Just saw the news - very sad situation. #RIP
Did not know much about him so read his bio and seeing his journey only makes it worse.
Was a freshmen in high school a whopping 11 years ago. Transfers high schools and does not play football in between his freshmen and senior season.
No star recruit, a little recruiting interest but bad grades so he goes to some juco college in Arizona. He's from Maryland, misses home so he quits before a game even starts. Spends next two years working in a grocery store and training for video game tournaments.
Gets convinced to try football again. Goes to Fort Bend CC in Kansas. Does well.
Transfers to the JC in Missisippi which was featured on Netflix's Last Chance U. Season is cancelled for COVID.
He must have displayed some great natural talent that year at Fort Bend because he's ranked as the #4 JUCO recruit in the nation off that one year he played and goes to Alabama. Gets buried on the depth chart and also suspended.
Ends up transfering to Oregon where he plays one year and declares for the draft.
I'll say again he must have really displayed a lot of natural talent to be a guy was going to turn 25 next month, who had some background issues and only played one much of one season of Div 1 football to still get drafted in round 4.
Anyway, just really sad especially to see someone take all those twists and turns and look out for the count to only to finally be on the doorstep of making it after a long trip. Different paths, but reminded me of Brandon Burlsworth. RIP.