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Sidelined. Injured. Rehabbing. No matter how you spin it, there's no easy way to tell an athlete that they're unable to compete. This is the sport they love; their life; their future. This is what they look forward to each day and what they've worked tirelessly for throughout their career.
In June 2020, IMG Academy senior football student-athlete, Xavian Sorey, underwent surgery on his foot to address a stress fracture, and this decision put a complete pause on his training and on-field experience. With the uncertainty surrounding high school football earlier in the year due to COVID-19, Sorey felt this was as good a time as any to focus on his future while seemingly sacrificing his immediate progress.
Sorey, a 4-star linebacker currently sitting at No. 20 on the ESPN300 for the Class of 2021, checked in for IMG football's Fall Camp in July and continued his rehabilitation and therapy on campus with IMG's Athletic Training staff while watching his teammates from the sidelines, first in practice and then in games. Although he wasn't able to prove himself on the field, Sorey was solely focused on receiving the clearance to practice and then to ultimately compete amongst what's referred to as the Brotherhood.
This year, the only goal I really have is I want to dominate. I want to dominate at IMG. Coming from a small school, a lot of people are eager to see how a 1A football player is going to play at IMG."
- Xavian Sorey, '21, LB
In late September, Sorey received the news he'd been waiting for, and he finally was able to suit up for the first game of his IMG career against Life Christian Academy. A culmination of his efforts on and off the field, Sorey competed on senior night and helped lead the team on home turf during one of the most anticipated games of the 2020 season.
This episode of the Brotherhood showcases Sorey's journey from sidelined to the spotlight and features highlights from the National team's home game on senior night. Check it out:
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Next up for IMG Academy football's National team? Duncanville. A game that's been heavily featured since day one of the season. As the team prepares to board the plane to Texas this week, we anticipate another focused week of practice leading up to an ESPN-broadcast kick off. Check out the full schedule by clicking this link, and tune in for more action under the lights.
