Lake Forest boys soccer coach Robert Parry might forever lament the player who got away.
When Nick Flynn was younger, he displayed next-level talent as a goalkeeper. But his body grew at a fast pace.
“I’ve been in the 99th percentile for my age in height and weight since preschool,” he said.
More Top Picks Sleeping Bag
As a 6-foot-2, 230-pound freshman at Lake Forest, Flynn was an imposing presence in the net. He played for the freshman team and then participated in the Scouts’ summer camp.
“Nick played well in some varsity summer league games,” Parry said. “He looked good as a goalkeeper. He has always been a big (kid), but you could see the athleticism in him. He had pretty quick feet and reactions with his hands. He had the bravery to play keeper.”
But Flynn switched from soccer to football for his sophomore season and worked his way up the ranks. He became a starter for Lake Forest at right tackle as a senior last season.
Flynn’s quick ascension in football — and his 6-4, 310-pound frame — opened doors for him to play in college. He’s mulling over a number of walk-on and scholarship offers, mainly from Butler, Florida, Louisville, Murray State, New Mexico State, Southern Illinois and West Florida.
“I’m still extremely new to football,” Flynn said. “I was pretty good at soccer. I love the sport. But so many times the football coaches would ask me, ‘Why aren’t you playing football?’
“I was a soccer kid, but I knew I had some time left in high school, so I wanted to experience everything before I left. It was the best decision in my life. I’m so happy where I’m headed, just to know I have the potential to play in college.”
Flynn praised Lake Forest football coach Chuck Spagnoli and the rest of the staff for tirelessly working with him.
Lake Forest senior quarterback Leo Scheidler, who accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Notre Dame in mid-February, said Flynn’s rapid development bodes well for his future in football.
Scheidler said Flynn became a consistent and dependable lineman who protected him, helping the Scouts reach the Class 6A semifinals.
“Nick was a great goalie, but once he realized that his size could be more beneficial to him in football rather than soccer, his work ethic reached another level,” Scheidler said.
“It’s no surprise schools are starting to take notice in him. … He’s got a bright future in front of him. I know at the next level he won’t take his foot off the gas, but rather flood it to get to the top.”
Rivals.com‘s “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran said Flynn’s recruitment hit a snag due to a number of factors beyond his control, including the explosion of players in the NCAA transfer portal and the extra year of eligibility granted to student-athletes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve seen Nick at workouts quite a bit,” O’Halloran said. “He’s a big guy. He can get in front of someone and block. He’s the kind of player you look for in a preferred walk-on. He will be able to match up physically with almost anyone.”
Flynn’s work ethic is evident on social media. In one video, he is pushing up 120-pound dumbbells on the bench press with ease. He said his body fat percentage is 18%.
“I’ve put in a lot of work,” Flynn said. “I have my foot speed from soccer, doing the ladder drills. For an offensive lineman, your first few steps you have to power out of your stance and often block linebackers down the field.
“The coaches at Lake Forest taught me so much, like even teaching me how to block for the first time. It’s crazy to see how far I’ve come, playing one year of varsity football to getting a roster spot offer at an SEC school.”
Parry said Flynn’s decision to switch gears early in high school worked out for the best.
“Nick’s a jovial, gregarious guy, and we enjoy chatting whenever we bump into each other in the hallways,” Parry said. “He’s one of those kids that his two best and favorite sports fell in the same season. I’m so happy for him, and playing football was the right choice for him and the Scouts.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
More Top Picks Best Twin Mattresses