Prepared for the Moment: Lincoln Pare’s GAME7 Mindset
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"My name is Lincoln Pare. I’m a running back at Texas State University, born and raised in Germantown, Tennessee. Long before any honors or rankings, I was a kid being told I was too small to play this position at the highest level.
That label followed me for years. Instead of running from it, I used it. Doubt became fuel. Every time someone questioned my size, it sharpened my focus and added another reason to outwork everyone in the room. Proving people wrong is not just motivation for me. It is part of who I am.
Leading into the 2023 season, I tore my right ACL. It is the kind of injury that forces you to slow down and look in the mirror. You think about whether you will come back the same, whether you will still have that burst, or whether your opportunity will still be there.
For me, quitting was never an option. My mindset has always been that if I commit fully, I can overcome anything in front of me. I attacked rehab with that belief. Every session, every rep, every month was an opportunity to rebuild stronger than before. I was not just trying to return. I was preparing to elevate.
Showing up GAME7 ready means everything to me right now. It means handling my responsibilities in the classroom. It means waking up at 7 AM, training between 1 and 4, taking recovery seriously, eating with purpose, and protecting my sleep. I have learned that the best ability you can have is availability. If you are not healthy, you cannot lead, compete, or contribute. Discipline off the field creates confidence on it.
During my toughest stretch, my dad and my running back coach, Barrick Nealy, never allowed me to doubt myself. Their belief in me built my own. They pushed me to grow not only as a player, but as a leader. That accountability shaped how I prepare and how I show up for my teammates.
Now my focus is on the next level. The goal is the NFL, but the approach has not changed. Stay disciplined. Stay consistent. Stay ready.
If I could speak to the younger version of myself who was injured or doubted, I would tell him to stay the course. The work compounds. The setbacks teach you. If you keep showing up, it pays off.