Lancaster’s journey to CFB has been unique
FAIRFIELD, CT (BVM) — From the age of six, Sacred Heart University (SHU) sophomore Ricky Lancaster has worked hard every day to be the best version of himself. His unorthodox journey to an NCAA division one football program has proven that his hard work has paid off.
Born in Bayonne, NJ, Lancaster lived in the garden state with father Ricky Sr. and mother Candace until he and his mother moved to Baltimore County, MD when Lancaster was six years old. This is where his passion for football started.
“My dad stayed in Jersey City while still being the best dad he could be,” said Lancaster. “…my mom had landed an amazing job to which I spent most of my time with…I wanted to play football despite her being scared for her life to let me play, my dad had introduced the idea to her to which she felt comfortable enough to let me play.”
He started his football career with the local flag football team, the Northwest Bulldogs. At such a young age, you don’t really understand your athletic ability, but that did not stop Lancaster trying to improve and learn every day.
“At first I didn’t know how to play. I didn’t have any skills and I sure enough didn’t know what position I was going to play,” said Lancaster. “But yet I never gave up. Each day I would learn more and more until I found myself and the player I wanted to be. I ended up playing quarterback because I was the only kid who had a good enough arm to throw far enough at age six.”
Also getting experience on the defensive side of the ball, Lancaster would play for the Bulldogs until the age of 10 when he and his mother moved to a different part of Baltimore County. He would start playing his first years of tackle football for the Northeast Chargers, still playing quarterback as well as defensive back at times. The Chargers won the division in his first year playing. In his second year however, there was a minor setback while facing familiar opponents.
“When I was about 11 years old in my second year, we played my old team the Northwest Bulldogs and it was the muddiest game you’ve ever seen,” said Lancaster. “My dad was at that game to which he enjoyed me playing very well, until I happened to find myself at the bottom of a dog pile which broke my ankle. My dad stayed with me, when I went to the hospital, got my crutches and even took me back home.”
That would be the last game that Lancaster would play for the Chargers. On Feb.19, 2013, Lancaster’s mother was shot and killed by her new husband, who shot himself shortly after. A 12-year old Lancaster was unfortunately there to witness it.
“I was 12 years old and didn’t know what to do but call the police, my dad and my grandma. Within minutes the police were there and within an hour from New Jersey my father and grandmother arrived,” said Lancaster. “The night was very hard for me to get through. I went to New Jersey with my dad with nothing but the clothes on my back and the shoes on my feet. Within weeks my dad had bought me a whole new wardrobe, bedroom set, tv, phone and everything I wanted.”
Once Lancaster settled in Newark, NJ, he attended the KIPP Rise Academy and played for the Jersey City Gators. But it took him a long time to adjust to his new home and school after such a traumatic loss.
“I didn’t make friends too early at Rise Academy. I had gotten in a lot of trouble in my years there,” said Lancaster. “But I eventually had gotten better with being able to control my actions and emotions by the time I graduated from Rise in 2015.”
Lancaster spent his first three years of high school at Marist High School in Bayonne, NJ. He started working out for the team before his freshman year so he can get to know his teammates quicker. Still playing both sides of the ball, Lancaster was always doing anything to help the team be successful, but his hard work didn’t necessarily mean results.
“My first year of football we didn’t score a single point or win a single game,” said Lancaster. “After our coach had gotten fired I didn’t want to play for Marist anymore. My two-year record had been 1-17.”
After his junior year, where Lancaster finished his season with over 700 yards and five touchdowns, he transferred to Lincoln High School in Jersey City, NJ, for his senior year. This is where he was getting used to playing wide receiver as his primary position. In hopes that college football programs could get a look at him, but that did not happen right away for Lancaster.
“The first couple of games I didn’t do well but when the fourth game came, me and the quarterback, who was my cousin, had connected on so many passes,” said Lancaster. “Every team tried to stop our partnership on each down but yet that didn’t stop us from changing up the play or route.”
After a few games, a couple NCAA programs had meetings with Lancaster about his future in the sport. But as things were going well for Lancaster, a major set back stalled discussions.
“Later in the season I tore my ATFL ligament and fractured my ankle,” said Lancaster. “I had therapy for about 6 months strengthening my ankle being put in a walking boot.”
Unfortunately not hearing back from any schools, Lancaster fell in love with the environment at SHU so he decided to attend with the intentions of walking on to the division one program.
“I came to SHU and I needed to pass a physical and conditioning test to play but I was still injured so I did not pass,” said Lancaster.
Lancaster decided to play for SHU’s nationally ranked club football team for his freshman year for the 2018-2019 season. Being a standout for the team at both wide receiver and cornerback got the attention of the division one team, so he continued to work hard to earn a spot for his second year, which he accomplished.
“I decided to play club instead and increase my game there to where the next semester and summer I trained, conditioned and I came back stronger,” said Lancaster. “The hard work has been paying off.”
Lancaster is now a member of the Sacred Heart University division one football program listed as a first-year wide receiver.
