First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing since you’ve retired from the NFL and how you got started in these new ventures?

I’m currently an Executive Team Leader for a Target store in Alabama. I played pro football for four years on three different teams; the Steelers, Texans, and two seasons in the United Football League with the Las Vegas Locomotives. After my second season in the UFL, I had a decision to make; either continue playing another year in hopes to get back to the NFL with a slim chance considering being the 2nd or 3rd string tight end most of my professional career or start looking for employment to start building my professional resume’,  live in a city more than a few months at a time, and most importantly, leave the game in one piece.

I went to my Alma Mater’s campus at Mississippi State and was recruited by several companies. Having “Super Bowl Champion” and “UFL Champion” definitely stands out on a resume’!  I have been in retail for about three years now and I enjoy it!

Besides work, I like to do races such 5K races, mud runs, and triathlons. Having that competitive drive keeps me active and wanting to do and try new things.

How hard was it for you to adjust to life post professional football, and how did your time in the NFL help?

It wasn’t hard for me to adjust to life after pro football because, honestly, I never expected to make it pro in the first place so my main preparation was originally for life after college football.

I only caught eight footballs for a total of 50 yards in my career at MSU, and I split time with two other senior tight ends. That’s not the stats of your typical NFL tight end these days. I transitioned well because I’m typically a forward thinking, optimistic person. I knew I wanted to finish college with a degree and through hard work and a little luck, I was able to finish at MSU with my Master’s Degree in the five years I was at MSU. Going through grad school and playing SEC football was a beast but I made it through.

You signed on with the Steelers in 2008 – at the time guys i.e. Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth were there. Why did you choose Pittsburgh and how hard was it getting your chances there to show the coaches what you could do?

I didn’t have a plethora of teams calling my phone wanting to draft or sign me after my senior year. The Steelers was one of two or three teams that saw potential in me as an H-Back tight end, someone who could play tight end and fullback. After the draft in 2008, I signed with the Steelers and the rest was history. I had a great group of Tight ends in front of me including Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth, and Sean McHugh. I ended up making the practice squad and being a person who never in a million years imagined being on a professional football team in any form of fashion. I was extremely happy I made it. Knowing that being a practice squad player is nothing guaranteed on a weekly basis, I made sure that every single practice was my game day and I treated it as such.

As an undrafted free agent, what was your biggest adjustment to life in the NFL, and what did you learn from those guys that helped you make that adjustment?

The hardest thing as an undrafted free agent was the fact that you’re at the bottom of the totem pole for making the team versus draftees and veterans. Everyone is ten times bigger, faster, stronger, and smarter than your average college player. Not only that but being on a professional team means just that. You have to be a pro at the game and realize that if you aren’t making plays, it’s no one’s fault but yours, and someone else will happily take your spot. No more red shirt years or 2nd chances. Sometimes, you may have only one chance to show coaches that you’re going to help them win football games. It’s up to you to come in to camp in shape and get to meetings early, not just “on time.” If you arrive to team meetings on time, you’re probably the last person in the meeting room.

The cool thing about the Steelers, specifically, was that all the veterans, especially guys like Heath, Troy, James Farrior, Ben and many others were very proactive in helping the younger guys learn the rules. No one sabotaged us or had an “every man for himself” mentality, and that camaraderie is ultimately what helped us reach the playoffs and win the Super Bowl that year.

Who helped you most to adjust to life in the NFL -and as a Steeler – and how did they do so?

The people who helped me adjust to the professional football ranks the most were my fellow tight ends, Heath, Matt and Sean, and my position coach, James Daniel. They all had very high expectations and we all took pride in our position group. All of us rarely every dropped the football, in games or in practice. Under their guidance, they helped me raise my standards for what being a professional is all about. I owe them much thanks for my time there.

Can you describe what it was like playing under a relatively new coach in Mike Tomlin?  How was the team handling the changes he implemented and what were the biggest changes he implemented?

Playing for Coach Tomlin was an awesome experience. He’s a natural leader who caters to the situation to produce the best outcome. He knew when to make practices tough to prepare for a big game but also he knew when to cut the team a break or “throw us a bone” as we said, to lift the spirits of our tired or worn out team.

“Don’t be the guy” is a popular phrase of his. Don’t be the guy to be late to meetings. Don’t be the guy who missed his block that would’ve main a big running play. Don’t be the guy who ends up in the newspaper for doing something crazy. Those words meant a lot to us and it paid off. No one “was the guy” that cost us to win the Super Bowl but everyone had a part in us winning it.

In 2008 the Steelers won the Super Bowl – that was your first season in Pittsburgh. Can you describe what that experience was like for you and were you able at the time to appreciate how rare that was?

I appreciate to this day that no matter what happens, I can say that I’m a Super Bowl Champion for the rest of my life. The mere fact of just going to a Super Bowl, something many established players who never had the chance, was an amazing accomplishment. Super Bowl XLIII is arguably one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time and if not the best, it’s in the top five in my opinion.

That year we were ranked number one in almost all defensive categories so I honestly didn’t the Cardinals had a chance but they fought hard until the very end. Anything goes in the Super Bowl. So many memorable plays that happened in that game such as James Harrison’s 100 yard interception before halftime, Fitzgerald’s touchdown catch through the heart of our number one ranked defense to give them the lead in fourth quarter, and Santonio Holmes’ tip-toe touchdown to seal the deal is still almost beyond belief.

I didn’t play in the game but I was on the sidelines and had the best seats in the house! After the final review of the touchdown signifying that the touchdown was still good, I was on cloud nine. It was the single, most defining, happiest moment of my life, and it’s something that has definitely changed my life as well. I thank the Steeler’s organization and the Rooney’s for allowing me to be a part of that experience.

How much did humor play a part on that Steelers team, and how so? Can you give a couple of examples of some funny things that occurred, on or off the field?

We had a bunch of clowns on our team, and having a fun in the locker room and outside of the facilities helped us endure the long season. Most of the real funny situations are kept in the locker room and should stay there, But I will say that one of the funniest was in training camp. One tradition for the Steelers rookie players during some point in time in training camp is to stand on top of a table in the cafeteria and sing a song in front of the entire team. Everyone knew how to play football but no one knew how to sing!. Not only did we have to sing but we really have to put on a show because if not you would have to repeat another day until you get cheers and the approval from veterans. My song of choice was “I want you back” by the Jackson 5. I escaped with flying colors singing the first verse and the chorus but my mind blanked on the second verse but fortunately for me it was enough to get the thumbs up. Unfortunately for first and second round picks Rashad Mendenhall and Limas Sweed, they had to perform two or three times each. I think the veterans just wanted to make them earn their stripes I suppose. We all had a good time with it.

Who were some of the toughest guys you faced – both in practice and on game days. What made them so?

The toughest player by far I’ve competed against on the pro level was James Harrison. As a practice squad tight end, I’ve had to compete against the starting defense to prepare them for our opponents, and James just so happened to be the NFL Defensive Player of the year that season. He’s strong and mean and was very hard to block. He always played and practiced with a chip on his shoulder. Even in walk-throughs he always went a faster pace to get to the ball. That’s what makes him the great player that he is.

Another player is Troy Polamalu. He’s so quick and just when you think you got him beat on a route, he turns up another notch and deflects the ball every time. And when we played in the preseason games, which is every rookie players’ audition to try to make the team, the hardest player I had to block was Julius Peppers when he was with the Carolina Panthers, which was not an easy task. He’s tall, strong, and very athletic.

Any advice for young players entering the game today?

To all the young players, my biggest advice is treat each day as if it may be your last day on the field and do what it takes to get results. Results is the only things that matters in the NFL, and anywhere else for that matter. How do you get results? Always be early to meetings, know the playbook, stay healthy, stay away from people who doesn’t have your same focus, and win your individual battle every snap of every practice and in the games. Many players get caught up in the NFL lifestyle and lose focus. The average NFL career is only 3.5 years, so as soon as you step foot on the facilities they are already looking for your replacement. It’s up to you to determine how long you play.

Any last thoughts for readers?

My last thoughts for the readers is that being with the Steelers and winning a Super Bowl was one of the great things anyone could have ever imagined. But getting to that point is the end result of a lot of hard work, patience, discipline, team work, and even luck plays a part as well. I was a kid who went to a small high school in MS that didn’t have much of a football program having never been to the playoffs, and I was one of the first (If not the first) person to get a Division I scholarship, something I still appreciate to this day. Dreams comes true by knowing what you want, why you want it, and giving small consistent efforts towards your goal on a daily basis, whether you feel like it or not. If you want to achieve something in your personal life, then my advice is to get out of your comfort zone and push yourself to the limit. And when you do reach the top, find some way to help others achieve their goals.

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