Tuscarora LB Rainer Halveland (Photo: Joe Barnes/recruit757)
Rainer Halveland Commits to Frostburg State
by Marc Goldstein, recruitNoVA
Tuscarora High School senior linebacker Rainer Halveland has recently made a life-changing decision to commit to Frostburg State University to play football. He intends to use this commitment as motivation during the upcoming season, as he and his Tuscarora teammates look to make a mark on the Northern Virginia high school football scene. Rainer only received two offers, one from Frostburg State, and one from Alvernia University, a Division III school in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Aside from having one of the coolest names in the area, Rainer uses a speed and strength technique from the outside linebacker spot that has become more and more common in players.
Professionals like TJ Watt and Von Miller have used the speed-strength combo to wreak havoc on the NFL. That is not to say Rainer is the next Watt or Miller, because those are awfully large shoes to fill, but he uses a similar technique. Additionally, Rainer is a player that has been tirelessly working on his craft, trying to hone in on his weaknesses to make them into his strengths.
He may be a bit undersized at the linebacker spot, but he’s earned the respect of coaches, athletes and fans alike. Rainer is a 6-0, 190 pound linebacker, and that means he’s had to work a little harder at earning the respect he is given.
Rainer views it as motivation to get better every day to prove every one of the schools who passed up on him that they made a huge mistake.
He runs very well, too, having recorded a 4.63 40 yard dash last fall, and working out over the summer.
In the end, he can’t control his height, as there is no doubt that if he were a taller player, he would get more attention. He can, though, control his work ethic and how he adapts to and overcomes any challenges thrown his way.
Rainer’s decision became one where he had to choose between two schools: Frostburg State and Alvernia.
Both of them are pretty close to home, and both play competitive football. Frostburg State has been picking up many players in the Northern Virginia area, hoping to use the hotbed of the Mid-Atlantic to their advantage. The decision to play at Frostburg means that Rainer gets to play against higher competition and improve his game at a venue not far away over the next four years.
With his commitment locked in, Rainer remains focused on the upcoming season this spring. He understands that without continuing to work hard, this commitment means nothing. He will continue to improve day in and day out to be the best football player possible. Rainer hopes to continue his success at Frostburg State, bringing their program back to prominence.
– Marc Goldstein
