It felt like just a regular day in Atlanta as I finished off my early morning run with my skin shining from the relentless sun beating my skin, I knew something was different a few smiles, nods of approval as I was completing my laps ‘Good luck rook’ I heard the mutters as I jogged to the changing rooms I sat down, draping the cool towel over my head and taking a moment to bask in its refreshing aura and by instinct reached for my phone in my dirty kitbag. Now I’m not a lonely person, however; I was surprised by the sheer number of messages and notifications I saw fill my screen, people I never spoke to before now wanting to know how I was feeling. One message catches my eye before I’m about to throw my phone back in my bag and take a shower letting the task of replying to all these people be a problem for the future, coach Shawn Elliot ‘DSFL draft Tuesday. Game time now kid’.
Game time now. The process of gearing up for what will be the most important day of my football life is something I knew I’d have to face, didn’t know where I’d be, didn’t know who I’d be with, but I knew it’d come and now the task in hand was within reaching distance. I called family, I called friends the message was mostly the same you worked for it and you got it, good things come to those who earn it. I knew the harder realities of having to market myself correctly to 6 DSFL teams was going to be tough but for now I was happy with the fact, I’m making it to the league.
I didn’t find it to difficult once the phone calls from the organisations did inevitably start coming in, I thought the best solution was honesty, nothing could sell Luis Elmarez like my actual story, my drive to make an impact and be the best player they’d ever seen. I was lucky to have a strong group of friends and family to help me with everything from travelling and general logistical arrangements to, what most of my friends thought was most important, what suit I was going to wear on the night, according to one friend your draft stock can take a sharp decline if you don’t look baller enough.
A simple all black suit and a gold chain was what was finally decided on by what seemed to be a support team that was growing by the day and as I closed my eyes on the flight from Atlanta I knew that nothing was going to be the same the step from Mexico City to Georgia State was a massive one that I didn’t quite expect however this whole process, the pre-draft talks, the interviews the thank you and goodbyes all felt like a much larger chapter in my life was approaching fast except there was one difference, I had been training for this my entire life after every tackle and every run it was all to get me to this point.
Obviously, I couldn’t help but speculate where I wanted to play, who could? But to be honest just the fact the DSFL was drafting their future talent and they had my number? Genuinely a dream come true. However, I’m going to make my way to the arena now and whenever or by whoever I get drafted I know it’s going to be my pleasure making sure the other 5 teams regret not picking me up by any means necessary.
Signing out for the last time as a prospect, see you in the league
LE #56
Word count: 616
Game time now. The process of gearing up for what will be the most important day of my football life is something I knew I’d have to face, didn’t know where I’d be, didn’t know who I’d be with, but I knew it’d come and now the task in hand was within reaching distance. I called family, I called friends the message was mostly the same you worked for it and you got it, good things come to those who earn it. I knew the harder realities of having to market myself correctly to 6 DSFL teams was going to be tough but for now I was happy with the fact, I’m making it to the league.
I didn’t find it to difficult once the phone calls from the organisations did inevitably start coming in, I thought the best solution was honesty, nothing could sell Luis Elmarez like my actual story, my drive to make an impact and be the best player they’d ever seen. I was lucky to have a strong group of friends and family to help me with everything from travelling and general logistical arrangements to, what most of my friends thought was most important, what suit I was going to wear on the night, according to one friend your draft stock can take a sharp decline if you don’t look baller enough.
A simple all black suit and a gold chain was what was finally decided on by what seemed to be a support team that was growing by the day and as I closed my eyes on the flight from Atlanta I knew that nothing was going to be the same the step from Mexico City to Georgia State was a massive one that I didn’t quite expect however this whole process, the pre-draft talks, the interviews the thank you and goodbyes all felt like a much larger chapter in my life was approaching fast except there was one difference, I had been training for this my entire life after every tackle and every run it was all to get me to this point.
Obviously, I couldn’t help but speculate where I wanted to play, who could? But to be honest just the fact the DSFL was drafting their future talent and they had my number? Genuinely a dream come true. However, I’m going to make my way to the arena now and whenever or by whoever I get drafted I know it’s going to be my pleasure making sure the other 5 teams regret not picking me up by any means necessary.
Signing out for the last time as a prospect, see you in the league
LE #56
Word count: 616
Luis Elmarez | #56 | LB | San Antonio Marshals | 105 TPE