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2023 PFN Player Profile: Getting to know McDowell LB/LT Aidan Probst

Tagged under: District 10, News, Player Previews

| April 12, 2023


Aidan Probst
Left Tackle and Linebacker
McDowell
Class Of 2024
Jersey #58
HT/WT 6’4/225
GPA 4.367
280lb bench, 270lb Hang Clean, 390lb squat, 1320 SAT
Other sports: Club and Varsity Volleyball
Varsity letters for football sophomore year to present, varsity letters for volleyball freshman year to present, scholar athlete award sophomore and Jr year for both sports, Millcreek education foundation Spark award, AP scholar award, PA football News all academic gold team.
Twitter @aidan_trojan


 

 

Why do you play football?

To me, football has always been much more than just a game. Football is a brotherhood; a second family. My entire football career, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by teammates and coaches that have cultivated me not only as a player but as a scholar and an individual. Of course, I love to play the game. I love the off-season grind, the close games, the big hits, but the family environment and the relationships that form from the mutual love of the game are why I play football.

Who is your favorite sports star and WHY?

If I had to choose one player to be my favorite sports star, it would have to Travis Kelce on the Kansas City Chiefs. Kelce is an extremely talented player that in my opinion has changed the tight end position in football. Its very rare that you see athletes with the athleticism to burn DBs down field and to still be able to block defensive linemen effectively. Although we do not share the same position, there are many in which I try to model my game after him. As an offensive linemen and linebacker I need to find that balance of being able to dominate 6A defensive linemen while also maintaining the athleticism to play in coverage, chase down runningbacks, and blitz effectively. His talent, confidence, and raw athleticism are all charactersitcs that I work to model in my own game.

Do you have a favorite play you remember the most? Explain:

My favorite play of the season had to be the very first snap of our first game against Walsh Jesuit. All summer we worked hard anticipating that first snap of football. When it came that time, I delivered an effective downblock that set the edge for an 81 yard touchdown rush. The satisfaction of performing a quality play where every member of our team did their job effectively on the first play of the season was truly a special feeling. I believe that this play set the tone for the rest of that game and really the rest of the season. It showed every player on our team that we could be a really special team.

What was last years season like for you?

The 2022-2023 football season is a period in my life that I will never forget. I had gotten my first varsity start the year prior in the playoffs of my sophomore season. Ever since that moment, I knew that I was going to have to step up in a big way during my junior year. After a successful offseason in the weight room, we entered the season with hands down the strongest team that McDowell has ever seen. Our coaches’ and team’s dedication to the process was something truly inspiring to see. Throughout the season I started all games but senior night at the left tackle position, I started on punt, kickoff, kick return, and PAT, and I subbed frequently at the linebacker position, starting in many packages that we implemented later in the season. I was fortunate to play with what I believe to be the most dominant offensive line in the state of Pennsylvania. Our run-focused offense broke many of our school records behind our physical line including most yards in a game, 665, highest average ppg across a season, 43.1, points in a season, 560, and yards in a season 5,299. Our season came to an end in the 3rd OT of the state quarterfinals against a very talented State College team. Although we didn’t get the result that we wanted, the heart and tenacity that every single one of my teammates played with was something that was inspiring, and formative to me as a football player. My junior season of football taught me many things. Not only did it develop me athletically as a player, but it showed me the mindset that great teams and great players have when working to achieve their goals.

What are your goals for this coming season?

Discipline, consistency, and grit are the words that I want myself and the rest of my team to live by for this upcoming season. The discipline to show up every day, on time, and give it your all while you’re there; every early morning of camp, every lift after school when your tired, every practice. The discipline to focus on each and every rep and play it like your last no matter how significant or insignificant. The discipline to better yourself everyday no matter what stands in your way. The discipline to go above and beyond what is expected of you by putting in work whenever you are able. However, it is not enough for us to just be disciplined, we need to replicate this discipline everyday until we can perform everyday consistently. We need to show consistency in the way that we lift and practice everyday. Too many times has our team had unfocused practices where it did not seem like we got better that day at all. Practicing consistently, watching film consistently, lifting consistently, will make it so that we will win games consistently which is the ultimate goal. The final word that exemplifies my goal for myself and my team for this coming season is grit. You can do everything right all season, but when you get into big games there is one thing that separates the good teams from the great ones and that is grit, passion, perseverance, the heart to never give up no matter the situation, to yearn for victory from the first snap to the last. The ultimate goal for the next season is to win. Win every week, win districts, and go on to win states. By striving to live by these characteristics everyday I believe that our team can achieve all of our goals and truly be a great football team.

Who is the best player you ever lined up against?

I would have to say that the best player that I’ve ever lined up against is actually one of my own teammates, four star penn state commit offensive lineman Cooper Cousins. Coop has been one of my best friends since the first grade and I am extremely lucky to not only have the opportunity to lineup against him at practice and get better from playing against such a quality player, but also to get better through him pushing me off the field as well. Most players will only get the chance to play against an opponent of his caliber maybe once a year against a good team. Being able to play against and along side the best of the best day in and day out has developed me into a more quality athlete.

What stadium, HS/college/pro would you love to visit for a game?

As a chiefs fan I would love to experience a game at Arrowhead Stadium. I was able to see the stadium in person when I was in Kansas City to compete in the club volleyball national tournament, but it was early in the summer so we were not able to catch a game. It is till a major item on my bucket list to watch the chiefs play at home.

What is your favorite Pro team, any sport?

My family and I have been lifelong Kansas City Chiefs fans.

What game, yours, college or pro, was your favorite game you watched and why?

I would have to say that my favorite sports game I’ve ever watched was the Chiefs vs Rams Monday night football game in 2018. It was an offensive shootout ending with what I believe was the highest scoring monday night football game in NFL history. The reason why I love that game is not only because of the big plays but also because it was after that game that I realized that Patrick Mahomes had the potential to be an incredible quarterback that could do great things for the franchise.

Name one thing that you’d love to do in football that may never happen?

My dream before I graduate would be to win a state championship in football. It has been difficult the past two years to play with such talented teams and come up just short of making a championship game both years. I have great respect for many of the 6A teams in Pennsylvania as there are so many extremely impressive programs. Although there is difficult competition and a state championship may not happen, I have complete faith that my teammates and I will do everything that we can in order to be the best team that we can be which at the end of the day is all that really matters.

Who is your mentor, the person you want to be like? WHY?

The biggest mentors in my life are and have always been my parents. They have both instilled important characterstics and values in my life that have made me into the person that I am today. Growing up I have witnessed my parents working so hard to give us the best life that my siblings and I could ever ask for. Each day I strive to exemplify their work ethic, morals, and compassion in my own life.

What is your most embarrassing sports moment?

When I was in 5th grade the elementary schools in our area had a small basketball league. In one of our games I came down with a rebound and without thinking put the ball back up and scored on the wrong hoop. Its safe to say that I quickly realized that basketball would not be my sport.

Is there anyone in your family, besides your parents, you could consider your biggest fan? Who, Why?

My entire life my grandmother has lived with my family and she took a big role in raising me when my parents were hard at work to provide for us. To me, my grandmother is not only like a second mother, but she is a friend, a mentor, a leader in my faith, and the person I can go to when I can’t go to anyone else. She has been my biggest cheerleader since the start and I can not express how lucky I am to have her in my life.

When you aren’t playing, practicing or training for sports, what is your go to activity and why?

Although there is very little time in the day where I am not focused on athletics and academics, there are a few things that I like to do with the limited leisure that I do have. I love to get out into nature and do things like go on hikes, swim at the beach, and adventure with my friends. I have also always been a huge fan of music and like to play guitar as a creative outlet. I believe it is important to balance athletics and academics with fun and creative activities. I believe having time for creative outlets keeps my mind clear to perform well in the other parts of my life.

What is your favorite football memory to date?

My favorite football memory isn’t able to be narrowed down to just one specific event. I would say that my favorite memories from football are all of the times after practice and after lifts where I would simply just spend time with my teammates in the locker room. All of the times after hours of hard work where we could just be together as brothers and relax, talk, and joke with one another. McDowell football has cultivated countless memories and relationships for me that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

Which one? Sheetz or Wawa

Although I may be biased because I am a western PA kid, I believe that sheetz is far superior. I have family in the Philadelphia area, so I have been able to have wawa many times, but in my opinion it comes no where close to sheetz.

What is your favorite vacation destination?

Whenever I go on vacation I love going to the beach. Some of the places I have the best memories at are Ocean City, New Jersey, and Myrtle Beach South Carolina. Living in a cold place like Erie, there is no better escape than a warm beach vacation. Also, I love boating a fishing, so any where with water ill be happy.

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

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