GAMES
RANKINGS
VYPE DFW 411 with Arlington Grace Prep's Bryce Prince
Practice has begun and athletes have been given the green light to start working out in pads marking the official start of the Texas high school football season. As teams continue preparing for their preseason schedule, many fans are taking to the VYPE DFW fan polls to vote for players they believe deserve preseason honors. Arlington Grace Prep inside linebacker and running back, Bryce Prince, recently won the VYPE DFW Preseason Private School Football Defensive Player of the Year Fan Poll. Following Prince's win, VYPE DFW caught up with the incoming sophomore in an exclusive interview.
To read the full interview, become a VYPE Insider today!
Offseason Focus leads to Success
For an athlete to be truly great at what they do, they must reman focused and sharpened throughout their offseason. For Prince, this includes working hard to get to where he wants to be. "I stay focused during the off season by training with a personal trainer and specialized coach to improve my skills," Prince told VYPE.
By working with people who help him become the best that he can be, Prince has been successful so far with Arlington Grace Prep. "The secret to my personal success [last season] was personal experience and teamwork," Prince opened up about his first year with Grace Prep. I have been playing football since the age of four, however, having a great team and great coaches helped me succeed last year."
Speaking of the team, Grace Prep put up an incredible season last fall. With a 10-1 overall record and a 91% win percentage, the Lions went undefeated in regular season play (7-0) as they plowed their way into playoffs. "In my opinion, the secret to the team's success was accountability and talent," Prince said. "We had a great, talented team- from the freshmen to the seniors."
Mindset and Goals
As the season gets rolling, there are many things to look forward to. For Prince it all boils down to getting to play. "I am most looking forward to starting on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball. In the past I've played defense, but this year I will play on both sides of the ball-- running back and linebacker-- which is exciting to me," Prince started.
"My mind is set on winning a state championships," he continued. "My individual goals going into the season are to make 70+ tackles and surpass my total from last season. I want to perform better than I did last year and lead the team in tackles."
With the ability to keep a great mindset as he has played football, Prince has been extremely accomplished in his career so far. "My biggest accomplishment so far," Prince opened up, "was being the second leader on the team in tackles and third in rushing yards as only a freshman." During his success last season, Prince had one of his favorite memories with the Lions: "Making two significant plays during the game-- a sack and a rushing touchdown."
A Bright Future
Although there is still plenty of time to decide what the future has in store for him when he closes the chapter on his high school career, Prince has already started thinking about college and the potential for playing football in a college program. "I am looking for a program that provides a good education, environment, and a great football program," Prince said.
Prince is hoping to major in meteorology. "I've always been interested in the weather and I love science."
Fun Questions
Who is your favorite pro football team?
"Carolina Panthers."
As an athlete, who do you most look up to?
"I look up to Saquan Barkley because he is a versatile player-- which is what I aspire to be."
If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be? What would you hope to talk about?
"I would love to go to dinner with Saquan Barkley and talk about his plays and workout regime."
VYPE DFW Private School Preseason Wide Receiver of the Year Fan Poll
Grace Prep junior wide receiver Kaleb Mathis has been having a successful season so far. Part of his successful season has been winning the VYPE DFW Private School Preseason Wide Receiver of the Year Fan Poll. VYPE DFW was able to catch up with Mathis in an interview ahead of his week 5 matchup.
Rewind
This season has been Mathis' first season with Grace Prep. Last season, Mathis was a part of the Trinity Christian Tigers team where he had a successful season. "The secret to my success last year was that I played my role and did my job. This gave me a lot of the success that I had last year. At TCCH, our team success was built on discipline and the ability to trust and depend on others. I think what separated us from the other teams was the fact that we prepared so well for those other teams. I believe this helped lead us to win another championship."
The offseason can be long and brutal. During the offseason, it could be difficult for any normal teenager to stay focused in their goals. However, for some of the areas top athletes, staying focused isn't difficult- this has proven to be the case with Mathis whose father played in the NFL and gave him incredible advice to live by. "During the offseason staying focused can be very challenging, but I always think about what my dad told me: you get out what you put in. So, if you work on your crafts for hours daily it will pay off in the end," Mathis told VYPE. "I stay focused by having a routine every single day. I have to get better every day to get to where I want to go. Another reason I stay focused is: while you're not working hard there are many others outworking you and it will show on Friday nights."
2021-22 Football Season
With this season being his first season at Grace Prep, Mathis has already made great memories. His favorite so far has been beating a rival team- one that the school hasn't been able to beat in six years. Aside from making memories, though, Mathis has been able to get in the right mindset and focus on the season ahead which has helped him stay focused. "The secret to my success this year is my football IQ. My dad played in the NFL, so I have always had more knowledge of the game than most of the other players. Also, I went to a couple of camps with a lot of good coaches that shared their game with me and helped me add to my toolbox," said Mathis. "My mindset going into this school year is to have my priorities in order," Mathis added. "I need to take care of business in the classroom in order to take care of business on the field."
Grace Prep has started the season with a 3-0 record with big wins over schools like Arlington Oakridge, Coram Deo Academy, and Dallas Covenant. This week, the Lions will face off against Bishop Gorman where they expect to harness another win. "This season I am looking forward to winning a championship at the end of the year," Mathis said. "The goal I have for myself is to have 1,000 receiving yards and at least 15 touchdowns. Our team goal this year is to go undefeated, win a district championship, and a state championship to top it off."
The Future Is Bright
Although Mathis is not yet committed, he has not ruled out the chance of playing football in college. "What I look for in a program is a family and a brotherhood," Mathis told VYPE. "Another thing I will look at in a program is the coaching staff along with facilities as well as an ability to get to the next level. Mathis hopes to major in business in the future.
Coach's Comments
Chad Pegues, Arlington Grace Prep's football coach had only good things to say about Mathis. "Kaleb is a very smart football player with a good understanding of route running," said Pegues. "He has sure hands and has racked up the YAC every game this season. He is only a junior, so he will only get better."
Fun Questions
What is your favorite sports team?"My favorite professional sports team is the Atlanta Falcons."
Who do you look up to as an athlete?
"As an athlete, I look up to Lewis Cine a DB for Georiga University. I look up to Lewis because I got the chance to live with him for a little while and I noticed how hard he works. I love his work ethic and mentality."
If you could go to dinner with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be? What would you hope to talk about?
"I would go to dinner with Kobe Bryant and I would want to talk to him about his humbleness and mentality- both things that made him so great."