Sammy Steffe

Collegiate Career

What advice do you have for current high school athletes who hope to make it to the next level?

Do not worry about how many offers you have or the division. Get better every day and someone will find you.

How’d you end up at your current school? What was the recruiting process like?

I hit the portal after my sophomore season looking to find a school that was known historically for winning championships. I got into contact with some of the coaches there, it helped that I was offered out of high school from UMHB, so I was already familiar with some of the staff.

What do you consider to be one of the more important things you learned from the coaching staff?

The coaches push you to be the best that you can be, even if it seems as if they are not.

What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in your sports career so far?

1^st team all-conference, all region, preseason DPOY

What is your Major and what do you hope to accomplish in your post athletic career?

I am a supply chain management major, and I hope to work at Lockheed Martin someday.

 

Performance & Training

Can you walk us through a typical training day during the season and off-season?

During the season, I will wake up at 5:45 for 6:45 weights, go to my classes for the day and then go see my trainer to do some re/ prehab to make sure I am ready for practice later in the day. For the off-season, I like to go to the gym around 9 a.m. and get my main lift in. After my life, I will go to the field and either do field work or my sprinting. After that, I go home and rest for a couple of hours and then I will go back to the field to do field work or sprints, whichever I did not do in the morning.

How do you mentally prepare for high-stakes games or competitions?

I like to sit by myself and listen to my music. I like to stay calm and composed. I think about our practice all week, thinking about what we think they are going to try and hit us with during the game. I also visualize how all of their receivers run their routes and their tendencies.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your athletic career, and how did you overcome it?

I tore my ACL in my final game of the season last year. The first doctor I went to told me i would be out 9-12 months. I did not like that answer, so I went to get another opinion. I was blessed enough to get in with the Dallas Cowboys surgeon and he told me that I would be back to playing football full speed, full go within 7 months. Now, 7 months later, I am back on the field, and it feels like I didn’t even sit out.

How do you stay motivated during times when you’re not performing at your best?

I remember everything that I have done to get to where I am today and tell myself that I can control how I play. Getting down on myself will only make it worse.

 

Team Dynamics & Leadership

How has being part of a team shaped your personal growth or leadership style?

Being part of a team has taught me to care for others more than yourself. Everyone on your team is doing the same workouts as me, everyone is as tired, if not even more. I have learned to be selfless and care for my brothers.

Can you describe a moment when you had to step up as a leader, either on or off the field?

This year, I am the only returning cornerback from last year. I am taking the role of helping all of the transfers and young guys learn the position and the proper technique that our coaches teach us.

What qualities do you think make a great teammate?

Vocal, Ethical, Unselfish, Disciplined, Determined, Passionate, Prepared, Relentless.

 

Collegiate Transition

What was the biggest adjustment moving from high school to college athletics?

My biggest adjustment was it was more of a business than a game that you would play. At my high school, it was all about football, but when you get to college, you realize that there is a lot more to it than just the basics of high school football.

How do you balance academics with the demands of being a high-level athlete?

I make sure to go to class every day and have a relationship with my professors. For my schoolwork, I will bring my backpack with me to the facilities, so when I have some time in between meetings or if I am doing some rehab, I will knock out some homework.

What was an important lesson you learned early on that has impacted your success?

Being selfish will get you nowhere.

 

Off-the-Field Life & Mindset

How do you handle pressure from fans, media, or expectations around performance?

I channel it out; I don’t listen to any of it.

What role does mental health play in your life as an athlete, and how do you maintain it?

I make sure to maintain and strengthen my relationship with God, and I have learned that it what helps me.

What’s something people might misunderstand about what it takes to compete at your level?

The mental toughness is the hardest thing. The days that you wake up and can barely get out of bed because you are so sore.

If you could make a positive impact on all of society, what would it be and why?

I would like to help those in need around me. I have always thought helping those in need was the right thing to do, and when I am able to help, I do.

How would you describe your work ethic?

I push myself to be better every day. No matter how my body feels, I can always be better.

 

Your Future

What do you hope to show scouts at the National Scouting Combine?

That I have been overlooked ever since high school.

Where do you see yourself five years after your athletic career ends?

Working at Lockheed Martin.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind in your sport?

To play at the highest level possible and to encourage the youth.