When Others Doubted, Utah State Center Quin Ficklin Believed In Himself
Dec 17, 2018, 10:25 AM | Updated: 3:17 pm
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Beginning as a walk-on, leaving to walk-on at a rival school, through the highs and lows, Quin Ficklin never doubted himself.
Utah State’s starting center began his career as a member of the scout team at BYU in 2012. After returning from a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ficklin spent another season on the practice squad before seeing his first game action in 2016 as a reserve lineman and blocking fullback – he even caught a pass in BYU’s 31-14 win over Michigan State.
“I never thought I’d be here.”
After 2016, it was time for change. Ficklin left the BYU football program to join the Utah State, once again as a walk-on.
“Having to walk-on at two places, it was very financially [stressful] to my family,” said Ficklin.
He made an immediate impact in the Aggie trenches.
As a junior in 2017, Ficklin started 13 games at center, earned all-Mountain West Third Team honors, graded out at 93 percent – the highest on the team, and recorded 56 knockdowns – also leading the Aggies.
It was a building block for a breakout year in 2018 where Ficklin earned all-Mountain West First Team honors, graded at a 92 percent – again the highest on the team, and didn’t allow a sack the entire season.
Congrats to @quinficklin and @Savon_Scarver on being named First Team All-Mountain West. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/rAOq36UR03
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 28, 2018
The offensive line, led by Ficklin, paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged 203.2 yards per game and scored 37 touchdowns. The Aggie offense also set a school record by averaging 47.5 points per game, and set a Mountain West Conference record by scoring 618 points in a season.
Safe to say, the move to Utah State worked out for Ficklin.
“It was really cool to be a part of it,” said Ficklin. “I never thought this is the way it would play out, but sometimes you get things better than what you’d ask for.”
The journey was never easy for Ficklin. He dealt with coaches, beginning in high school, telling him he’d never make it at the next level.
“I was even doubted by coaches at the collegiate level, coaches at the high school level who would say, ‘You’re too small, you’ll never make it,’” said Ficklin.
But through it all, his family stuck by his side, giving support that would help him succeed.
“I have a great family support system that always believed in me, that I could do this,” said Ficklin. “They were always committed to me and helped me do all the things I wanted to do and to live my dreams.”
Ficklin never gave up on his dream, a passionate player on the field, he believed in himself and carried a chip on his shoulder. His message to anyone with a dream, to play with that same passion.
“Don’t listen to what everybody else says you can do,” Ficklin said. “Just spite everybody. Just spite them. Do things because they say you can’t do it. They won’t be able to say you can’t do things if you just believe in yourself.”
Your 2018 @NMBowl Champions! #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/PXds1b47Hx
— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 15, 2018
The passion, spite, and confidence led Ficklin to a great collegiate career, and after suiting up one last time for the Aggies in their 52-13 win over North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl – he was able to walk-off the field a champion, and helped lead Utah State to one of the best seasons in program history.
“It feels weird that it’s over, but I always believed in myself.”
