Patrick Brock commits to play football at Illinois College

Patrick Brock signing his letter of intent to play college football at Illinois College surrounded by his family and Assistant Coach Chris Ntor’ue and Head Coach Patrick Etherton.

By BLAKE FAITH
Staff Writer

Mt. Zion football senior Patrick Brock committed to play college football at Illinois College.

“Justin Moreau was a part of it, but the big family atmosphere, the coaches were really welcoming?” Brock said. “I never really got a connection from any of those schools like I did at IC.”

Brock made first-team All-Apollo Conference on offense as a lineman and was on the excellent Braves’ pass-rushing defense. Brock said the biggest thing he’ll take with him is the “leadership and being there for each other and helping pick one another up all the times as a Brave.

“He really has matured for the freshman year on,” Head Coach Patrick Etherton said. “He’s a key contributor in our O -line D -line and really has had some outstanding games over the last couple of years. He really did a good job of getting better and better at improving and working on his technique and skills over the last couple of years to get himself in the ability to be a college football player.”

Brock will major in accounting and play Defensive End at Illinois College. Brock’s freshman goal academically is to maintain a 3.0 GPA and compete.

“In football, competing for a starting job hopefully, you know, if I’m on JV or varsity, whatever it is, just competing and being the best man that I can be,” Brock said.

Coach Etherton said that his lasting words of advice to Brock will be to “have fun, enjoy the opportunity and four years goes by fast.”

Brock is going to cherish and miss the most is the brotherhood of bonds he made as Brave.

“These are my brothers,” Brock said. “So just spending time with them, getting to go out on the field with my brothers is just always cool.”