Two years ago, Tyler Brinks made a decision that would change the trajectory of his football career — and his life.
“I decided I wanted to play college football,” said Brinks, a senior at South Christian High School and Grand Valley State football commit. “I knew how many college athletes PowerStrength produced, so it was pretty much a no-brainer to start training there.”
At the time, Tyler was a self-described “average” player as a sophomore who had recently finished playing junior varsity football.
ADDING MUSCLE
He weighed about 180 pounds and had never stepped into a training environment like PowerStrength.
“My first session, I almost passed out,” he recalled with a laugh. “And I think that’s when I knew I was in the right place. From day one, they were already pushing me to levels I’d never been before.”
Fast-forward to today, and Brinks is sitting at 215 pounds with a goal of reaching 225 before fall camp begins at GVSU.
Over the last two years, he’s become one of the most dominant players on the field — both physically and mentally — earning 13 college football offers, including from multiple Division I programs like Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois, Indiana State, and Cornell.
But it didn’t come easily.
“It’s a lot of work to put weight on for me,” Brinks said. “I’ve always had a fast metabolism, so the biggest part was nutrition — tracking protein, eating more, and learning how to fuel myself right. PowerStrength helped with that, too, giving me meal plans and coaching me through the process.”
THE POWERSTRENGTH DIFFERENCE
The transformation wasn’t just physical. Tyler says the environment at PowerStrength — surrounded by other athletes chasing big goals — pushed him harder than anything he experienced before.
“Surrounding yourself with other people with big goals, keeping each other accountable, and competing with one another,” he said. “It really helps me better myself.”
According to Tyler, PowerStrength is different from any other training he has experienced.
“The coaching and the environment are on another level. At PowerStrength, it’s personalized. The coaches know what they’re talking about, and they’re relatable. You’re not just lifting — you’re building relationships and getting pushed to be your best.”
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
That mindset shift showed up in a big way on the football field.
“I was stronger, faster, more explosive. When I played defense—pass rushing, outmuscling offensive linemen, being more agile — it all came from here,” Brinks said. “I felt like I was a step above the other athletes out there.”
HARD WORK PAYS OFF
And when the college offers started rolling in?
“Some of the offers I was getting were higher level than where I thought I was going to be playing,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting Division I offers, but getting them made me realize I’m better than I thought I was — and it motivated me to work even harder.”
Tyler has done just that. Currently participating in the Premier Advanced Training program, he has added another 6 pounds of muscle while dropping to 7.4% body fat just since his basketball season ended.
Tyler chose to play football next season at Grand Valley State, one of the nation’s top Division II programs, for a few key reasons.
“I’m a family guy, so staying close to home was huge for me,” he said. “The coaching staff treated me well, and it feels like home there. I know they’re going to help me reach my highest potential.”
WEIGHT ROOM TO WINDMILL DUNKS
PowerStrength’s impact extended beyond football, too. Tyler also played basketball at South Christian, and he saw noticeable changes there.
“I was never a big scorer, but I could box out, rebound, and outmuscle people. That translated directly. I could also jump higher — I was windmilling at one point,” he said. “That definitely came from my training.”
WHY IT’S WORTH IT
Now, as he prepares for the next chapter, Tyler reflects on just how far he’s come — and what PowerStrength means to him.
“PowerStrength is a place where you’re going to be pushed to levels you’ve never seen before,” Brinks said. “It’s an environment like no other.”
His message to other athletes who might be on the fence?
“PowerStrength is going to get you to a place that you haven’t been before, and they’ll push you,” he said. “It will all pay off in the end.”
GET STARTED AT POWERSTRENGTH
College Athletes can register now for the College Summer Training Program here https://powerstrengthts.com/college-summer.
4th-12th grade athletes of all sports and abilities can also sign up at PowerStrength at any time while spots remain. Choose the PowerStrength location most convenient for you – Alpine, Kentwood, Jenison, Plainfield, and Holland.
Visit https://powerstrengthpro.com/athlete/contact/ to learn more or click below to schedule your assessment and get started.