Hard-working Sodeke rushing towards future success
10/3/2014 2:17:00 PM | Football
By Chelsea Vielhauer
Note: This story originally appeared in the Sept. 27 Lehigh-Monmouth game program
Senior running back Rich Sodeke has had quite the journey at Lehigh. After having a tough time adjusting during his freshman year, Sodeke has gradually moved into a bigger role on the Mountain Hawk squad, while also advancing as a student-athlete and future professional. This season, he's ready to help lead his team to another Patriot League Championship.
"Rich has really developed in all phases of his life," said head coach Andy Coen. "His freshman year was a little rough and he had to learn some lessons, but he did a really nice job with that. It's been a full circle journey for him.
"Along the way he's really learned how to be a good student and has done a great job in the classroom," continued Coen. "It's kind of been the same process with him on the football field. He played a little bit early in his career, but he's a big part of our scheme this year. He had some bumps in the road, but now that he's a senior he's going to be a significant contributor for us."
A first-generation American, both of Sodeke's parents immigrated to the United States from Nigeria. Sodeke began playing football in fifth grade and used the sport as a way to meet new people.
"We moved around a lot when I was younger, so football really helped me to make friends," said Sodeke. "My mom always said I was kind of a wimp when I was little. Football really helped make me tougher, physically and mentally, and also made me more disciplined and determined."
Sodeke earned first team All-Conference, All-County and All-Area recognition out of Hanover Park High School in East Hanover, N.J. When the recruiting process started for Sodeke, he began seeing stories in local newspapers about Lehigh standouts Mike Colvin '13 and Tom Bianchi '13, both of whom were making their mark at Lehigh.
"I remember hearing about them in high school and knowing that they were crazy good athletes," explained Sodeke. "I met them on my visit and thought well I guess all the good kids from Morris County are coming to Lehigh so maybe I should go too."
Sodeke chose Lehigh and began his time as a Mountain Hawk in 2011. It wasn't the easiest of years for the new Mountain Hawk as he began having trouble adjusting to the new-found freedoms of college life.
"I was really immature freshman year," remembered Sodeke. "I didn't have many freedoms in high school so when I came to Lehigh it was a whole new experience. I thought I could do whatever I wanted."
Sodeke didn't see any playing time during his freshman year, but his attitude and mentality changed when his team won the Patriot League Championship.
"When I was a freshman and we got rings at the banquet I remember immediately thinking that we need to get another one," said Sodeke. "That's when I realized that I was about to take a bigger role on the team and had to be more focused and determined."
Sodeke appeared in ten games during his sophomore year and rushed for 112 yards on 29 carries before playing in nine games and tallying 23 rushes for 67 years in his junior campaign.
In the first game of his senior year, Lehigh's heartbreaking last-minute 31-28 loss to JMU, Sodeke shattered his career-high with 98 rushing yards, along with a touchdown, and also made four receptions for 48 yards.
"It was an amazing feeling," offered Sodeke. "I had really high expectations that past two years and finally had my breakout game against JMU. I worked really hard and I was just playing my game."
"Within the group of running backs, Rich is someone the kids really look up to," explained Coen. "He doesn't stick out right away because he's more of a quiet leader and tends to lead by his actions."
Sodeke is grateful that he's grown so much throughout his time at Lehigh and credits Coen and the coaching staff with helping him to develop not only as a football player, but as a student-athlete and person.
"When I came here in high school I just ran to the outside and out ran everyone to the end zone," said Sodeke. "Now I have to be more patient reading holes and I'm actually perfecting my art as a running back more than just out running and out hustling people. Being here has helped me grow as a running back and as a person in general."
Off the field, Sodeke is enrolled in Lehigh's College of Business and Economics and is a marketing major. In addition to getting ready for his senior season this summer, Sodeke also completed an internship in the marketing and sales department of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the world's second-largest professional services network.
"Coach Coen and the rest of the coaches are really good about allowing us to pursue opportunities and internships," explained Sodeke. "Although we're athletes, we're also student-athletes and we all want to get jobs after college. They understand that and really support us."
Sodeke hopes to go to graduate school and studying marketing following his Lehigh career and envisions himself entering the field of sports marking one day.
For now, Sodeke is focused on one thing: winning a Patriot League Championship alongside his best friends.
"I'm playing for my friends now," explained Sodeke. "In previous years, I was playing for the seniors. But now I'm a senior and I see my friends working hard and I want to step it up because we all want to win. There's no doubt that's what we're trying to accomplish this season."
Note: This story originally appeared in the Sept. 27 Lehigh-Monmouth game program
Senior running back Rich Sodeke has had quite the journey at Lehigh. After having a tough time adjusting during his freshman year, Sodeke has gradually moved into a bigger role on the Mountain Hawk squad, while also advancing as a student-athlete and future professional. This season, he's ready to help lead his team to another Patriot League Championship.
"Rich has really developed in all phases of his life," said head coach Andy Coen. "His freshman year was a little rough and he had to learn some lessons, but he did a really nice job with that. It's been a full circle journey for him.
"Along the way he's really learned how to be a good student and has done a great job in the classroom," continued Coen. "It's kind of been the same process with him on the football field. He played a little bit early in his career, but he's a big part of our scheme this year. He had some bumps in the road, but now that he's a senior he's going to be a significant contributor for us."
A first-generation American, both of Sodeke's parents immigrated to the United States from Nigeria. Sodeke began playing football in fifth grade and used the sport as a way to meet new people.
"We moved around a lot when I was younger, so football really helped me to make friends," said Sodeke. "My mom always said I was kind of a wimp when I was little. Football really helped make me tougher, physically and mentally, and also made me more disciplined and determined."
Sodeke earned first team All-Conference, All-County and All-Area recognition out of Hanover Park High School in East Hanover, N.J. When the recruiting process started for Sodeke, he began seeing stories in local newspapers about Lehigh standouts Mike Colvin '13 and Tom Bianchi '13, both of whom were making their mark at Lehigh.
"I remember hearing about them in high school and knowing that they were crazy good athletes," explained Sodeke. "I met them on my visit and thought well I guess all the good kids from Morris County are coming to Lehigh so maybe I should go too."
Sodeke chose Lehigh and began his time as a Mountain Hawk in 2011. It wasn't the easiest of years for the new Mountain Hawk as he began having trouble adjusting to the new-found freedoms of college life.
"I was really immature freshman year," remembered Sodeke. "I didn't have many freedoms in high school so when I came to Lehigh it was a whole new experience. I thought I could do whatever I wanted."
Sodeke didn't see any playing time during his freshman year, but his attitude and mentality changed when his team won the Patriot League Championship.
"When I was a freshman and we got rings at the banquet I remember immediately thinking that we need to get another one," said Sodeke. "That's when I realized that I was about to take a bigger role on the team and had to be more focused and determined."
Sodeke appeared in ten games during his sophomore year and rushed for 112 yards on 29 carries before playing in nine games and tallying 23 rushes for 67 years in his junior campaign.
In the first game of his senior year, Lehigh's heartbreaking last-minute 31-28 loss to JMU, Sodeke shattered his career-high with 98 rushing yards, along with a touchdown, and also made four receptions for 48 yards.
"It was an amazing feeling," offered Sodeke. "I had really high expectations that past two years and finally had my breakout game against JMU. I worked really hard and I was just playing my game."
"Within the group of running backs, Rich is someone the kids really look up to," explained Coen. "He doesn't stick out right away because he's more of a quiet leader and tends to lead by his actions."
Sodeke is grateful that he's grown so much throughout his time at Lehigh and credits Coen and the coaching staff with helping him to develop not only as a football player, but as a student-athlete and person.
"When I came here in high school I just ran to the outside and out ran everyone to the end zone," said Sodeke. "Now I have to be more patient reading holes and I'm actually perfecting my art as a running back more than just out running and out hustling people. Being here has helped me grow as a running back and as a person in general."
Off the field, Sodeke is enrolled in Lehigh's College of Business and Economics and is a marketing major. In addition to getting ready for his senior season this summer, Sodeke also completed an internship in the marketing and sales department of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the world's second-largest professional services network.
"Coach Coen and the rest of the coaches are really good about allowing us to pursue opportunities and internships," explained Sodeke. "Although we're athletes, we're also student-athletes and we all want to get jobs after college. They understand that and really support us."
Sodeke hopes to go to graduate school and studying marketing following his Lehigh career and envisions himself entering the field of sports marking one day.
For now, Sodeke is focused on one thing: winning a Patriot League Championship alongside his best friends.
"I'm playing for my friends now," explained Sodeke. "In previous years, I was playing for the seniors. But now I'm a senior and I see my friends working hard and I want to step it up because we all want to win. There's no doubt that's what we're trying to accomplish this season."
Players Mentioned
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