Succeeding in the trenches
Avon senior is one of the nation’s top offensive linemen
By Mike Beas
In person and in reputation, Avon casts a large shadow.
A senior, Blake Fisher is every bit of 6-foot-6-inches, 335 pounds. He received 32 Division I scholarship offers before verbally committing to the University of Notre Dame in June.
Fisher is listed as the country’s No. 3 high school lineman, according to Rivals.com. He is expected to anchor the Orioles’ line entering this season after helping lead the program to an 18-4 record over the past two years.
Much of Fisher’s desire to flourish in all aspects of life — he carries a 3.6 grade-point average — is derived from his late sister Breonna who had special needs and passed away July 30, 2011, at the age of 10.
Breonna didn’t get to see her younger brother blossom into one of the nation’s most sought after football players, yet she continues to be a source of motivation.
“Blake has great compassion and concern for people in general,” said Avon coach Mark Bless. “He sees when someone needs a lift and will provide it for a kid. On the field, Blake is a big guy who plays aggressively. Off the field, he always has a smile on his face and appreciates life.”
Fisher recently did a Q&A with the ICON:
Q: Your sister, Breonna, passed away more than nine years ago, and you said the two of you were very close. Do you do anything to pay tribute to her before or during games?
A: Every game I play is definitely for her. I pray before every game and ask her to watch over me. It definitely changed me, just growing up without a sister. It drove me to work harder because she couldn’t do the basic things in life like walk or talk.
Q: You verbally committed to Notre Dame on June 15. Leading up to that, what were the main challenges you faced in the recruiting process due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?
A: There really weren’t too many. Coaches just reached out more through technology. It was comfortable. After I committed to Notre Dame, I was pretty much locked in.
Q: Not many football players get offers from the likes of Alabama, Ohio State and LSU. What is it like to have to say “No,” to them?
A: It’s not really hard when you know what you want for yourself in life. My ultimate goal is the NFL, but with a degree from Notre Dame, I’ll be set for life.
Q: What is it that sold you on Notre Dame, and do you know what your major will be?
A: I’m majoring in business management. Notre Dame is elite educationally, elite athletically and elite socially. I wanted to go to a school that was top 10 (in football) every year and had great academics. The campus is just beautiful. It’s unmatched.
