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Driven to achieve his goals, Bryce Dorsey looks to write the next chapter after signing a National Letter of Intent to study and play football at Avila University on Wednesday.

“I am truly thankful and blessed to have this opportunity to continue my education and pursue athletics. Playing college football has always been my dream growing up, and it’s finally coming to reality. Words just can’t describe how grateful I am for this,” Dorsey said.

Located in Kansas City, Missouri, Avila University competes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Eagles have a 29-10 record since the beginning of the 2018 season. The KCAC is the NAIA’s oldest conference and second oldest in the nation dating back to 1890.

“Out of the six offers I received, I felt like they put the most effort into my recruiting and me. They also offer a pre-physical therapy program, which is what I’m going to college [to study]. I’m looking forward to the new lifestyle I will be living for the next three to four years and being in a new place,” he said.

Dorsey is excited to get started at Avila and achieve his dreams and goals. “Having this opportunity means a lot to me. Not many people can say they experienced playing at the next level, and I’ll be the first in my family to play college football.”

Although his school colors will change from red and white to purple and gold, he will always be grateful for his time at Andalusia.

“What I’ll miss the most about being a Bulldog are the home games, the atmosphere of the stadium, and the band, which was amazing and will be something I’ll never forget about high school. Beating UMS in the third round in 2021 was a pretty big highlight. That game had a lot of meaning, and it was a great achievement for us seniors and as a football team,” Dorsey said.

“Bryce was at Andalusia during his elementary years and moved away. He came back to us as a tall tenth grader. He worked extremely hard and was a kid who sprouted up really quickly. When that happens, kids have to work on their coordination. With Bryce, he worked hard at our program in the last three years and still has a lot of positive things to go. His college staff will continue to develop his skills. He is blessed with his height, which is something you can’t coach. Once he gets his hand-eye coordination where it needs to be, I believe the sky is the limit for him. He made several contributions to our program as a wide receiver and will now work on his blocking due to his height. He and Coach (Drew) Smith have had a great relationship. The job Coach Smith does certainly paid off, but we’re looking for big things out of Bryce. It’s a long way from home, but I’m proud he has this opportunity to play and represent Andalusia football,” AHS Head Football Coach Trent Taylor said.

Dorsey started playing football in the fifth grade. He added that the sport had always made him happy, and he enjoyed watching it growing up.

“My family pushed me along the way and helped me set goals I needed to reach. They helped me stay prepared and focus on what needed to be done. My friends helped me with these goals as well as set the same goals for themselves. We’ve been through some of the toughest challenges together.”

He credited two important women in his life who have helped him become the young man he is today. “My mother Brittany Schneider and my grandmother Jackie Dorsey are probably the biggest influences in my life. They are the ones who really push me every day to do better and be better at not only athletics but all aspects of life.”

As he prepares to make the transition from the South to the Midwest, one thing sticks out in his mind. “I have moved a few times in my life, especially across country. I feel like it shouldn’t be too difficult, but it will totally be a cultural shock. The snow is my biggest worry.”

Dorsey is the son of Brittany and Michael Schneider. He will graduate from Andalusia High School on Friday, May 20, 2022.

“We’re excited to get Bryce up here. With his size and athleticism, we’re excited to see him develop into a great weapon for us in the future. He has the potential to become a huge asset for our program,” Avila Head Football Coach Marc Benavidez said.