Player Primer: Mario Wright
Cover Photo Credit: Varsity Views
A relentless worker with 1 FBS offer in hand, Homewood-Flossmoor’s 2018 MLB Mario Wright’s stock is trending up bigtime. We talked his dedication to improving his already impressive game, FBS schools showing serious interest in him and what’s next for his recruiting.
You can find Mario on Twitter @RioTha_God.
Mario Wright
Homewood-Flossmoor
Flossmoor, IL
Wt: 215 lbs
Class: 2018
Commitment status: Undecided
LPI: You guys finished the season very well at 10-1, but lost to a very good Glenbard West squad in the 8A playoffs. Now that your season is over, what are you going to do to take your game to the next level?
MW: It will all start in the weight room for me. I’ll be working out with my coaches and the team to get bigger, faster and stronger. This will also help the team gain a stronger bond and some more trust in each other. I also will be playing 7on7 with the HeroH organization so I can get more comfortable with pass drops and recognizing route patterns to really develop and take my gameplay to the next level. Knowing that I am being recruited as a division 1 athlete, I am going to really buckle down in the classroom because I know that grades go hand in hand with my gameplay.
LPI:You picked up your first FBS offer from Ball State in December. What skill set can you bring to the table for a college football program?
MW: I feel that I have a very high football IQ from the linebacker position. I have the ability to really seek out the ball, read offenses and make plays. Making plays from downhill is also a big part of my game as well. Having good speed with my size also gives me an advantage and helps me make those hustle plays from sideline to sideline. With all of this being said, I am well aware that my game is far from perfect and that there is always room for improvement. I also believe that I can bring a lot of energy and charisma to any college program.
LPI: Besides the schools that have offered you, which schools have shown serious interest in you?
MW: So Far Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Michigan State, Buffalo, Toledo, Northern Arizona and Pennsylvania have shown some interest. I’ve gotten emails from Indiana, U of I and I’ve received mail from Nebraska, SIU, NIU, and Illinois.
LPI: Where have you visited most recently and do you have any planned visits coming up?
MW: I recently flew to UB (Buffalo) for a football game and Plan to visit Ball State in the end of January for a junior day and Michigan State in February for a basketball game. I would love to go to some other schools for some junior days as well but as of right now, I am unsure where I’m going to get an invite from.
LPI: On or off the field, how do you demonstrate leadership?
MW: On the field I show leadership on the field by being that guy who would be willing to do just about anything to win. I will put myself on the line for my team and take responsibility for any mistake that I make on the field. I try to step up and be a vocal leader and try to keep my team in games whether they are tight games or not. I also show leadership off the field by being a vocal leader in the weight room and personally working as hard as possible in the weight room because hard work and effort is contagious.
LPI: Who are some of your teammates that you believe can play at the next level, but have gone overlooked by college coaches?
MW:
Ryan Flournoy: 6’2″ athletic wide receiver. Very sure handed and will snag any jump ball. Ryan is a hard worker and is always willing to learn and take constructive criticism from anyone. Look for him to have a breakout season next year with the graduation of NIU commit Tyrice Richie.
Jeffrey Griffin: Big,Strong linemen who can play both ways. Extremely versatile and truly doesn’t move like a lineman. Really creates havoc for offensive linemen with his speed of the line. Big guy gets the job done.
Justin Hall: Energy. This kid brings so much energy to the field. He can play anywhere on offense and defense. Very fast, agile player who will do what it takes to win. At DB, he flies around the field and makes big plays, and at RB he will fight for those extra and is hard to bring down. He’s also one of the leaders on our team.
Kellen Williams: Young guy from the class of 2019. Starter on the Varsity team and was a major piece to our defense. Great tackler and has a very high motor. He led our defense in Tackles as a sophomore and made some big plays for our defense. He will definitely be a force to be reckoned with these next two years.
Leon Tanna: 2019 RB who did not get a chance to play much this year due to transfer issues but has an extremely bright future. Very good in space but will also run through anyone. Also has good hands so could be a threat out of the back field.