06-25-2019, 12:04 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-27-2019, 10:07 AM by Fordhammer.)
I was born in Oakland, CA. I grew up with a big family, but a small inner circle. Everywhere I went, I had cousins, aunts, uncles, play cousins, you name it. Those I valued most were my mother, father and brother. My dad gave everything to his family. He worked 2 jobs to support my mother and I so that my mother didn't have to work and could focus on my upbringing. Once my brother came along, I did all I could to help my mom so that my dad could come home and rest. Every Sunday, my dad would pull up a chair and sit with me on his lap and just explained the game of football. I was instantly in love with the sport. I found myself with a football in my hands at all hours of the day. Once I had any sort of coordination, it was out to the field with my dad and cousins playing football. I was a big kid, standing head and shoulders above most of my classmates. My dad had a coworker that was a coach for our Pop Warner Team in Oakland and once he saw my size, it was history. I was playing the game I had grown to love and there was no looking back.
Once I stepped on the field and lined up across from my opponent, I was hooked. They first tried me on defense. I was a nose guard and I was decent at it. I would sit on the sidelines when the offense was on the field and call out coverage to the wide receiver closest to me, he often had no idea what I was talking about. My dad made sure that when he explained the game, he took extra care to fill me in on the "why" aspect. Why did the WR break off his route there? The defense was in double high safety. Why did the QB check down to the RB, when if he had waited, he would have an open receiver down the sidelines? There was a corner blitz and the RB had already cleared the flat on that side, the QB wouldn't have had time to hit that downfield receiver. Little things like that were as part of my education as what a first down was. So I brought that knowledge everywhere I went. Soon, my coach noticed me calling out coverage and where the WR should end up, and I was placed on the offensive side of the ball. Tight end was a natural fit for me. I could use my size to protect the QB and provide an outlet as well as being knowledgeable enough to get open downfield. I wasn't the fastest guy, but I was definitely one of the smartest.
Once high school came around, I was instantly trying out for the freshman team. I had grown a decent amount, but was no longer the tallest in my grade. I was trying out for my position of TE and easily was the best option there. I spent half a season on the freshman team before being promoted to JV. I spent 1 game there, and was then promoted to Varsity to finish the season. I had it all. Pass blocking, run blocking, late release, hands...all of it. I was halfway through my sophomore season when I got the first batch of scholarship offers. USC, Texas, Miami were among the first few to roll in. I put up career numbers my Junior year with 65 receptions, 1592 receiving yards, 18 touchdowns and only 2 pressures for the year were attributed to my blocking. My Senior year fell just flat of that with only 1325 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. By then, I had added most major colleges to the scholarship list. One offer stood out and it was my first visit. When I first walked onto the campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I was in love. From the campus to the people to the facilities, I knew then and there that I would be a Wolverine.
It wasn't long after my Michigan commit, that I stood on the campus and headed towards my dorm. College ball was a whole different beast. I had been a big fish in a little pond, but now I found myself in the ocean with whales and sharks. My first year was my redshirt year, I spent most of my time in the weight room and working out with our strength and conditioning coach. My sophomore year, I got to see the field. I was the backup TE and the starter was a senior, so all I had to do was continue to work hard and bide my time. I put up okay numbers with the time I was given. Big change came my Junior year. I was promoted to the starter right out of spring ball. I did not get complacent, however, I just that as fuel to stay a starter. That year was my coming out year. 42 receptions, 892 yards and 8 touchdowns put the Big 10 on notice. I had generated a good amount of buzz and knew I was headed for a professional career. My family was with me every step of the way. From my dad calling after every game to tell me that I could have done better, to my mom and little brother being my biggest cheerleaders. The made sure I was ready for the next step.
I bring the expectations of my family with me wherever I go. Whoever drafts me won't be getting just me, but instead a whole network of support and love. I will not fail. I cannot fail. I have my loved ones in my corner, and with them, I can do all things.
Once I stepped on the field and lined up across from my opponent, I was hooked. They first tried me on defense. I was a nose guard and I was decent at it. I would sit on the sidelines when the offense was on the field and call out coverage to the wide receiver closest to me, he often had no idea what I was talking about. My dad made sure that when he explained the game, he took extra care to fill me in on the "why" aspect. Why did the WR break off his route there? The defense was in double high safety. Why did the QB check down to the RB, when if he had waited, he would have an open receiver down the sidelines? There was a corner blitz and the RB had already cleared the flat on that side, the QB wouldn't have had time to hit that downfield receiver. Little things like that were as part of my education as what a first down was. So I brought that knowledge everywhere I went. Soon, my coach noticed me calling out coverage and where the WR should end up, and I was placed on the offensive side of the ball. Tight end was a natural fit for me. I could use my size to protect the QB and provide an outlet as well as being knowledgeable enough to get open downfield. I wasn't the fastest guy, but I was definitely one of the smartest.
Once high school came around, I was instantly trying out for the freshman team. I had grown a decent amount, but was no longer the tallest in my grade. I was trying out for my position of TE and easily was the best option there. I spent half a season on the freshman team before being promoted to JV. I spent 1 game there, and was then promoted to Varsity to finish the season. I had it all. Pass blocking, run blocking, late release, hands...all of it. I was halfway through my sophomore season when I got the first batch of scholarship offers. USC, Texas, Miami were among the first few to roll in. I put up career numbers my Junior year with 65 receptions, 1592 receiving yards, 18 touchdowns and only 2 pressures for the year were attributed to my blocking. My Senior year fell just flat of that with only 1325 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. By then, I had added most major colleges to the scholarship list. One offer stood out and it was my first visit. When I first walked onto the campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I was in love. From the campus to the people to the facilities, I knew then and there that I would be a Wolverine.
It wasn't long after my Michigan commit, that I stood on the campus and headed towards my dorm. College ball was a whole different beast. I had been a big fish in a little pond, but now I found myself in the ocean with whales and sharks. My first year was my redshirt year, I spent most of my time in the weight room and working out with our strength and conditioning coach. My sophomore year, I got to see the field. I was the backup TE and the starter was a senior, so all I had to do was continue to work hard and bide my time. I put up okay numbers with the time I was given. Big change came my Junior year. I was promoted to the starter right out of spring ball. I did not get complacent, however, I just that as fuel to stay a starter. That year was my coming out year. 42 receptions, 892 yards and 8 touchdowns put the Big 10 on notice. I had generated a good amount of buzz and knew I was headed for a professional career. My family was with me every step of the way. From my dad calling after every game to tell me that I could have done better, to my mom and little brother being my biggest cheerleaders. The made sure I was ready for the next step.
I bring the expectations of my family with me wherever I go. Whoever drafts me won't be getting just me, but instead a whole network of support and love. I will not fail. I cannot fail. I have my loved ones in my corner, and with them, I can do all things.