Silence radiating through the room, the football player can hear his heart beating in his chest. All he can think about is how familiar this feeling is but now there is more people watching him. Xavier Alumni and past Xavier football players, Josh Volk (X20) and Jaxon Rexroth (X21), are often caught in a situation like this now that they play for the Iowa Hawkeye football team. Even though these situations are similar, there are also differences between high school and college football. “High school football is more about seeing the ball, getting down and blocking,” Volk said. “In college football you really break down the game and learn it in depth.” Rexroth shares his thoughts on the difference between high school and college. “The main difference is the speed of the game but there is also a different mental aspect,” Rexroth said. The two also mention how they could not have gotten this opportunity without the experience they received from the Xavier football program. “Coach Schulte runs things a lot like Coach Ferdntz. They both value hard work and doing what you are supposed to do,” Rexroth said. “The main thing I have learned from Xavier football is to work hard and never back down from anyone.” Although Iowa City is not too far away from home, it is still helpful to see familiar faces on the field. “Having four other guys from Xavier as my teammates is huge,” Rexroth said. “If I ever have any questions or anything I always have them to ask and it definitely makes the team feel more like home.” Defensive Coordinator for Xavier’s varsity football team, Jim O’Connell, shares what he thinks it takes to be a good football player in high school and in college. “There are many things that get a player ready for the next level: supportive parents that will push you in all of your endeavors, solid true friends, coaches that take the time to make the athlete a well rounded young man that is not afraid of challenges,” O’Connell said. “Whatever the next level may be, they need to understand how to keep things in perspective.” In the end, these boys may go very far with their football career but they will never forget where it all started. Find Rexroth, Volk and the Iowa Hawkeyes playing Team vs. competiton on ESPN college game day and other sports broadcasting channels on October 1 at 7:00 p.m. at Maryland.