(Photo via Brandon DePrato Twitter account)

Throughout the years, Brandon DePrato has been a standout for the U.S. National Team. Starting on the defensive line, DePrato played on the 2016 U-19 National Team and competed in the 2016 U-19 World Championship in Harbin, China.

DePrato continued his football career as an outside linebacker at the University of Arkansas, where the 6-foot-4, 222-pound freshman will redshirt this season.

“It's a great opportunity to play in the SEC and for a program that has such a giant fan base,” DePrato said. “The amount of Razorback fans that wake up early and tailgate, then just coming out the tunnel with 80,000-plus fans surrounding you is an amazing feeling.”

When asked how he prepares for game day DePrato said, “I listen to music to get me going and just sitting and studying the playbook to make sure I know everything like the back of my hand.”

When looking back at his time with the U.S. National Team, DePrato commented on how much USA Football was like college ball. “The U.S. National Team helped prepare me for college football because we were always competing with the best of the best. Having a schedule with meetings and scheduled meals really relates how the day-to-day life is in college ball.”

This summer, DePrato has been extremely busy at Arkansas taking summer classes, working out with the team and getting ready for the season. He even took time out of his busy schedule to give back to USA Football. “I drove down to Little Rock to talk at the USA Football Regional Development Camp and help with the camp,” DePrato said. “It was a great opportunity because I was in those kids’ shoes just four years ago when I first got introduced to USA Football, my sophomore year at a Regional Development Camp in Houston.”

As a Redshirt Freshman, DePrato’s goals for the season are all about learning and growing. “I want to help the team wherever I can," he said. “Whether it's through film study and recognizing tendencies or on the field with special teams.”