10-10-2022, 08:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-12-2022, 11:26 AM by dude_man. Edited 1 time in total.)
5683 Words
While many know Zavier Perkins for his on field play and locker room presence, not many know the true evolution of Zavier and how he became one of the DSFL’s most feared linebackers. Now that draft preparation has come to a conclusion, and Zavier will know his new ISFL team in the coming days, it is time to step back and tell the story on how Zavier became the player he is today. We will take some time today to tell the life and stories of Perkins, which will give anyone reading a true understanding of how he became the player he is today.
Early Life- Birth to High School
Zavier was born in Southeastern Louisiana to two loving parents, Silvia and Alvin. Coming into the world measuring in at 25” tall and 8lbs 6oz, his parents knew that he was always going to be larger than the average kid his age. With both of his parents playing sports professionally in their past, they were hoping the size and athletic genes would transfer nicely into Zavier to fulfill the family legacy. Silvia was a very talented volleyball player, having played her collegiate career at LSU and playing for 6 seasons overseas post collegiate career. Alvin was a football star, playing his days at LSU as well, and having a 14 year career at the highest of professional levels. With the gene pool between these two, it was almost guaranteed that Zavier and his siblings would be athletic, but the jury was out on how athletic they would be.
At his time of birth, Zavier had one older brother and later, his parents brought a baby girl into the world as well. Being the middle child, Zavier had someone to always look up to, compete against, and learn life lessons from, and also had a younger sibling who he was able to teach, lead and learn with. While these seem to be insignificant momentos in his life, as he progressed within his football career, Zavier was always grateful for the time he spent learning and growing with his siblings. Through his childhood, his siblings also focused on sport as their means of enrichment. His sister, Zorida was very big into Volleyball and Basketball, and ended up pursuing her career in Volleyball, playing at the Division I level, and eventually playing professionally overseas like their mother. His brother, Zayne, had a passion for baseball and basketball, which he was also able to play BOTH at the Division I level, and had a short, but great career playing baseball at the professional level as well.
Through childhood, the Perkins kids were inseparable. Whether it was skipping rocks in the swamp, playing tag with the neighborhood kids, or practicing their sports together, helping each one progress, they were always together. Their parents were always involved, helping coach their rec teams, working on skill progression on the weekends, and most importantly, pushing their kids to focus on school and getting their academics in order to have a fallback plan if their professional sporting careers did not pan out. All 3 of the Perkins’ siblings were bright, and no doubt would excel at the next level, and although their parents played sports for a career, the kids were never pushed to do so. Their future was in their hands, and both parents were happy to steer them in the right direction and cheer them on in the process.
High School- The Come Up
Entering high school as a freshman, Zavier was a three sport athlete; football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the summer. As in true Perkin’s family fashion, Zavier was a large kid. As a freshman in high school, Zavier stood 6’5” tall and weighed in at 230 lbs with less than 10% body fat, he was by far the biggest kid in his school, his athletics conference and more likely that not, the biggest kid at his age in the county. Zavier used his size to his advantage in all of his sports, being able to focus within the weight room, and outlift every kid on his team was something he prided himself on. While most kids his age were focusing on video games, hanging out with friends, and getting into whatever mischief they could find in southeastern Louisiana… Zavier was focused on his lifestyle, the weight room, and making his family name proud.
On the gridiron, Zavier was a top notch competitor and was starting on the varsity team as a true freshman, something that had NEVER been done in school history. When you live in this area of Louisiana, you eat, sleep and breathe football. His school was always competitive, they hold 16 state titles in the last 20 years, and they will have another 16 in the next 20. Starting as a true freshman is a true feat that will be talked about on the stomping grounds for years to come. Generally, freshmen still aren't built out, they are too small to hold their own, and their general lack of football knowledge is lacking, but that is FAR from the case with Zavier. Zavier had such a passion for the sport, starting at such a young age that he never passed up an opportunity to hit the practice field, spend some extra time in the weight room, brush up on the playbook, whatever he could possibly do to get a competitive advantage over his opponents.
Through his first 3 high school seasons, Zavier was leading his conference in every statistical category annually. During his junior season he set the state single season records for interceptions (22), fumbles recovered (7), forced fumbles (16), sacks (18), blocked punts (12) and most impressively tackles with a whopping 212.5. While these numbers are outstanding, what was really impressing collegiate scouts was his mental capability on and off the field. Zavier was a leader, never afraid to call the plays, always willing to help a teammate get into position and had a knack for finding the ball. Zavier had extremely fluid hips, had the best footwork in the country, and studied the playbook and opponents film so in depth each week, that he always knew where the ball was going and what the play was, allowing him to get a jump on the opponent's next move. These stats, combined with Zaviers on and off field personality had him listed as a 5-star recruit, touted as first in his position nationally, first in his state, and first in the country. Scouts were lining up for blocks to see Zavier play on Friday nights and boy was he always willing to put on a show for those scouts.
As Zavier progressed through high school, he had many opportunities present to visit prestigious Division I colleges around the country in order to find the best fit for his collegiate career. Zavier took these opportunities as a chance to learn more about himself, learn what his likes and dislikes were, what programs his personality and drive meshed with best, but most importantly, where he could truly envision himself spending the next 4 years of his collegiate career. Coming into his senior year of high school, Zavier had 36 Division I offers to play football at the next level. These schools ranged from California over to Florida and all the way up into the New England States, and this variety and showing made the decision very hard for Zavier.
Although to many, this seemed to be an easy decision, for Zavier, it was most definitely not. With the family legacy running through LSU, he felt pressured to go there, but in a weird turn of events, Zavier decided to play the contrarian, and committed to a full ride to Alabama the day before his opening night senior year. The stands were silent, his parents were tearing up, nobody expected this to be the turn of events, but regardless, everyone was supportive of his decision and congratulated him on committing to play at the next level. HOWEVER, during the 3rd game that senior season, Zavier was dropping into coverage on a tight end, and when he went to cut, Zavier felt a sharp pain in his lower leg… something that many feared, Zavier went down on the field and the medical team and athletic trainers had to carry him off the field to address what had happened. While many feared it to be an ACL injury, Zavier actually fared better than expected, MCL sprain, PCL sprain and a severely rolled ankle. Something that would cause him to sit out the majority of his senior season, but was not considered career threatening and would be back on the field with plenty of time before his high school championship run.
While many would consider this to be a great turn of events from something that could have been catastrophic, this one injury actually concerned NCAA scouts, many of which pulled their offers. 6 weeks after committing to the University of Alabama… Zavier had his scholarship pulled, forcing him to reconsider his decisions. What was once 36 Division I offers, now turned into 12 Division I offers, some of which being smaller schools, not ones that many see on their TV sets on Saturday afternoons. This turn of fate was something that many feared to be crushing to Zavier’s morale, but in fact, it lit a fire inside him that nobody expected. One of his 12 offers that stood was… Louisiana State University, his homeschool, the one his parents had their name hanging from the rafters, the one his older brother was already playing basketball at, and the one his younger sister dreamed of going to as well. No better time than the present Zavier thought, that next morning he called up the head football coach at LSU and officially submitted his commitment to play for the tigers for the coming 4 seasons.
This was a turning point in Zavier’s career. He viewed everything with a much higher oversight, never wavering from his goals, always striving to be better, faster, stronger, anything he could do to prove to those 24 schools that pulled their offers that they made a mistake. Zavier focused on his season-long goal, to win the state championship. After returning from his leg rehabilitation, Zavier led his team on the field, in the weight room, during practices daily, pushing everyone around him to focus on the end goal and never waiver from greatness. All of this hard work paid off, Zaviers high school team faced their rivals in the state championship at the completion of the season, winning in a 41-12 blowout victory. Nobody ever doubted Zavier, but what was viewed as a catastrophic knee injury to many, was a blessing in disguise for Zavier, and to this day, that chip remains on his shoulder.
Below you can take a look at Zavier’s high school stats broken down by season. Looking at these stats, anyone can draw the conclusion on why he was such a highly regarded athlete at such a young age.
High School Regular Season Stats
Freshman Season:
Games Played: 10
Total Tackles: 190.5
Sacks: 14.5
Forced Fumbles: 9
Fumble Recoveries: 3
Interceptions: 19
Sophomore Season:
Games Played: 10
Total Tackles: 208
Sacks: 16.5
Forced Fumbles: 11
Fumble Recoveries: 6
Interceptions: 18
Junior Season:
Games Played: 10
Total Tackles: 212.5
Sacks: 18
Forced Fumbles: 16
Fumble Recoveries: 7
Interceptions: 22
Senior Season:
Games Played: 4
Total Tackles: 79.5
Sacks: 7.5
Forced Fumbles: 5
Fumble Recoveries: 3
Interceptions: 8
College- Louisiana State University Tigers Football
After the completion of his senior season, Zavier had his sights set on the true Death Valley, and was doing everything in his power to prepare for move in day in the heat of summer. Zavier visited with his future coaches at the completion of his senior season to get a meal plan from them, as well as a playbook, and custom workout to get him prepared mentally and physically for the upcoming season. Zavier was ready to play, was willing to put in the work, but had to prove himself first to get his name called on Saturday evenings. There was nothing that was going to stop him from leading his teammates on the grid-iron, not his coaches, not his teammates, not his grades or conduct, nothing would stand in between Zavier and greatness. With this attitude came many late nights, many tough workouts, meal and protein shake discipline, anything that could create a routine that would set Zavier up for success.
The first day of pre-season camp had arrived and Zavier had a nervous jitter about him. Not one of those nervous feelings, but rather a feeling of excitement and anticipation for something he had worked his entire life to get to. Zavier was grateful for his opportunity to play at LSU and was going to work harder than anyone on his team, or in the league to make his family and himself proud. On the very first day of pre-season camp, Zavier walked into the linebackers room for their very first team meeting, and was in shock. The size of these guys was nothing like he had played against in the past. In high school, Zavier was always the biggest, fastest, strongest, and now he stands among a room of guys larger and stronger than he. Yet again, this lit a fire inside of him, knowing he would outwork, outplay, out-study any of these guys on a daily basis, and would use this to his advantage in every way possible.
Throughout the pre-season training, Zavier was leaps and bounds ahead of the other freshmen. He was able to increase the weights on his lifts, decrease his times in all plyometric and short sprint activities and knew the playbook better than anyone. Although he still had some growing to do physically (being only 18 years old), he was performing like an upperclassman and the coaches knew that they had something very special on their hands. Just like in high school, Zavier was the first into the training facility in the morning, and the last out in the evening. He was never afraid to get extra help from the coaches, and lend a willing hand whenever a teammate needed to talk over a play, a lift, or even homework from their classes on main campus. Zaviers leadership was not going unnoticed and the coaches knew they needed to reward him somehow for outworking every single one of his teammates on a daily basis.
Going into pregame film the night before opening day, there was a buzz around the room that had Zavier feeling more and more excited for what was to take place tomorrow afternoon. As they were reviewing film on the opponent, the defensive coordinator shot out of his seat, and turned on the lights almost immediately. Everyone was nervous as to what he was going to say because this was not something he had previously done in the past. Anxiously awaiting a response, one of Zaviers teammates spoke up and asked the coach what was going on and if he was alright. The coach responded stating that it was time to name the 3 defensive captains for this upcoming season, one from each line on the defensive field. Not thinking twice, Zavier continued to take playnotes on the film that was still silently running in the background, taking note of all routes ran on each specific play, trying to get a jump on the offensive schemes.
As the coach was standing in front of the team, he started listing off the 3 defensive captains and their distinctive leadership qualities that set them apart from the pack. The first player, Shawn, was a big defensive lineman. Someone that had been on the team for 4 seasons and entering his senior season, was set to be a future first round draft pick. Shawn was someone the DLine looked up to, and the opponents feared, someone that knew the play before it happened, and was willing to do anything to get to the quarterback. The next name called, Alonte, is a physical safety, ballhawk type who has outstanding intangibles, can jump out of the gym, and has speed beyond what anyone could imagine. Shawn is a 3rd year player, and through his first two seasons, has set numerous interception records and is one of the most feared secondary players in the league. While still half paying attention to coach talking, and half paying attention to the film on the big screen, Zander swore he heard something that heard like his name… but he thought to himself, no way, not possible, so he kept focusing on the film…
What felt like 20 minutes later, when in reality it was like 10-15 seconds, Zander felt a hand on his shoulder, it was his coach asking him why he didn't stand up. Confused as ever, Zander asked… why? Coach laughed and told him, this is exactly why you were named captain of the linebacker group, and one of our 3 defensive captains, because his nose was so far into the film, he didn't even hear his teammates clapping and chanting his name in the room around him. Zander was honored, being named a captain as a freshman was unheard of, but it was fitting for the work he had put in on and off the field throughout the pre-season. This was the first time in school history that a true freshman was named captain of any teams personnel units, and it was fitting that Zander was the man to do it. Honored with his new role, Zander got up in front of his teammates, thanked them for voting him into his position, and triumphantly, started chanting to boost morale going into Saturday’s opening game. This was just the first of many accolades for Zander, someone who embodied the spirit and mentality of LSU, and was always more than willing to go the extra mile to show his dedication to his team, his coaches, his fans, his family, and most importantly, his city.
Through his freshman season, Zander was an everyday starter. The work he put in during the offseason did not go unnoticed and was lining up with the first line, playing against some of the top talent in the country. Being only 18 during his freshman season, nobody expected such a level of understanding and maturity, but Zander always rose to the occasion. Coaches loved him because he spent so much time studying film, that just like in high school, he was able to read coverages, understand the opposition's plays, and call out specific routes or schemes to help his teammates get a better jump on the ball or their player. Zander was noted to be a player that every coach in the country wanted on their roster, and feared playing against, someone who would be a name in the sport for many years to come and would never disappoint in any facet of life. Below you can view Zaviers stats from his collegiate career at Louisiana State University:
Collegiate Regular Season Stats
Freshman Season:
Games Played: 12
Total Tackles: 198
Sacks: 25
Forced Fumbles: 10
Fumble Recoveries: 4
Interceptions: 10
Sophomore Season:
Games Played: 12
Total Tackles: 212
Sacks: 22
Forced Fumbles: 12
Fumble Recoveries: 4
Interceptions: 13
Junior Season:
Games Played: 12
Total Tackles: 199
Sacks: 30
Forced Fumbles: 10
Fumble Recoveries: 5
Interceptions: 12
Senior Season:
Games Played: 12
Total Tackles: 240
Sacks: 28
Forced Fumbles: 14
Fumble Recoveries: 7
Interceptions: 14
As Zavier progressed through his career, he was regarded as one of the most talented linebackers in collegiate history and professional scouts were lining up around the block to see him play. They were blown away by his speed, the ability to burst off the line and read every offensive scheme with ease. This was not something that was easily learned at the collegiate level, something more fit for the professional game, but Zavier was a different breed of player, something that not many had seen before. In conversation with a scout one day, Zaviers father was told “Zavier is one of the best football players I have ever seen, to project him as a professional Hall of Famer now would not shock me, he will have a very long, and very talented career at the next level.”
Zavier never let any of this get to his head, he kept his nose in the books, kept his focus on practice and games, and was always prepared for the unexpected as he completed his senior season at the collegiate level. After Zavier’s senior season, he was invited to the DSFL combine, something that not everyone was offered, but being such a widely regarded athlete, it was expected at this level. During his time at the combine, Zavier met with each team, walking through plays, reading schemes, interviewing and learning about each other's pros and cons, and where he would be the best fit moving forward in his career. Through these drills and interviews, Zavier was noted to be one of the top draft picks in the upcoming DSFL draft, where he knew his name would be in the lights.
The night had finally come, Zavier and his family were on site at the DSFL Draft location, surrounded by the other top athletes in his sport, Zavier made sure he was the best dressed, smiling to the media in front of every camera possible. While he was never one to want to be in the spotlight, Zavier knew that he had earned this, tonight was the culmination of years and years of hard work, dedication and relentless work ethic to make himself one of the top prospects in the country. While he had no idea where he would be drafted, he knew one thing, no matter the location, no matter the coach, no matter the teammates, no matter the situation, Zavier would give 1,000% effort and he would give his all to make his team better daily. Time had come, the commissioner stepped on stage and started announcing pick by pick, 10 minutes apart giving the teams time to talk about their options and make the best possible decision for their roster. A few picks had rolled in, Zavier was nervous as he was not called, until…
With the 5th pick in the Season 37 DSFL Draft… the Bondi Beach Buccaneers select… Zavier Perkins… Linebacker… Louisiana State University.
DSFL (Developmental Simulation Football League)
After draft night, Zavier was able to release a sigh of gratitude and exhaustion. Years of work had lead up to this night, and for that, he is forever grateful, but there was no time for rest, the very next morning he was to get on a flight from Louisiana to Australie to set foot at the Bondi Beach training facility to get ready for the upcoming DSFL season. He was up late that night, taking calls from coaches and family, talking with the media, sitting for a few interviews on major draft networks to talk about his thoughts. While all of this was overwhelming to say the least, Zavier was able to handle it with poise and professionalism and the media, coaches and family members were impressed with his ability to stay calm under the pressure of the big stage. The toughest was yet to come, Zavier had to move away from his family, and travel 9,700+ miles away from his family, where he would begin his next step as a professional football player. While for anyone, this would be the toughest part of the entire experience, but he knew what had to be done. To provide for his family, to make the family name proud, he would do whatever it took, and the next step was Bondi Beach.
Upon arriving in Australia, Zavier was in awe of the beauty. The trees, skies, waterfalls, the views for miles, there was nothing more beautiful that Zavier had ever witnessed, while he was anxious to be so far away from family, the views were more than enough at first to make him feel at home. Zaviers coach was there to pick him up at the airport, he pulled up in a newer limousine, one of those fancy SUV model ones, with blacked out windows, at first, Zavier had no idea who that was for, but it still had not hit him yet that he was a professional athlete until his coach rolled down the windows and said… “you coming or what?!” Zavier hopped into the back seat and it was right to business. Coach brought a copy of the playbook with him and Zavier was eager to dive right in. There was no time to waste, the season was right around the corner and Zavier had a job to do, the opportunity for an off day was non-existent.
Upon arriving at the facility, Zavier was able to meet some of his teammates, each of them more eager and polite than the next. They were all beyond grateful for the opportunity, but also eager to step foot on the field, ready to work with their teammates to do what they came for… to take home the championship trophy at the end of the season. With a league with this much depth, that was no small feat, they were going to have to be persistent, growing and learning with each step along the bumpy road, working as one strength unit to push through the opposition. While this was nothing new to them, some of them having played football for 16+ years, they were ready to hit the grindstone, focus like no other and power through their first opportunities as professional athletes.
Early in the preseason, just as with his collegiate days, Zander was noted as the hardest worker on the field. Rather than going out and enjoying the night life around Australia, Zavier chose to stay in his apartment, learning and memorizing the playbook, watching opposition film, training in whatever way he could to get the upper hand advantage that he was always known to possess. This tireless work ethic and positive can-do attitude once again netted Zavier the opportunity to be voted Defensive Captain by his teammates in unanimous decision. They wanted him to lead the team, call the defensive plays, and they knew that as an entirety of a unit, they would all be better because of his leadership. Zavier was grateful for the opportunity, but in typical fashion, there was no time to celebrate the personal victory, it was time to get even more serious because he had a team to make proud and numbers of teammates around him he was not willing to let down.
Going into the season, the Bondi Beach Buccaneers were one of the top teams, but not the favorite by far. They had a lot of work to do, but the players had faith in their coaches, they knew that there was an opportunity, and with continual player growth, and belief in the system, they would have no issues competing at the highest level. Overall, the season was a complete success and not only did the players and coaches work extremely hard to get there, they shocked the entire league with the outcome. The Bondi Beach Buccaneers went 11-3 in the regular season and were the number 1 team in the south division. Going into the playoffs, they had more momentum than anyone as they knew that they were a force to be reckoned with. In the first round of the Ultimini, the Buccaneers faced the Birddogs and through a tough back and forth battle, came out victorious in a 31-21 win. With this win, the Bondi Beach Buccaneers had solidified their place in the Ulitimini versus the Portland Pythons. Going into this game, the players were ready, this is what they had been working their entire season towards and this was the ultimate culmination of their hard work. Playing for the Ultimini was a dream for every play on that field, but the Buccaneers players stayed focused, their eye was on the competition, they were unwilling to roll over and they knew they were ready for the business trip of a lifetime.
The Ultimini was a back and forth battle, both teams wanted it badly, but it was a matter of who worked harder, who prepared more efficiently, and who was going to outlast the opponent for victory. Although the media was calling for a tough game, this was all but over before it began. Bondi Beach took the field much hungrier than the Pythons, and it was evident throughout the entirety of the game. They fought for every yard, they were reading plays better than anyone and they put up a monster showing in a 28-14 victory over the Pythons. Your Bondi Beach Buccaneers were the 2052 Ultimini Champions and they were ecstatic to celebrate the victory. Their entire season came down to this, and it was a moment they would never forget. As the final play was run, the fans rushed the field, confetti falling from the rafters of the domed stadium. Every player, while wanting to celebrate with their teammates, they wanted to find their families and celebrate this special moment with them. Zaviers entire family was in attendance and they never had a doubt that he would be victorious. A long season ended in the most fitting fashion, an Ulitimini Championship, something the players and coaches have been talking about and working for, for months.Below you can see Zavier Perkins single season stats, he was in the top of all statistical categories and was a force of nature that would prove well in the upcoming ISFL Draft.
DSFL Single Season Stats
2052 Season
Games Played: 14
Total Tackles: 100
Sacks: 5
Forced Fumbles: 2
Tackles for Loss: 13
Interceptions: 2
ISFL (International Simulation Football League) Draft
Now that the DSFL season had concluded, Zavier had another draft to prepare for, the ISFL Draft. The DSFL is viewed as a stepping stone to the ultimate international stage, the ISFL. Zavier was invited to the combine, and once again, blew the testing, interviews and media requests out of the water and was regarded as one of the top prospects. Zavier met with each and every team prior to the draft, and they all were in love with his drive, his passion, his unrelenting desire to make the people around him better in search of the ultimate victory, winning championships with the players he cared most about. Having met with each team individually, Zavier was unsure where he would go. Many projected him as a high draft pick, more than likely going off the board before the 6th pick in the draft. Once again, the time had come. Zavier was in attendance with his family and friends, they were all there to support him as the next phase of his professional journey was set to start. With sweaty palms, Zavier was anxiously awaiting the news from the commissioner standing in front of hundreds, reading through the selected names in that season's draft. The players selected before Zavier are not worth mentioning as there is a better than not chance that he will outperform them on and off the field. Zavier was like that, he would do everything he could to prove anyone wrong… After 3 picks had been submitted and announced, the time had come… The commissioner approached the podium, there was a pause that felt like 6 months time, but in reality, was just a deep breath by the person in charge. Wouldn't you know it, the next words out of the commissioner's mouth were…
With the 4th pick in the Season 38 ISFL Draft… the San Jose SaberCats select… Zavier Perkins… Linebacker… Bondi Beach Buccaneers.
The rest of this story is still unwritten as Zavier is currently on a flight to the San Jose training facility. I can guarantee you Zavier is already on the plane working on his game, perfecting his craft and will most definitely be a hall of fame player some day. In the meantime, thank you for taking the time to follow along on this journey, and we promise that as time goes on, we will be back to not only update you on the progress of his career, but also will share insights on his training, stories of his past, anything we can do to shed light on a player who will no doubt be a commonality in households across the country.
Till we meet again Zavier Perkins fanatics.. *mic drop*
Addendum
In natural fashion, Zavier would like to dedicate the beginning article of this series to his family and loved ones. While football is his passion, his family is and always will be his number one priority. None of this would have been possible without the love and support of the people who are continually batting in his corner. To his mother, the one who continually supplied endless love and compassion, the woman to push him to be better each and every day, but who was always willing to be a shoulder to lean on in times of need. To his father, his first coach, his daily motivation, the person who he continually wants to make proud and can always count on it the going gets tough. To his brother, his top practice partner, the guy who he was always looking up to athletically and he always wanted to impress. To his sister, the person that pushed him to continually be a better role model, the one he could always count on when late night phone calls were necessary. He would like to thank his family members for their continued support, unwavering dedication and the constant care packages of moms famous home made chocolate chip cookies.
To his fans, Zavier would like to say thank you for your support, thank you for motivating him to be better on and off the field daily, and most importantly, thank you for your constant support of my teammates in our join effort of ultimate success. Everything Zavier does on the field is a direct reflection of the need to keep you entertained, please never hesitate to stop him for a photograph or autograph, he is where he is because of your constant support.
Thank you all again for taking the time to read this. This article is the first or many iterations in my attempt to best tell the untold story of the soon to be legend, Zavier Perkins. Mic Drop 2.0.
While many know Zavier Perkins for his on field play and locker room presence, not many know the true evolution of Zavier and how he became one of the DSFL’s most feared linebackers. Now that draft preparation has come to a conclusion, and Zavier will know his new ISFL team in the coming days, it is time to step back and tell the story on how Zavier became the player he is today. We will take some time today to tell the life and stories of Perkins, which will give anyone reading a true understanding of how he became the player he is today.
Early Life- Birth to High School
Zavier was born in Southeastern Louisiana to two loving parents, Silvia and Alvin. Coming into the world measuring in at 25” tall and 8lbs 6oz, his parents knew that he was always going to be larger than the average kid his age. With both of his parents playing sports professionally in their past, they were hoping the size and athletic genes would transfer nicely into Zavier to fulfill the family legacy. Silvia was a very talented volleyball player, having played her collegiate career at LSU and playing for 6 seasons overseas post collegiate career. Alvin was a football star, playing his days at LSU as well, and having a 14 year career at the highest of professional levels. With the gene pool between these two, it was almost guaranteed that Zavier and his siblings would be athletic, but the jury was out on how athletic they would be.
At his time of birth, Zavier had one older brother and later, his parents brought a baby girl into the world as well. Being the middle child, Zavier had someone to always look up to, compete against, and learn life lessons from, and also had a younger sibling who he was able to teach, lead and learn with. While these seem to be insignificant momentos in his life, as he progressed within his football career, Zavier was always grateful for the time he spent learning and growing with his siblings. Through his childhood, his siblings also focused on sport as their means of enrichment. His sister, Zorida was very big into Volleyball and Basketball, and ended up pursuing her career in Volleyball, playing at the Division I level, and eventually playing professionally overseas like their mother. His brother, Zayne, had a passion for baseball and basketball, which he was also able to play BOTH at the Division I level, and had a short, but great career playing baseball at the professional level as well.
Through childhood, the Perkins kids were inseparable. Whether it was skipping rocks in the swamp, playing tag with the neighborhood kids, or practicing their sports together, helping each one progress, they were always together. Their parents were always involved, helping coach their rec teams, working on skill progression on the weekends, and most importantly, pushing their kids to focus on school and getting their academics in order to have a fallback plan if their professional sporting careers did not pan out. All 3 of the Perkins’ siblings were bright, and no doubt would excel at the next level, and although their parents played sports for a career, the kids were never pushed to do so. Their future was in their hands, and both parents were happy to steer them in the right direction and cheer them on in the process.
High School- The Come Up
Entering high school as a freshman, Zavier was a three sport athlete; football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the summer. As in true Perkin’s family fashion, Zavier was a large kid. As a freshman in high school, Zavier stood 6’5” tall and weighed in at 230 lbs with less than 10% body fat, he was by far the biggest kid in his school, his athletics conference and more likely that not, the biggest kid at his age in the county. Zavier used his size to his advantage in all of his sports, being able to focus within the weight room, and outlift every kid on his team was something he prided himself on. While most kids his age were focusing on video games, hanging out with friends, and getting into whatever mischief they could find in southeastern Louisiana… Zavier was focused on his lifestyle, the weight room, and making his family name proud.
On the gridiron, Zavier was a top notch competitor and was starting on the varsity team as a true freshman, something that had NEVER been done in school history. When you live in this area of Louisiana, you eat, sleep and breathe football. His school was always competitive, they hold 16 state titles in the last 20 years, and they will have another 16 in the next 20. Starting as a true freshman is a true feat that will be talked about on the stomping grounds for years to come. Generally, freshmen still aren't built out, they are too small to hold their own, and their general lack of football knowledge is lacking, but that is FAR from the case with Zavier. Zavier had such a passion for the sport, starting at such a young age that he never passed up an opportunity to hit the practice field, spend some extra time in the weight room, brush up on the playbook, whatever he could possibly do to get a competitive advantage over his opponents.
Through his first 3 high school seasons, Zavier was leading his conference in every statistical category annually. During his junior season he set the state single season records for interceptions (22), fumbles recovered (7), forced fumbles (16), sacks (18), blocked punts (12) and most impressively tackles with a whopping 212.5. While these numbers are outstanding, what was really impressing collegiate scouts was his mental capability on and off the field. Zavier was a leader, never afraid to call the plays, always willing to help a teammate get into position and had a knack for finding the ball. Zavier had extremely fluid hips, had the best footwork in the country, and studied the playbook and opponents film so in depth each week, that he always knew where the ball was going and what the play was, allowing him to get a jump on the opponent's next move. These stats, combined with Zaviers on and off field personality had him listed as a 5-star recruit, touted as first in his position nationally, first in his state, and first in the country. Scouts were lining up for blocks to see Zavier play on Friday nights and boy was he always willing to put on a show for those scouts.
As Zavier progressed through high school, he had many opportunities present to visit prestigious Division I colleges around the country in order to find the best fit for his collegiate career. Zavier took these opportunities as a chance to learn more about himself, learn what his likes and dislikes were, what programs his personality and drive meshed with best, but most importantly, where he could truly envision himself spending the next 4 years of his collegiate career. Coming into his senior year of high school, Zavier had 36 Division I offers to play football at the next level. These schools ranged from California over to Florida and all the way up into the New England States, and this variety and showing made the decision very hard for Zavier.
Although to many, this seemed to be an easy decision, for Zavier, it was most definitely not. With the family legacy running through LSU, he felt pressured to go there, but in a weird turn of events, Zavier decided to play the contrarian, and committed to a full ride to Alabama the day before his opening night senior year. The stands were silent, his parents were tearing up, nobody expected this to be the turn of events, but regardless, everyone was supportive of his decision and congratulated him on committing to play at the next level. HOWEVER, during the 3rd game that senior season, Zavier was dropping into coverage on a tight end, and when he went to cut, Zavier felt a sharp pain in his lower leg… something that many feared, Zavier went down on the field and the medical team and athletic trainers had to carry him off the field to address what had happened. While many feared it to be an ACL injury, Zavier actually fared better than expected, MCL sprain, PCL sprain and a severely rolled ankle. Something that would cause him to sit out the majority of his senior season, but was not considered career threatening and would be back on the field with plenty of time before his high school championship run.
While many would consider this to be a great turn of events from something that could have been catastrophic, this one injury actually concerned NCAA scouts, many of which pulled their offers. 6 weeks after committing to the University of Alabama… Zavier had his scholarship pulled, forcing him to reconsider his decisions. What was once 36 Division I offers, now turned into 12 Division I offers, some of which being smaller schools, not ones that many see on their TV sets on Saturday afternoons. This turn of fate was something that many feared to be crushing to Zavier’s morale, but in fact, it lit a fire inside him that nobody expected. One of his 12 offers that stood was… Louisiana State University, his homeschool, the one his parents had their name hanging from the rafters, the one his older brother was already playing basketball at, and the one his younger sister dreamed of going to as well. No better time than the present Zavier thought, that next morning he called up the head football coach at LSU and officially submitted his commitment to play for the tigers for the coming 4 seasons.
This was a turning point in Zavier’s career. He viewed everything with a much higher oversight, never wavering from his goals, always striving to be better, faster, stronger, anything he could do to prove to those 24 schools that pulled their offers that they made a mistake. Zavier focused on his season-long goal, to win the state championship. After returning from his leg rehabilitation, Zavier led his team on the field, in the weight room, during practices daily, pushing everyone around him to focus on the end goal and never waiver from greatness. All of this hard work paid off, Zaviers high school team faced their rivals in the state championship at the completion of the season, winning in a 41-12 blowout victory. Nobody ever doubted Zavier, but what was viewed as a catastrophic knee injury to many, was a blessing in disguise for Zavier, and to this day, that chip remains on his shoulder.
Below you can take a look at Zavier’s high school stats broken down by season. Looking at these stats, anyone can draw the conclusion on why he was such a highly regarded athlete at such a young age.
High School Regular Season Stats
Freshman Season:
Games Played: 10
Total Tackles: 190.5
Sacks: 14.5
Forced Fumbles: 9
Fumble Recoveries: 3
Interceptions: 19
Sophomore Season:
Games Played: 10
Total Tackles: 208
Sacks: 16.5
Forced Fumbles: 11
Fumble Recoveries: 6
Interceptions: 18
Junior Season:
Games Played: 10
Total Tackles: 212.5
Sacks: 18
Forced Fumbles: 16
Fumble Recoveries: 7
Interceptions: 22
Senior Season:
Games Played: 4
Total Tackles: 79.5
Sacks: 7.5
Forced Fumbles: 5
Fumble Recoveries: 3
Interceptions: 8
College- Louisiana State University Tigers Football
After the completion of his senior season, Zavier had his sights set on the true Death Valley, and was doing everything in his power to prepare for move in day in the heat of summer. Zavier visited with his future coaches at the completion of his senior season to get a meal plan from them, as well as a playbook, and custom workout to get him prepared mentally and physically for the upcoming season. Zavier was ready to play, was willing to put in the work, but had to prove himself first to get his name called on Saturday evenings. There was nothing that was going to stop him from leading his teammates on the grid-iron, not his coaches, not his teammates, not his grades or conduct, nothing would stand in between Zavier and greatness. With this attitude came many late nights, many tough workouts, meal and protein shake discipline, anything that could create a routine that would set Zavier up for success.
The first day of pre-season camp had arrived and Zavier had a nervous jitter about him. Not one of those nervous feelings, but rather a feeling of excitement and anticipation for something he had worked his entire life to get to. Zavier was grateful for his opportunity to play at LSU and was going to work harder than anyone on his team, or in the league to make his family and himself proud. On the very first day of pre-season camp, Zavier walked into the linebackers room for their very first team meeting, and was in shock. The size of these guys was nothing like he had played against in the past. In high school, Zavier was always the biggest, fastest, strongest, and now he stands among a room of guys larger and stronger than he. Yet again, this lit a fire inside of him, knowing he would outwork, outplay, out-study any of these guys on a daily basis, and would use this to his advantage in every way possible.
Throughout the pre-season training, Zavier was leaps and bounds ahead of the other freshmen. He was able to increase the weights on his lifts, decrease his times in all plyometric and short sprint activities and knew the playbook better than anyone. Although he still had some growing to do physically (being only 18 years old), he was performing like an upperclassman and the coaches knew that they had something very special on their hands. Just like in high school, Zavier was the first into the training facility in the morning, and the last out in the evening. He was never afraid to get extra help from the coaches, and lend a willing hand whenever a teammate needed to talk over a play, a lift, or even homework from their classes on main campus. Zaviers leadership was not going unnoticed and the coaches knew they needed to reward him somehow for outworking every single one of his teammates on a daily basis.
Going into pregame film the night before opening day, there was a buzz around the room that had Zavier feeling more and more excited for what was to take place tomorrow afternoon. As they were reviewing film on the opponent, the defensive coordinator shot out of his seat, and turned on the lights almost immediately. Everyone was nervous as to what he was going to say because this was not something he had previously done in the past. Anxiously awaiting a response, one of Zaviers teammates spoke up and asked the coach what was going on and if he was alright. The coach responded stating that it was time to name the 3 defensive captains for this upcoming season, one from each line on the defensive field. Not thinking twice, Zavier continued to take playnotes on the film that was still silently running in the background, taking note of all routes ran on each specific play, trying to get a jump on the offensive schemes.
As the coach was standing in front of the team, he started listing off the 3 defensive captains and their distinctive leadership qualities that set them apart from the pack. The first player, Shawn, was a big defensive lineman. Someone that had been on the team for 4 seasons and entering his senior season, was set to be a future first round draft pick. Shawn was someone the DLine looked up to, and the opponents feared, someone that knew the play before it happened, and was willing to do anything to get to the quarterback. The next name called, Alonte, is a physical safety, ballhawk type who has outstanding intangibles, can jump out of the gym, and has speed beyond what anyone could imagine. Shawn is a 3rd year player, and through his first two seasons, has set numerous interception records and is one of the most feared secondary players in the league. While still half paying attention to coach talking, and half paying attention to the film on the big screen, Zander swore he heard something that heard like his name… but he thought to himself, no way, not possible, so he kept focusing on the film…
What felt like 20 minutes later, when in reality it was like 10-15 seconds, Zander felt a hand on his shoulder, it was his coach asking him why he didn't stand up. Confused as ever, Zander asked… why? Coach laughed and told him, this is exactly why you were named captain of the linebacker group, and one of our 3 defensive captains, because his nose was so far into the film, he didn't even hear his teammates clapping and chanting his name in the room around him. Zander was honored, being named a captain as a freshman was unheard of, but it was fitting for the work he had put in on and off the field throughout the pre-season. This was the first time in school history that a true freshman was named captain of any teams personnel units, and it was fitting that Zander was the man to do it. Honored with his new role, Zander got up in front of his teammates, thanked them for voting him into his position, and triumphantly, started chanting to boost morale going into Saturday’s opening game. This was just the first of many accolades for Zander, someone who embodied the spirit and mentality of LSU, and was always more than willing to go the extra mile to show his dedication to his team, his coaches, his fans, his family, and most importantly, his city.
Through his freshman season, Zander was an everyday starter. The work he put in during the offseason did not go unnoticed and was lining up with the first line, playing against some of the top talent in the country. Being only 18 during his freshman season, nobody expected such a level of understanding and maturity, but Zander always rose to the occasion. Coaches loved him because he spent so much time studying film, that just like in high school, he was able to read coverages, understand the opposition's plays, and call out specific routes or schemes to help his teammates get a better jump on the ball or their player. Zander was noted to be a player that every coach in the country wanted on their roster, and feared playing against, someone who would be a name in the sport for many years to come and would never disappoint in any facet of life. Below you can view Zaviers stats from his collegiate career at Louisiana State University:
Collegiate Regular Season Stats
Freshman Season:
Games Played: 12
Total Tackles: 198
Sacks: 25
Forced Fumbles: 10
Fumble Recoveries: 4
Interceptions: 10
Sophomore Season:
Games Played: 12
Total Tackles: 212
Sacks: 22
Forced Fumbles: 12
Fumble Recoveries: 4
Interceptions: 13
Junior Season:
Games Played: 12
Total Tackles: 199
Sacks: 30
Forced Fumbles: 10
Fumble Recoveries: 5
Interceptions: 12
Senior Season:
Games Played: 12
Total Tackles: 240
Sacks: 28
Forced Fumbles: 14
Fumble Recoveries: 7
Interceptions: 14
As Zavier progressed through his career, he was regarded as one of the most talented linebackers in collegiate history and professional scouts were lining up around the block to see him play. They were blown away by his speed, the ability to burst off the line and read every offensive scheme with ease. This was not something that was easily learned at the collegiate level, something more fit for the professional game, but Zavier was a different breed of player, something that not many had seen before. In conversation with a scout one day, Zaviers father was told “Zavier is one of the best football players I have ever seen, to project him as a professional Hall of Famer now would not shock me, he will have a very long, and very talented career at the next level.”
Zavier never let any of this get to his head, he kept his nose in the books, kept his focus on practice and games, and was always prepared for the unexpected as he completed his senior season at the collegiate level. After Zavier’s senior season, he was invited to the DSFL combine, something that not everyone was offered, but being such a widely regarded athlete, it was expected at this level. During his time at the combine, Zavier met with each team, walking through plays, reading schemes, interviewing and learning about each other's pros and cons, and where he would be the best fit moving forward in his career. Through these drills and interviews, Zavier was noted to be one of the top draft picks in the upcoming DSFL draft, where he knew his name would be in the lights.
The night had finally come, Zavier and his family were on site at the DSFL Draft location, surrounded by the other top athletes in his sport, Zavier made sure he was the best dressed, smiling to the media in front of every camera possible. While he was never one to want to be in the spotlight, Zavier knew that he had earned this, tonight was the culmination of years and years of hard work, dedication and relentless work ethic to make himself one of the top prospects in the country. While he had no idea where he would be drafted, he knew one thing, no matter the location, no matter the coach, no matter the teammates, no matter the situation, Zavier would give 1,000% effort and he would give his all to make his team better daily. Time had come, the commissioner stepped on stage and started announcing pick by pick, 10 minutes apart giving the teams time to talk about their options and make the best possible decision for their roster. A few picks had rolled in, Zavier was nervous as he was not called, until…
With the 5th pick in the Season 37 DSFL Draft… the Bondi Beach Buccaneers select… Zavier Perkins… Linebacker… Louisiana State University.
DSFL (Developmental Simulation Football League)
After draft night, Zavier was able to release a sigh of gratitude and exhaustion. Years of work had lead up to this night, and for that, he is forever grateful, but there was no time for rest, the very next morning he was to get on a flight from Louisiana to Australie to set foot at the Bondi Beach training facility to get ready for the upcoming DSFL season. He was up late that night, taking calls from coaches and family, talking with the media, sitting for a few interviews on major draft networks to talk about his thoughts. While all of this was overwhelming to say the least, Zavier was able to handle it with poise and professionalism and the media, coaches and family members were impressed with his ability to stay calm under the pressure of the big stage. The toughest was yet to come, Zavier had to move away from his family, and travel 9,700+ miles away from his family, where he would begin his next step as a professional football player. While for anyone, this would be the toughest part of the entire experience, but he knew what had to be done. To provide for his family, to make the family name proud, he would do whatever it took, and the next step was Bondi Beach.
Upon arriving in Australia, Zavier was in awe of the beauty. The trees, skies, waterfalls, the views for miles, there was nothing more beautiful that Zavier had ever witnessed, while he was anxious to be so far away from family, the views were more than enough at first to make him feel at home. Zaviers coach was there to pick him up at the airport, he pulled up in a newer limousine, one of those fancy SUV model ones, with blacked out windows, at first, Zavier had no idea who that was for, but it still had not hit him yet that he was a professional athlete until his coach rolled down the windows and said… “you coming or what?!” Zavier hopped into the back seat and it was right to business. Coach brought a copy of the playbook with him and Zavier was eager to dive right in. There was no time to waste, the season was right around the corner and Zavier had a job to do, the opportunity for an off day was non-existent.
Upon arriving at the facility, Zavier was able to meet some of his teammates, each of them more eager and polite than the next. They were all beyond grateful for the opportunity, but also eager to step foot on the field, ready to work with their teammates to do what they came for… to take home the championship trophy at the end of the season. With a league with this much depth, that was no small feat, they were going to have to be persistent, growing and learning with each step along the bumpy road, working as one strength unit to push through the opposition. While this was nothing new to them, some of them having played football for 16+ years, they were ready to hit the grindstone, focus like no other and power through their first opportunities as professional athletes.
Early in the preseason, just as with his collegiate days, Zander was noted as the hardest worker on the field. Rather than going out and enjoying the night life around Australia, Zavier chose to stay in his apartment, learning and memorizing the playbook, watching opposition film, training in whatever way he could to get the upper hand advantage that he was always known to possess. This tireless work ethic and positive can-do attitude once again netted Zavier the opportunity to be voted Defensive Captain by his teammates in unanimous decision. They wanted him to lead the team, call the defensive plays, and they knew that as an entirety of a unit, they would all be better because of his leadership. Zavier was grateful for the opportunity, but in typical fashion, there was no time to celebrate the personal victory, it was time to get even more serious because he had a team to make proud and numbers of teammates around him he was not willing to let down.
Going into the season, the Bondi Beach Buccaneers were one of the top teams, but not the favorite by far. They had a lot of work to do, but the players had faith in their coaches, they knew that there was an opportunity, and with continual player growth, and belief in the system, they would have no issues competing at the highest level. Overall, the season was a complete success and not only did the players and coaches work extremely hard to get there, they shocked the entire league with the outcome. The Bondi Beach Buccaneers went 11-3 in the regular season and were the number 1 team in the south division. Going into the playoffs, they had more momentum than anyone as they knew that they were a force to be reckoned with. In the first round of the Ultimini, the Buccaneers faced the Birddogs and through a tough back and forth battle, came out victorious in a 31-21 win. With this win, the Bondi Beach Buccaneers had solidified their place in the Ulitimini versus the Portland Pythons. Going into this game, the players were ready, this is what they had been working their entire season towards and this was the ultimate culmination of their hard work. Playing for the Ultimini was a dream for every play on that field, but the Buccaneers players stayed focused, their eye was on the competition, they were unwilling to roll over and they knew they were ready for the business trip of a lifetime.
The Ultimini was a back and forth battle, both teams wanted it badly, but it was a matter of who worked harder, who prepared more efficiently, and who was going to outlast the opponent for victory. Although the media was calling for a tough game, this was all but over before it began. Bondi Beach took the field much hungrier than the Pythons, and it was evident throughout the entirety of the game. They fought for every yard, they were reading plays better than anyone and they put up a monster showing in a 28-14 victory over the Pythons. Your Bondi Beach Buccaneers were the 2052 Ultimini Champions and they were ecstatic to celebrate the victory. Their entire season came down to this, and it was a moment they would never forget. As the final play was run, the fans rushed the field, confetti falling from the rafters of the domed stadium. Every player, while wanting to celebrate with their teammates, they wanted to find their families and celebrate this special moment with them. Zaviers entire family was in attendance and they never had a doubt that he would be victorious. A long season ended in the most fitting fashion, an Ulitimini Championship, something the players and coaches have been talking about and working for, for months.Below you can see Zavier Perkins single season stats, he was in the top of all statistical categories and was a force of nature that would prove well in the upcoming ISFL Draft.
DSFL Single Season Stats
2052 Season
Games Played: 14
Total Tackles: 100
Sacks: 5
Forced Fumbles: 2
Tackles for Loss: 13
Interceptions: 2
ISFL (International Simulation Football League) Draft
Now that the DSFL season had concluded, Zavier had another draft to prepare for, the ISFL Draft. The DSFL is viewed as a stepping stone to the ultimate international stage, the ISFL. Zavier was invited to the combine, and once again, blew the testing, interviews and media requests out of the water and was regarded as one of the top prospects. Zavier met with each and every team prior to the draft, and they all were in love with his drive, his passion, his unrelenting desire to make the people around him better in search of the ultimate victory, winning championships with the players he cared most about. Having met with each team individually, Zavier was unsure where he would go. Many projected him as a high draft pick, more than likely going off the board before the 6th pick in the draft. Once again, the time had come. Zavier was in attendance with his family and friends, they were all there to support him as the next phase of his professional journey was set to start. With sweaty palms, Zavier was anxiously awaiting the news from the commissioner standing in front of hundreds, reading through the selected names in that season's draft. The players selected before Zavier are not worth mentioning as there is a better than not chance that he will outperform them on and off the field. Zavier was like that, he would do everything he could to prove anyone wrong… After 3 picks had been submitted and announced, the time had come… The commissioner approached the podium, there was a pause that felt like 6 months time, but in reality, was just a deep breath by the person in charge. Wouldn't you know it, the next words out of the commissioner's mouth were…
With the 4th pick in the Season 38 ISFL Draft… the San Jose SaberCats select… Zavier Perkins… Linebacker… Bondi Beach Buccaneers.
The rest of this story is still unwritten as Zavier is currently on a flight to the San Jose training facility. I can guarantee you Zavier is already on the plane working on his game, perfecting his craft and will most definitely be a hall of fame player some day. In the meantime, thank you for taking the time to follow along on this journey, and we promise that as time goes on, we will be back to not only update you on the progress of his career, but also will share insights on his training, stories of his past, anything we can do to shed light on a player who will no doubt be a commonality in households across the country.
Till we meet again Zavier Perkins fanatics.. *mic drop*
Addendum
In natural fashion, Zavier would like to dedicate the beginning article of this series to his family and loved ones. While football is his passion, his family is and always will be his number one priority. None of this would have been possible without the love and support of the people who are continually batting in his corner. To his mother, the one who continually supplied endless love and compassion, the woman to push him to be better each and every day, but who was always willing to be a shoulder to lean on in times of need. To his father, his first coach, his daily motivation, the person who he continually wants to make proud and can always count on it the going gets tough. To his brother, his top practice partner, the guy who he was always looking up to athletically and he always wanted to impress. To his sister, the person that pushed him to continually be a better role model, the one he could always count on when late night phone calls were necessary. He would like to thank his family members for their continued support, unwavering dedication and the constant care packages of moms famous home made chocolate chip cookies.
To his fans, Zavier would like to say thank you for your support, thank you for motivating him to be better on and off the field daily, and most importantly, thank you for your constant support of my teammates in our join effort of ultimate success. Everything Zavier does on the field is a direct reflection of the need to keep you entertained, please never hesitate to stop him for a photograph or autograph, he is where he is because of your constant support.
Thank you all again for taking the time to read this. This article is the first or many iterations in my attempt to best tell the untold story of the soon to be legend, Zavier Perkins. Mic Drop 2.0.