Feature photo courtesy of Domenic Cozier, shown on left.

Update (2/3/2016): Domenic Cozier has signed to Holy Cross.

One-hundred-and-twenty-eight: the number of teams that make up the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.

Two-point-seven: the percentage of 2015 FBS players who are shorter than 5-feet-9-inches.

Domenic Cozier, a rising senior at Milton Academy in Massachusetts, would be a part of that 2.7 percent.

Standing at 5-feet-8-inches, Cozier knows some schools dismiss him immediately because of his height, but he’s never let that affect him – or his game.

“I think [my height] makes it tough for bigger schools to take a chance on me,” Cozier said. “But I don’t sit around and cry about it. I use it as motivation. I’ll just show them [they’re wrong] on the field.”

Several schools have enjoyed what Cozier has shown them on the field; he’s received offers from Bryant, Rhode Island and Holy Cross, and has sparked interest from schools such as Harvard, Richmond, Ohio, UMass and Maryland.

“This fall is going to be critical in determining where I go to college,” Cozier said.

The sixth-ranked player out of Massachusetts said the schools that have expressed interest but haven’t made an offer are going to evaluate his play through the first four games of the upcoming season; if they like what they see, Cozier’s phone will start to ring.

Cozier’s father was a basketball player as he was growing up and the son followed in his father’s footsteps for the better part of his childhood before he decided to focus on football.

“[My dad] has supported me the whole way, but honestly, he probably expected a basketball kid,” Cozier said.

It wasn’t until he was a couple years into high school and started going to team’s camps that Cozier realized he could play football at the collegiate level.

“After my junior year, I really believed I could be a division one player,” Cozier said. “When I was at these camps, I realized I could compete with these other guys; I could hold my own.”

The fleet-footed running back might have realized his collegiate potential sooner if he hadn’t broken his wrist during his sophomore season at Milford High School, forcing him to make some tough decisions.

“When I broke my wrist, it was pretty difficult,” Cozier said. “I didn’t want to waste an entire year; I had worked so hard to get to there.”

Following the injury, Cozier transferred to his current school, Milton Academy, to repeat his sophomore season.

While he’s listed as a wide receiver on 24/7 Sports, Cozier seemed to find his niche at the running back position this past season at Milton.

“Our quarterback got hurt, so our running back became our quarterback, and I took over at running back,” Cozier said. “I did really well there. But I can play wide receiver and running back.”

Incredibly mature for someone his age and in his position, Cozier won’t have much to adjust to off the field once he gets to college. Milton Academy is a boarding school, so he’s already experienced what it’s like to be on his own.

“I’m used to living away from my parents and being able to take care of myself without needing them to remind me to do everything,” Cozier said. “It’s really helped me with my time management skills.”

Domenic Cozier knows the odds are stacked against him. Well, he knows that the bigger schools believe the odds are stacked against him. His height may hinder his chances of playing for a bigger football program, but he doesn’t need all the pizazz to be happy at his future home.

“Academics is definitely my number one priority,” Cozier said. “A perfect balance of great academics, a good football program and a nice location would be my perfect school.”

He may only be 68 inches tall, but his character greatly exceeds his height. Humble, persistent and focused, Domenic Cozier will never let his height – or anything else, for that matter – prevent him from accomplishing whatever he sets out to do. And he hopes his story helps others feel the same way.

“Because of my height, I’m always trying to work twice as hard as the guy next to me,” Cozier said. “I’m just always trying to be better than that guy next to me.”

“I want a kid who’s not that big to wake up and think he can be just as successful as everyone else, no matter what he wants to do.”