Some high school football prospects don't have much to say. Chalk it up to just being teen-age boys, right?
La Porte's Albert Regis is not that guy. He's thoughtful and has plenty to say.
Regis' family is of Caribbean descent but the 6-foot-2, 260-pound hybrid athlete was born in the United States. He's from a soccer family, he's very spiritual, he's competitive and he has a pretty unique hobby.
"My parents moved from St. Lucia," he said. "My dad worked for Exxon and played soccer on the side. He could have played for the Dynamo but went to work instead. My brother was really good at soccer and I just had God-given talent in the sport. I knew early though, that my talent was going to be in football."
"When I was four-years old, my goal was to make it to the league and get drafted by the Texans," he said. "That's still my goal."
Regis was the District 21-6A Sophomore of the Year in 2018 and the first-team, all-district tight end as a junior.
Because of his size and athletic ability, Regis was used on both sides of the ball.
"I had to learn to play defense during games," he said. "It was very confusing and the coaches thought they were putting too much on me. I had no choice -- I wanted to help my team win. It took a lot of studying but it all came together by the later part of the season. I was proud of how I played."
By season's end, he had game-film playing tight end, wide receiver, fullback, defensive end and outside linebacker.
"My goal this summer is to work on my defensive line craft," he said. "This year I'll be playing even more both ways. I'm working on shooting my hands, getting stronger and faster."
Baylor was first to offer Regis during his sophomore year. More have followed to include TCU, SMU, Minnesota, UH, Texas Tech, Tennessee and Virginia Tech to name a few.
"No one in my family has been through the recruiting process," he said. "I've just trusted my gut. If it weren't for my mom and God, I couldn't get through the process."
"I never thought I was going to get an offer and would get so discouraged," he said. "My mom would keep saying… 'have faith and talk to God.' That's what I did. I could feel him responding to me. It was a different voice than the one usually in your head saying, 'be patient, your time will come.'"
The offers have come and will continue to roll in, but here's a tip for potential suitors.
"I really hate partying, drinking and smoking," the honor roll student said. "I can't be around it. I'm either at the gym or hanging out with my family of a small group of friends. I can never see myself at a big party school, regardless of how good the school is."
"I have bigger things I'm striving for. I'm spending a lot of time on this decision...it's the next four years of my life away from home. You better believe it's going to get my full attention."
When he's not focusing on football, he's watching Anime.
"I've been watching Anime since I was young," he laughed. "If you really pay attention to it, there are so many motivational quotes to apply to your everyday life. I don't know what people are going through, but if I feel like someone is struggling, I will send some videos to them."
"For example, when 'Goku' is training, he is giving full effort. You can see their passion and grit. If that doesn't motivate you, I don't know what will."
Regis has put that motivation to good work as he has become one of more highly-recruited athletes to come out of La Porte.
"On a day I get an offer, my mom tells me to celebrate and take the day off," he said. "After about two hours, I gotta get back to work to improve myself physically or spiritually."
Sounds like Goku to me...
