The NFL Draft is one of the biggest spectacles of the year, with thousands of hours spent poring over the best American football talent. Many journalists' entire careers are spent predicting who will get drafted when. Each of the NFL's 32 teams has a large staff dedicated to years of scouting, interviewing, researching, and lobbying for different players to improve each team. The player's estimated cost to get drafted is $100,000 beyond college costs, including training, travel, and agents to get on NFL General Managers' radars. NFL franchises spend millions on the draft process. Sometimes, all that pays off, and players get drafted ahead of their predicted draft spots. Some supposed first-round locks inexplicably plummet. Some cannot miss players become busts, and undrafted rookies become stars.
This past draft had Cam Ward, from the University of the Incarnate Word, to Washington State University, to the University of Miami in college, drafted number 1 overall. This story details his journey from a zero-star recruit to shining at Miami. It also saw quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders, son of the legendary professional two-sport star Deion Sanders, fall from a first-round lock to a fifth-round selection of the Cleveland Browns (number 141 overall), who had already drafted a different quarterback before him in the third round.
Cam had no hype around him in high school. His offense was a rushing attack, allowing him to only throw 9 times per game. And they wouldn't let him run the ball for fear of injury. He did not have a single college offer until the coach at Division 1-AA/FCS UIW saw him throw at a camp and took a flyer on him. The same recruiting class had Sanders, the number eight QB prospect and number 41 overall in his class.
Shedeur's dad had all the resources of a former MLB and NFL star player who excelled at self-promotion. His dad was his high school offensive coordinator and could showcase his son with his high profile. Sanders chose to go to Florida Atlantic University, but then switched to Jackson State University, where Deion was hired as head coach. No competition for that job, and all the hype. He later transferred to the University of Colorado with his dad to play on a bigger stage. The Sanders name got Colorado football nationally televised games and millions of eyes on Shedeur.
The top players meet with NFL executives and coaches. Below are quotes about Cam and Shedeur's pre-draft meetings.
Cam:
"There's a like to like about him," Callahan (head coach) said of Ward. "You can tell he came from a really good family, he's been raised right. He has a really good personality, he's fun to talk to, he's fun to be around. But he has a serious side, he's focused, he's determined. It's important to him. He wants to be a really good player. He has the right mix of the and seriousness. He's been really fun to get to know."
During a pre-draft presser earlier this week, Brinker (team President) talked more about Ward.
"Cam's confident. I wouldn't say he's cocky. There's a fine line between the two," Brinker said. (1)
Shedeur:
and this:
Finding the Diamonds in the Rough
All schools have students with undiscovered talents. Students who are yet undiscovered often don't believe in their abilities or have not found the right person to take an interest in them yet. They also have students who come from ideal backgrounds and seemingly have it all, but are successful due to their circumstances more than their ability. Unfortunately, these families can demand to be given more than what they are giving back.
The hidden potential in students is what the great educators reveal. Some students need a lot of coaxing and evidence to shine, and sometimes it takes years beyond when the student leaves the school. Some have a critical moment when they realize they can achieve, and that shot of confidence turns them around. The environments educators create, giving kids freedom within a structure to explore, create, fail forward, and grow, are where the elements to create a child's metamorphosis are. Many stories have been told of students who had that one teacher who lit a fire in them and propelled them to greatness.
Who are the Cam Wards in your school? Who are the kids who need to hear "Yes?" Who is the quiet kid, who may not always do their work, but when they do, astound with their quality? Who is the kid who cannot solve a quadratic formula, but can build anything in the wood shop? Who is the kid whose parents did not go to college, but dreams of becoming a teacher, doctor, lawyer, or nurse? Who is the kid who does all their homework but does not do well on tests, or does not do any of their homework and excels on tests? Who is the brilliant kid, but getting to school is their biggest obstacle? How can you be the one to say yes to that child and help get them on track?
Hidden potential can also be found in the Shedeur Sanders in your school. The kids who seem to have everything going for them, but when adversity strikes, do not know how to handle it. Who are the kids who need to hear "No"? Some students rarely hear that word and have a misplaced sense of entitlement. Which students have the lawn mower parents who prepare the trail for their children, but don't prepare their children for the trail? Which students communicate with demands instead of gratitude and kindness, and therefore lose supporters? By not holding those students accountable and helping them gain humility, schools are also not maximizing that students' skills and traits to succeed in the world outside their home.
Lessons Learned:
As happens in schools, this article focused on the highest and lowest, and left out the ones in the middle. The story of this draft was the first and fifth round quarterback, but what about the two third-rounders? So much attention is given to the lowest and highest achievers that the ones in the middle get left out. All students have hidden potential, and educators have the opportunity to make the shine. Setting high expectations and supporting students in the way they need support (which they may not want or like) is how we can bring out the best. Students who come from disadvantaged upbringings are just as capable of high success as those who come from privilege. Those two groups need different paths to optimize their ability, and both take patience and consistency from the adults working to shape their futures. Of course, support from home is a massive asset in making change. The right environment, support, and experiences can transform unknown talent into superstars. An absence of these can keep potential from ever being reached.
Sources:
Mandatory Image Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
1)https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-select-miami-qb-cam-ward-with-first-pick-in-nfl-draft
2) https://sports.yahoo.com/article/shedeur-sanders-reportedly-rubbed-teams-111038678.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADs48jODIAJPz-BHvcfSD6dVz_C7VYq_zl9optMA7njmtE8iR9T2BY0j9MPenvcN3qKX3a-gvezhEsHTwv1KuWIVQIEK8Q4iBVHCyZI8EINWliOTM6C-iYcwkS3mVNB7cwdZ0to3ss82iwryTSoiNDgNUMZP3HQQk0-NPj796uCj
3) https://www.si.com/nfl/shedeur-sanders-pre-draft-interviews-red-flags-emerging-colin-cowherd-browns#:~:text=According%20to%20Cowherd%2C%20Sanders%20didn,story%20that%20should%20raise%20eyebrows.
Comments
Post a Comment