Every year, universities around the country host a spring exhibition football game. Wake Forest will be showing off a fresh team with hopes of setting high expectations for the upcoming season. Players in every class get the chance to show off their skills before the fall season, and the first year players are particularly excited.

Even though football is a team sport, it can be interesting to capture individual insights of the game. Knowing a player's motivation and love for the sport can make watching it more entertaining.

One of those players on Wake Forest's team is Steven Claude.

Steven, or Steve as most of his friends call him, is a freshman from Miami, Florida. He is a wide receiver, and has been playing football since he was 5 years old.

When asked how he fell in love with the game, he said, "Growing up, everyone around me played football. My brothers, the kids in the 'hood, everyone. They all played and talked about football all the time, and I wanted to be included."

His love for the game was complemented by his natural athleticism. He can run 40 yards in 4.3 seconds, which is a useful skill in his position. His raw talent brought him here to Wake Forest, and it made him the first one of his brothers to carry his football career to a D1 university. He wants to use his love and ability for the game to give back to the family and community that raised him.

"I know that playing for Wake Forest will give me the leverage to take care of my people back home. My dream is to make it to the NFL and build a career and life around football. I hope one day I'll make it to the Hall of Fame as well."

Steve certainly has the drive and talent to accomplish his dreams, but he admits that being a student athlete has its challenges.

"It’s hard, but knowing that your mentality is strong enough to handle both the schoolwork and the athletic life is really rewarding. I feel like they’re preparing us for real life, but it can be challenging. I think it’s worth it, though."

The Wake Forest football team has given its players what the university has given to all of its students: Opportunities. Steve does not take that for granted.

He reflected on his freshman year, saying, "These first two semesters have been a life-changing process. I made new friends, I’ve learned a lot in my classes, and my knowledge of the game has grown. Choosing Wake Forest was the best decision I have ever made."

Steve and the entire football team would love to have the support of their fellow classmates at the spring football game at the BB&T Field on Saturday, April 9th at 3 p.m.

As always, go Deacs!