Viking Football Star Signs With University of Rhode Island

Hudson Valley Community College football star Mackenzie Elliott earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Rhode Island in the recent National Signing Day, when he signed a letter of intent to join the Rams’ football squad. Elliott, a Business Administration major at HVCC, was a team captain and the team’s top cornerback in the past season, recording 22 tackles, one interception, three passes defended and one blocked kick this past season for the Vikings. He also earned Third-Team All-Conference honors in the Northeast Football Conference, and was approached by several other schools, including New Haven, Penn State and the University of Connecticut, before settling on Rhode Island for its proximity.

“I didn’t want to go too far from home, and [Rhode Island] was the school I was mostly looking at,” said Elliott. “I felt Rhode Island just fit me best, and I have family up there, also.”

Elliott was born in Liberia, where he played soccer growing up, and moved to the United States at 12 years old. It wasn’t long before he started playing football, which has stuck with him since. “When I was playing football with my friends in the backyard and in the park, I just fell in love with it, because it just fit me,” he said. “I think it’s a sport that fit my personality… I’m a disciplined person, and it’s a sport where you can take your aggression out, and I’m very competitive… plus, football is fun.”

The sport wasn’t all fun and games for Elliott, who learned a number of life lessons from playing football, including discipline, competitiveness and respect for others. “Everything in life is like a team, like your family,” said Elliott. “You have to treat your teammates like a family, and you can’t go through life without your family.”

Elliott also identified HVCC as a place where he did a lot of growing up, with the hard work he had to do both on and off the field. This included learning leadership skills as part of the football team, and making the Dean’s List during one of his semesters at the college. “I think my time at Hudson Valley… really helped me become a man,” he said. “I think I just grew as a person, to get looked at by schools like Rhode Island… even on the field, I had to become a leader, and become a good role model for my teammates and my friends at the school… I just thank God for the opportunity.”

Despite his achievements on the field, Elliott isn’t sure if he’ll go into professional play after college. Citing his family, education and health as major priorities, Elliott stated his desire to focus on getting a degree and developing his skills. “My long-term goal is to become a physical therapist, but those classes are kind of hard to go along with football,” said Elliott. “For now, [my goal is] to get a degree, be productive on the field for the next two years, and work hard in the weight room… and see my potential.”