Perkins leading MRA team as he preps for West Point

MRA Senior Matthew Perkins is focused on leading a very talented Patriot team in his final season with the program. However, Perkins already has a plan in place for his future to serve his country and continue to play the game he loves.

In late July, Perkins committed to play for the Army West Point football program, while also continuing his education at one of the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions and choosing to serve. After taking a visit to the school, he knew that it was the best place for him. 

“When I took a visit up there in the summer, me and my family loved the school and really got a lot of my questions and concerns answered by the players and coaches I talked to,” Perkins said. “From that point on, I knew that it was the place for me.”

Growing up, Perkins credits his parents and brothers for pushing him to be the best he can be and he believes that his family is a major part in his success as a football player and as a person. 

“My parents have also been so supportive of me and I get a lot of my work ethic from them,” Perkins said. “They do a really good job with giving me advice and telling me what I need to hear, even if it’s not always what I want to hear.”

His older brother, Joe, is a 2020 graduate of MRA, before going on to play football at FIU and Jackson State, while his younger brother, Daniel, is currently a freshman at MRA. 

“Growing up with them really just pushed me to be the best I could be, especially getting to see my older brother play at the next level,” Perkins said. “It’s a mixture of tough love and support for each other, but we all know that it comes out of a place of love.

On the field, Perkins has been a staple for the Patriots during his time with the program, but this year on a MRA team that is on the younger side, he has had to take a more vocal leadership role as one of the senior voices in their locker room.

Even with a plan for his future, he is focused on taking that leadership role head on for this MRA team. 

“He just has great personal discipline on and off the field and I think that sets an example as a leader,” MRA Head Coach Herbert Davis. “He has become a little more vocal this year as a senior and that’s obviously a great thing.”

Perkins plays a number of different roles for MRA in all three phases of the game, including receiver, defensive back, and also returning kicks and is a leader in all three of those phases. 

“He’s really athletic and has a lot of speed,” Davis said. “He has such high standards for himself, he sets goals and has the discipline to work to achieve those goals, which I think makes him impressive on and off the field.”

However, Perkins is not only versatile on the football field, but in other sports and in his community and school as well.

After suffering an injury last season, Perkins turned to track as part of his recovery and ended up becoming a state champion. 

“Coming back from injury, I really used track to get me back on my feet and work on my running form and really just get back active,” Perkins said. “Track really helps with all the little details in football and helped me gain speed.”

There is no doubt that any high school student who will be attending one of the military academies is impressive as a student and as a person and Perkins excels in both of those areas. But, there is a whole different level when it comes to balancing that while also playing Division one football.

If anyone is prepared to take on that challenge, it’s Matthew Perkins.