium. Seeing the roars they made when the team made plays… I couldn’t help but dream that night about playing in front of them. I think my mind was set that day… I think my family realized that as well.”
From that night onward, Raphael threw everything he had into Football. He wanted to reach the top of the world in the sport he adored. As he entered high school, he was one of the top ranked athletes in the country with many scouts raving about his talents and it’s not hard to see why.
One of the most athletically gifted wide receivers seen by scouts lately, Raphael just blitzes past defences with his natural speed and agility. He can find ways to make separation and give his QB an easier time to throw him the ball. He was the most targeted receiver on his high school team and for good reason. d’Alcott rarely if ever drops the ball and quickly turn 10 yard passes into touchdowns if he can get into open terrain. He is also one of the most intelligent players around, knowing where every player was and where the play was going in real time, making him dangerous in nearly every situation and able to adapt on the fly to defences.
With all of these high marks, Raphael was a sought after player by many colleges. Despite the massive amount of interest he garnered, he didn’t commit to any university for a while. He sat by the door and waited for the day that the University of Texas would call him. They were in need of wide receivers and they had a perfect chance right here to get a homegrown talent that wanted to play in Texas Memorial stadium. So Raphael waited… and waited… but he never heard anything. Then his heart sank even further when he heard that his team mate from high school had received a scholarship offer from the Longhorns.
“That was a really bad day for me when I found out about that. I wanted to go to the Longhorns but once that happened I basically knew that there was no chance I was going. I know that God only puts trouble in front of you because he believes you are strong enough to take it but that was a very bitter pill to swallow.”
With his main option now gone, Raphael picked himself up and declared that he would be accepting a scholarship to Ohio State. It wasn’t a bad situation as they had been very active in trying to recruit Raphael.
“Ever since the recruitment process started, I think the most active college was Ohio State. They were always on the phone to me and sending scouts to my games and to my house saying that ‘we really like you and we want you on the team. You’re gonna be a main contributor from day one.’ I know they say that to a lot of college prospects but it still means a lot to me that they would go the extra mile to try and recruit me.”
Ohio State needed a new focal point for the offense to compliment their sophomore quarterback and believed Raphael was the perfect receiver for the job. Raphael did not disappoint. Starting as a true freshman, he would lead the buckeyes to an 11-1 record and become only the sixth player in buckeyes history to eclipse 1000 receiving yards in a single season. The coaches at Ohio State were full of praise for his development and his future.
“It was simply a case of putting Raphael’s development course in the right direction.” said Alex Crist, Ohio State’s Receiving coach. “He was already an exceptional runner and catcher, all he needed was to work on his conditioning. Over his career here with us, I can safely say that he is going to be something truly special.”
Anyone who ever saw Raphael play knew how talented he was but one performance in particular stood out amongst all the others. In his junior season, his final season before declaring for the DSFL draft, Raphael played in the biggest game of his life. It was Ohio State in the Rose Bowl vs Texas, the college that had snubbed him so long ago. Raphael was determined to win this game and played like his life depended on it. All the same, after a 3 touchdown performance, it all came down to one moment. Ohio State was down by 3 and was backed up to their 10 yard line with 15 seconds left.
“I remember the Quarterback looked at me like a laser and gave a small nod. That said to me that ‘It’s coming to you so run like your life depends on it’... I had to win that pass… I HAD to win that game.”
The commentary from that game was something truly special.
“Lawson drops back, he’s looking for receivers, he throws it d’Alcott who catches at the 20, he spins out a defender and takes off! He’s at the 30, the 40, he makes a man miss at the 50, he’s got daylight! Raphael d’Alcott is gonna win the football game on a 90 yard run! Touchdown! It’s a miracle in Pasadena! Raphael d’Alcott and the Ohio State Buckeyes have walked off on the Texas Longhorns!”
As he lifted the Rose bowl trophy high and the confetti rained down, Raphael could be heard screaming:
“WATCH OUT NSFL, I’M COMING!!
“My family has always lived by its own rules. Making our own way through life and not relying on handouts or anything like that. It makes us very strong as people, in body,mind and heart. I think that’s part of the reason why I want to make it to the NSFL and to win a Ultimus trophy. There are so many obstacles in the way to get to that point but I think the challenge is why I want to get there. It’s my family's way to take the hard path in life.”
It is said that we are all authors or our own life stories. Some are triumphs while others are tragedies. Some collect dust while others become best sellers. Like most, Raphael d’Alcott’s story has its ups and downs, but in the end, his story is one of proving the world wrong. A story of conquering odds and adapting to new environments. Of becoming a star in the face of heartbreak. As he prepares himself for the DSFL draft, he shares with us his story that has moulded this young man into a potential future star.
Our story begins in Austin, the capital of Texas. A 36 year old woman has just given birth to her 7th child. The boy’s face is pure and innocent, a mop of golden hair on his head and beautiful blue eyes. One of his older sisters casually said he looked like an angel. For some a completely innocuous statement, something you would say about a baby just born, but for a deeply devout woman like Christine d’Alcott, it was a sign of what she would name her child…. Raphael d’Alcott.
Being raised with that kind of close knit group on the family farm in Corpus Christi, Raphael was raised in the american way. In Christainity, in barbecue and in sports. Raphael enjoyed every sport that his family could offer him to play and with 4 older brothers, he had a chance to play all the major american sports. It soon became apparent that he excelled the most at football. He was naturally quick and had soft hands that could catch any ball no matter how it was thrown to him. He fell in love with the sport the first time his father took him to Texas Memorial stadium. Being a part of a 100,000 crowd watching a football game was an incredible experience and Raphael couldn’t help but think about what it would be like to play in front of all those people.
“I remember that day as if it were yesterday. Just hearing and seeing that huge crowd in the stadium. Seeing the roars they made when the team made plays… I couldn’t help but dream that night about playing in front of them. I think my mind was set that day… I think my family realized that as well.”
From that night onward, Raphael threw everything he had into Football. He wanted to reach the top of the world in the sport he adored. As he entered high school, he was one of the top ranked athletes in the country with many scouts raving about his talents and it’s not hard to see why.
One of the most athletically gifted wide receivers seen by scouts lately, Raphael just blitzes past defences with his natural speed and agility. He can find ways to make separation and give his QB an easier time to throw him the ball. He was the most targeted receiver on his high school team and for good reason. d’Alcott rarely if ever drops the ball and quickly turn 10 yard passes into touchdowns if he can get into open terrain. He is also one of the most intelligent players around, knowing where every player was and where the play was going in real time, making him dangerous in nearly every situation and able to adapt on the fly to defences.
With all of these high marks, Raphael was a sought after player by many colleges. Despite the massive amount of interest he garnered, he didn’t commit to any university for a while. He sat by the door and waited for the day that the University of Texas would call him. They were in need of wide receivers and they had a perfect chance right here to get a homegrown talent that wanted to play in Texas Memorial stadium. So Raphael waited… and waited… but he never heard anything. Then his heart sank even further when he heard that his team mate from high school had received a scholarship offer from the Longhorns.
“That was a really bad day for me when I found out about that. I wanted to go to the Longhorns but once that happened I basically knew that there was no chance I was going. I know that God only puts trouble in front of you because he believes you are strong enough to take it but that was a very bitter pill to swallow.”
With his main option now gone, Raphael picked himself up and declared that he would be accepting a scholarship to Ohio State. It wasn’t a bad situation as they had been very active in trying to recruit Raphael.
“Ever since the recruitment process started, I think the most active college was Ohio State. They were always on the phone to me and sending scouts to my games and to my house saying that ‘we really like you and we want you on the team. You’re gonna be a main contributor from day one.’ I know they say that to a lot of college prospects but it still means a lot to me that they would go the extra mile to try and recruit me.”
Ohio State needed a new focal point for the offense to compliment their sophomore quarterback and believed Raphael was the perfect receiver for the job. Raphael did not disappoint. Starting as a true freshman, he would lead the buckeyes to an 11-1 record and become only the sixth player in buckeyes history to eclipse 1000 receiving yards in a single season. The coaches at Ohio State were full of praise for his development and his future.
“It was simply a case of putting Raphael’s development course in the right direction.” said Alex Crist, Ohio State’s Receiving coach. “He was already an exceptional runner and catcher, all he needed was to work on his conditioning. Over his career here with us, I can safely say that he is going to be something truly special.”
Anyone who ever saw Raphael play knew how talented he was but one performance in particular stood out amongst all the others. In his junior season, his final season before declaring for the DSFL draft, Raphael played in the biggest game of his life. It was Ohio State in the Rose Bowl vs Texas, the college that had snubbed him so long ago. Raphael was determined to win this game and played like his life depended on it. All the same, after a 3 touchdown performance, it all came down to one moment. Ohio State was down by 3 and was backed up to their 10 yard line with 15 seconds left.
“I remember the Quarterback looked at me like a laser and gave a small nod. That said to me that ‘It’s coming to you so run like your life depends on it’... I had to win that pass… I HAD to win that game.”
The commentary from that game was something truly special.
“Lawson drops back, he’s looking for receivers, he throws it d’Alcott who catches at the 20, he spins out a defender and takes off! He’s at the 30, the 40, he makes a man miss at the 50, he’s got daylight! Raphael d’Alcott is gonna win the football game on a 90 yard run! Touchdown! It’s a miracle in Pasadena! Raphael d’Alcott and the Ohio State Buckeyes have walked off on the Texas Longhorns!”
As he lifted the Rose bowl trophy high and the confetti rained down, Raphael could be heard screaming:
“WATCH OUT NSFL, I’M COMING!!