Many high schoolers commit to universities to play their specific sport at the college level, but for Sam Dec, his commitment to play football at the United States Military Academy means that and so much more.
The Nease senior verbally committed to Army via Twitter on June 29 and not only will he get the opportunity to continue playing the sport he loves, but he has also committed to serving and defending the country he loves.
“It’s just a great feeling overall, because since middle school it has always been a distant dream, so it’s great for it to be actually happening,” Dec said.
For Dec, his decision came down to choosing between several schools, such as Navy, Air Force, UMass, Colorado State and Arkansas State.
According to Dec, choosing between the military academies was extremely difficult, because they each possessed something special.
However, he always felt a connection with Army from the first time he toured the campus.
“That was my first visit, and I had a really good feeling going away,” Dec said. “It felt like a really good fit for me.”
Dec primarily plays along the offensive line at the tackle spot and was recruited to do so at the next level as well.
“I’ve always thought of the o-line as being pretty selfless,” Dec. said. “I think that fits with my personality, because I’m not really one that needs to be in the spotlight.”
He started playing football when he was about seven years old and in recent years has really found his place along the offensive line, using his 6-foot-4-inch and 250-pound frame to his advantage.
He is a three-sport athlete for the Panthers, also playing lacrosse and basketball and is a member of the school’s renowned NJROTC program.
“I’ve always been pretty big,” Dec said. “I’m not so much thick as I am tall.”
It is one thing to have the size and physical makeup, but the area where he has seen the most improvement over the years is with the mental side required to be successful in the trenches.
“My overall understanding of the game has grown,” Dec said. “When you’re coming from middle school it can hit you like a brick wall trying to learn all those new plays and terminology. Knowing your blocking assignments is half the battle.”
According to Dec, he was the lone returning starter on last year’s team and was surrounded by a bevy of young players, who he hopes will help the Panthers take a step forward with a year of experience under their belts.
Dec planned to make his college decision during the summer, and now that he has, he is excited to just focus on his senior year at Nease.
“It definitely is a big relief because the recruiting process can be very overwhelming at points,” Dec said.
