April 24, 2025 • 16 mins
Set to kickoff later this evening and following the hype leading in to this years draft, lots of players followed with lots of mixed emotions run rapid in the final hours leading up to the draft rollout. Talking to and hearing from a local voice here in Houston looking to enter a new era in his football career and life, UH linebacker Michael Batton joins Sean and Dan for a moment sharing a few of his experiences and the steps he took leading up to this very exciting and inspiring moment in his life.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
In the NFL Draft starting today in Green Bay. And
(00:04):
we're talking with the guy right now that knows about
this process leading up to it. He is former University
of Houston linebacker seven lakes product out of the Katie area,
Michael Batton. Michael, what's going on? Man, appreciate your time.
You got me, Dan Matthews, you got Sean Salisbury here
with you, And I mean, you're a guy that knows
(00:24):
anything but a straight path in this game in terms
of having to switch positions, playing at different schools, all
of those different things. How do you feel like all
going through all that entire process prepared you for possibly
having a pro career.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Hey, guys and Sean, thank you, thank you for having
me on the show. Yeah, my path definitely hasn't been
a straight line. It's been quite a winding road. But
like you said, it definitely prepared prepared me for the
next level. You know, it's not going to be easy
at the next level, and it definitely wasn't easy taking
this path, and I think all that adversity kind of
(01:03):
created a lot stronger person that's prepared for anything. And
I have the confidence now to take the next step
and take whatever is going to come my way at
the next level.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Michael, You when you came out of high school and
played quarterback and you've played wide receiver, you played lineback,
you played quarterback, and you were recruited, had no scholarship offers,
and so take me through that feeling. You know, you're
busting your ass in high school wanting an opportunity most people,
and they're no offers. Going to college, get your degree,
it's time to move on from football?
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Why not you?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yeah, well, I actually thought, you know, that's what I
was going to do. You know, out of high school,
like you said, I didn't have many opportunities at all.
All I had was a walk on opportunity University Louisiana Lafayette.
I took that was only there for about a week
or two, and I just decided that maybe football wasn't
for me. I was lit upset, you know, I couldn't
(01:56):
play quarterback anymore, and so, yeah, away from the sport,
and I thought I'd never come back. And you know
that that year I took off back in twenty nineteen,
I was just living in College Station. I was going
to go to Blend Junior College up in Brian, which
didn't have the football team. It was just strictly a
(02:17):
school and I was going to go to A and M.
But I quickly realized, you know, I might have made
a mistake and kind of found my way back back
into football. And I think, you know, it was really
a blessing that they went that way, and I'm glad
I got back into it. It was it was that year,
(02:40):
you know, I needed to take a break and kind
of put everything back into perspective, and it led me
back to the sport I love. And it's like like
we were saying, it's been a crazy ride, and I'm
glad I got back into it. And I'm glad I
took that year off. It's everything I needed to kind
of put thing back into perspective.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
How did you keep yourself esteem intact? And I'm being
serid because a lot of you know, kids go through
and you've been beat down, you're not playing the position
you want. You go to school, you're only there for
a little bit, you know, Lafayette, and you're going somewhere else.
You're done with it, and it gets you know that
feeling of man, I don't want to get cut. I
want to I didn't get a scholarship. I just I'm
fascinated with your resilience, and I think you went to
(03:20):
what five schools? Ended up at Houston Aunible mentioned All
conference linebacker, finally found your position under coach Fritz.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
But the journey to get there.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Most of us, your path is the one we'd say,
if we're sitting on a radio show, say five schools,
come on, man, when's it done right?
Speaker 4 (03:39):
We would have tried to talk to you out of it.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
How did you stay involved in it? There had to
be one deciding moment where you said, nah, I got
to continue to prove to these guys I'm resilient.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
How'd you stick to well? You know, in the beginning,
it was more about getting my.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Life back together, right STUPA stepping away from football made
me realize just how good of an organization athletics really
is at keeping your life straight. And when I stepped
away from it, I saw that, you know, I struggled
with discipline and those kind of things. So you know,
I knew I was good at football, and that's kind
(04:14):
of all I knew up to that point in my life.
And I was like, I just want to get on
a team, get my life back together. And figure this
whole thing out, and you know, I'm gonna put my
best foot forward, and you know that's what I did.
I started at HBU, and you know, I didn't do
too well there. I kind of fell flat on my face.
(04:37):
I did end up getting into the quarterback room. But
when springball came around in twenty twenty one, I was
the only quarterback, you know, not getting any reps.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
But I did learn two things. I realized I'm a
great athlete. I really am.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
I can't compete at this college level on athletic level,
and I'm good enough to play quarterback. So you know,
that was kind of my rock bottom though, not getting
those reps. In spring practice, I was literally the only quarterback.
They wouldn't even let me throw routes on air. It
was it was kind of embarrassing, but it's funny. You know,
when you hit that rock bottom, you kind of I
(05:15):
guess it humbles you, but it gives you, you know,
a new perspective on things, and I kind of just
jump started from there.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
I realized, you know, I can play this sport.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I'm athletic enough, and so at that route to JUCO
and I had a really good season up in New York,
which the Juco Nashau Community College was was in Long Island,
and I had one of my best years yet. And
you know, that's kind of how I kept myself with
steam up. I just took it one step at a time.
(05:45):
And you know, unfortunately after that, I didn't really have
any offers.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
I had an offer to SCS School up in Wagner.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I was going to go there, but there's a great
situation that didn't work out, an eligibility situation. They took
me all for a way and I was left with nothing.
And obviously that that hurt me a lot too, and
I felt like I was just back in that same
situation I was after HBU. But at the same time,
I still had that confidence that I could play football.
(06:14):
I still had three years left. And one day a
coach came and calling from ULM saying they'd love to
have me as an athlete, special teams player and on defense.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
And I kind of.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Laughed at the idea at first, but something in my
heart was telling me that this was a good opportunity.
I go play Division one football. I get, you know,
continue pursuing my degree, being a good program with the
Brotherhood and that's what was most important to me still
at that time, and so I took that chance and
(06:44):
I went and you know, right off the bat on
four stream, and of course I'm a little upset with that,
but it is what it is. I know, you know,
I'm a former quarterback. The dude the're probably like, who
the hell is this guy?
Speaker 5 (06:58):
You know whatever.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
But luckily for me, the second team guy ended up
quitting two weeks into me getting there, and the third
screen guy was another walk on like me, And first
week in the fall camp, I moved up to the
second string spot. And throughout that year I was just
the twelfth man guy special teams. But by the ten
game of the season, I finally got my opportunity.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
The starter got hurt and had that game.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I finished with sixteen tackles fifteen so it was past
deflection and a forced fumble. And then the last two
games and at the last two games I also led
the team and tackles both those games, and I finished
the season with forty five tackles, which was fifth on
the team in pretty much three games. So when you
talk about self esteem, at that point it started to coming.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Along, went right right. Your production was off the charts.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yes, sir, and you know, stepping into that next season,
I got put on scholarship right after the season, started
feeling real good about myself and real confident in my capabilities.
Led the team and tackles. That next year at ULM,
was defensive player of the year, was a captain. Unfortunately,
a team did real bad, you know, and that's kind
(08:08):
of when you know, me and my father kind of
had some conversations about hitting the portal.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
And obviously that led me to Houston. I didn't think
I would get any of these these big offers, but.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
They kind of started coming in and I was very blessed,
and Houston just made sense, you know, close to home
and an opportunity to rewrite my history and my failures
that were at HBU.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Michael Batton again, former UH linebacker joining us here getting
ready for the draft, and Michael part of that process.
You go the Big twelve Pro Day, you run a
four five three forty. You also broad jump ten feet
two inches best among the linebackers there at Big twelve
Pro Day, ninety tackles last year on the field. I mean,
you know, you throw all that together when you're talking
(08:58):
with teams. I mean, is it just as simple as
you tell them? Hey, watch my tape. It shows you know.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
I wish it was that simple, but unfortunately it's not.
You know, I'm fighting.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Fighting different things, you know, with my size, and you
know how that goes. Sean, you know you're a former
NFL player. But I think you know, at the end
of the day, my film it is the end all
be all, and I have really good film. I think
I have some of the best film in this draft class. Thankfully.
At the prodaate, like you mentioned, I ran really fast
(09:35):
four or five three, and that's was a big question
about me. They knew I was quick, they could see
it on film. They wanted to know just how fast
it was. And I needed to be as quick and
as fast as possible because there is a.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
Concern about my size.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
I think it's a little bs but that's just part
of the game and that's okay.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
So but I checked all the boxes that I could
possibly check. My film is.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Really amazing and I'm excited to see where this will
take me.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Michael, think about this. Five schools didn't get recruited out
of high school. Come here, if you play great, go
to Juco. Find your way through the coach Fritz's team
of Houston. Now we're on the morning of the draft
and you're somehow, some way, regardless of the free agents
are getting drafted somewhere, you're going to be putting on
an NFL uniform training camp. The road you've been on,
(10:31):
you've got to be fired up. So thoughts today about
possible round, what they've told you, and where are your
emotions today heading into.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
What right now?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I mean, for you, you've been through plenty of adversity, but
what a great reward to be able to anticipate this
day for you.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Yeah, certainly, it's still hard to believe. I think it's
still setting in that like the draft is today. But
you know, I got at least twelve teams interested. I
mean twelve teams have made contact with me and showed
some strong interests, So you know, things are looking pretty good.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
I think early as our fall is the fifth.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Round, but you know, I think I'll be anywhere from
fifth round to seventh round to a priority free agent.
Should if I don't get drafted, I should be getting
that getting several calls right after the seventh round, and
so yeah, obviously I'm very excited. I feel very blessed.
Things are definitely coming full circle.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
You know.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
To be able to start in Houston, come all the
way back, play like I did.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
And to be on this stage is it's it's really
a dream come true.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And I think it's just a lesson and just putting
your best foot forward and everything that you do and
God kind of leads you down a path that maybe
you didn't expect and sometimes it's a lot.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
Better than what you had planned.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
But you know, obviously I'm excited and I'm thankful, but
at the end of the day, I won't be pleased
until I make that fifty three man roster.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
So this is really just step one of a long,
long process.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
See Michael, the transfer portal was set up for stuff
like this. You know, when somebody says five schools, everybody,
oh my gosh, was he chasing nil money? Your whole
thing was chasing an opportunity and you had to switch
positions to do it. And these are the stories everybody
wants to hear. But for you, yeah, it's a feel good.
But the feel good is getting getting paid on Sundays
and going to knocking people around. So with that in mind,
(12:32):
were you given is there somebody, family member, coach, player,
advice you were given not just to get to this point,
but in your preparation and expectations, advice you were given
as you prepare to embrace a chance to play in
the NFL.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
One thing I've mentioned on several different radio shows and
some people that I've talked to about this journey. It's
something my father's with me. I think it's so simple,
but it really resonates me. Was he told me that
it's not about winning or losing, it's about trying. And
the reason that resonated with me so much is because
I think I was so paralyzed with fear of failure
(13:12):
in high school that held me back so much that
you know, it was more about, oh, I don't want
to look bad versus all. I want to go out
there and be the best I can be, and whatever
happens happening.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
Because at the end of the day, if you give
it your all, if you try, you.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Prepared as much as possible, you can't lose it, no
matter the outcome. And so once I took that mentality
into this life and into this game, everything took off
for me. So that that would be the one thing
that really kept me going and it is keeping me going.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Now, all right, real quick and we'll let you go.
We can't thank you enough for coming on. Your story
is so fascinating and I hope it culminates in this
next few days of excitement for you. This approach to
it is, did you grow up a Texans fan?
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Be honest?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Now, if you were putting a jersey on that, I said, hey, man,
you get to put a jersey on your team, who
would it.
Speaker 5 (14:09):
Be well to tell you the truth?
Speaker 2 (14:14):
I actually did grow up in Denver, Colorado during my
elementary days and been to Denver game.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
So that's one team that would definitely be a blessing.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Unfortunately they haven't contacted me, but I have always been
a Denver fan. But of course I moved to Houston
here back in twenty eleven, and I've been a Houston
fan ever since. You know, how could you not wrap
your hometown team.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Putting on the Houston Texans.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Jersey would just really put things into full circle and
I think would really even be a cooler story.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
And you know, I went to their local dad.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
I got to meet Tamiko Ryans, the DC, the linebacker coach,
and walk around their facility and just super cool for
obvious reasons. Putting on the Texans Jersey wou definitely be
a blessing and hopefully they can give me an off
or or draft me. I think they'd be very pleased
(15:07):
what I can do for them as an organization.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Well, Man, what a fascinating story, and your resilience is
pretty damn special, So getting in that uniform I have.
I don't think any of us are going to question
the fact that you will finalize that goal of a
fifty three man roster. But we're so gratefully you spent
time with us. Man, I hope this weekend is a
life changer for you and and validates all the hard
work and time you've put in to continue to believe. Man,
(15:32):
it's great, and we were pulling for you, and now
now that we got you on, we would imagine that
when you're out there making Pro Bowls, that any time
we call, you are coming on the radio with us
without without saying no, I don't have time for you guys.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Fair enough.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Absolutely, I love doing this stuff and I really appreciate
y'all getting me on the show. So certainly I'm making
those Pro Bowls, getting in them super Bowls.
Speaker 5 (15:55):
Just just give me a call, right.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
We'll do that, Michael. Congratulations and good luck. We sure
appreciate you, brother, Thank you.
Speaker 5 (16:01):
All right, guys, I appreciate it. Great.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
What a great story.
In the NFL Draft starting today in Green Bay. And
(00:04):
we're talking with the guy right now that knows about
this process leading up to it. He is former University
of Houston linebacker seven lakes product out of the Katie area,
Michael Batton. Michael, what's going on? Man, appreciate your time.
You got me, Dan Matthews, you got Sean Salisbury here
with you, And I mean, you're a guy that knows
(00:24):
anything but a straight path in this game in terms
of having to switch positions, playing at different schools, all
of those different things. How do you feel like all
going through all that entire process prepared you for possibly
having a pro career.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Hey, guys and Sean, thank you, thank you for having
me on the show. Yeah, my path definitely hasn't been
a straight line. It's been quite a winding road. But
like you said, it definitely prepared prepared me for the
next level. You know, it's not going to be easy
at the next level, and it definitely wasn't easy taking
this path, and I think all that adversity kind of
(01:03):
created a lot stronger person that's prepared for anything. And
I have the confidence now to take the next step
and take whatever is going to come my way at
the next level.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Michael, You when you came out of high school and
played quarterback and you've played wide receiver, you played lineback,
you played quarterback, and you were recruited, had no scholarship offers,
and so take me through that feeling. You know, you're
busting your ass in high school wanting an opportunity most people,
and they're no offers. Going to college, get your degree,
it's time to move on from football?
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Why not you?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yeah, well, I actually thought, you know, that's what I
was going to do. You know, out of high school,
like you said, I didn't have many opportunities at all.
All I had was a walk on opportunity University Louisiana Lafayette.
I took that was only there for about a week
or two, and I just decided that maybe football wasn't
for me. I was lit upset, you know, I couldn't
(01:56):
play quarterback anymore, and so, yeah, away from the sport,
and I thought I'd never come back. And you know
that that year I took off back in twenty nineteen,
I was just living in College Station. I was going
to go to Blend Junior College up in Brian, which
didn't have the football team. It was just strictly a
(02:17):
school and I was going to go to A and M.
But I quickly realized, you know, I might have made
a mistake and kind of found my way back back
into football. And I think, you know, it was really
a blessing that they went that way, and I'm glad
I got back into it. It was it was that year,
(02:40):
you know, I needed to take a break and kind
of put everything back into perspective, and it led me
back to the sport I love. And it's like like
we were saying, it's been a crazy ride, and I'm
glad I got back into it. And I'm glad I
took that year off. It's everything I needed to kind
of put thing back into perspective.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
How did you keep yourself esteem intact? And I'm being
serid because a lot of you know, kids go through
and you've been beat down, you're not playing the position
you want. You go to school, you're only there for
a little bit, you know, Lafayette, and you're going somewhere else.
You're done with it, and it gets you know that
feeling of man, I don't want to get cut. I
want to I didn't get a scholarship. I just I'm
fascinated with your resilience, and I think you went to
(03:20):
what five schools? Ended up at Houston Aunible mentioned All
conference linebacker, finally found your position under coach Fritz.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
But the journey to get there.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Most of us, your path is the one we'd say,
if we're sitting on a radio show, say five schools,
come on, man, when's it done right?
Speaker 4 (03:39):
We would have tried to talk to you out of it.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
How did you stay involved in it? There had to
be one deciding moment where you said, nah, I got
to continue to prove to these guys I'm resilient.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
How'd you stick to well? You know, in the beginning,
it was more about getting my.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Life back together, right STUPA stepping away from football made
me realize just how good of an organization athletics really
is at keeping your life straight. And when I stepped
away from it, I saw that, you know, I struggled
with discipline and those kind of things. So you know,
I knew I was good at football, and that's kind
(04:14):
of all I knew up to that point in my life.
And I was like, I just want to get on
a team, get my life back together. And figure this
whole thing out, and you know, I'm gonna put my
best foot forward, and you know that's what I did.
I started at HBU, and you know, I didn't do
too well there. I kind of fell flat on my face.
(04:37):
I did end up getting into the quarterback room. But
when springball came around in twenty twenty one, I was
the only quarterback, you know, not getting any reps.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
But I did learn two things. I realized I'm a
great athlete. I really am.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
I can't compete at this college level on athletic level,
and I'm good enough to play quarterback. So you know,
that was kind of my rock bottom though, not getting
those reps. In spring practice, I was literally the only quarterback.
They wouldn't even let me throw routes on air. It
was it was kind of embarrassing, but it's funny. You know,
when you hit that rock bottom, you kind of I
(05:15):
guess it humbles you, but it gives you, you know,
a new perspective on things, and I kind of just
jump started from there.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
I realized, you know, I can play this sport.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I'm athletic enough, and so at that route to JUCO
and I had a really good season up in New York,
which the Juco Nashau Community College was was in Long Island,
and I had one of my best years yet. And
you know, that's kind of how I kept myself with
steam up. I just took it one step at a time.
(05:45):
And you know, unfortunately after that, I didn't really have
any offers.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
I had an offer to SCS School up in Wagner.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I was going to go there, but there's a great
situation that didn't work out, an eligibility situation. They took
me all for a way and I was left with nothing.
And obviously that that hurt me a lot too, and
I felt like I was just back in that same
situation I was after HBU. But at the same time,
I still had that confidence that I could play football.
(06:14):
I still had three years left. And one day a
coach came and calling from ULM saying they'd love to
have me as an athlete, special teams player and on defense.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
And I kind of.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Laughed at the idea at first, but something in my
heart was telling me that this was a good opportunity.
I go play Division one football. I get, you know,
continue pursuing my degree, being a good program with the
Brotherhood and that's what was most important to me still
at that time, and so I took that chance and
(06:44):
I went and you know, right off the bat on
four stream, and of course I'm a little upset with that,
but it is what it is. I know, you know,
I'm a former quarterback. The dude the're probably like, who
the hell is this guy?
Speaker 5 (06:58):
You know whatever.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
But luckily for me, the second team guy ended up
quitting two weeks into me getting there, and the third
screen guy was another walk on like me, And first
week in the fall camp, I moved up to the
second string spot. And throughout that year I was just
the twelfth man guy special teams. But by the ten
game of the season, I finally got my opportunity.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
The starter got hurt and had that game.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I finished with sixteen tackles fifteen so it was past
deflection and a forced fumble. And then the last two
games and at the last two games I also led
the team and tackles both those games, and I finished
the season with forty five tackles, which was fifth on
the team in pretty much three games. So when you
talk about self esteem, at that point it started to coming.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Along, went right right. Your production was off the charts.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yes, sir, and you know, stepping into that next season,
I got put on scholarship right after the season, started
feeling real good about myself and real confident in my capabilities.
Led the team and tackles. That next year at ULM,
was defensive player of the year, was a captain. Unfortunately,
a team did real bad, you know, and that's kind
(08:08):
of when you know, me and my father kind of
had some conversations about hitting the portal.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
And obviously that led me to Houston. I didn't think
I would get any of these these big offers, but.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
They kind of started coming in and I was very blessed,
and Houston just made sense, you know, close to home
and an opportunity to rewrite my history and my failures
that were at HBU.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Michael Batton again, former UH linebacker joining us here getting
ready for the draft, and Michael part of that process.
You go the Big twelve Pro Day, you run a
four five three forty. You also broad jump ten feet
two inches best among the linebackers there at Big twelve
Pro Day, ninety tackles last year on the field. I mean,
you know, you throw all that together when you're talking
(08:58):
with teams. I mean, is it just as simple as
you tell them? Hey, watch my tape. It shows you know.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
I wish it was that simple, but unfortunately it's not.
You know, I'm fighting.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Fighting different things, you know, with my size, and you
know how that goes. Sean, you know you're a former
NFL player. But I think you know, at the end
of the day, my film it is the end all
be all, and I have really good film. I think
I have some of the best film in this draft class. Thankfully.
At the prodaate, like you mentioned, I ran really fast
(09:35):
four or five three, and that's was a big question
about me. They knew I was quick, they could see
it on film. They wanted to know just how fast
it was. And I needed to be as quick and
as fast as possible because there is a.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
Concern about my size.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
I think it's a little bs but that's just part
of the game and that's okay.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
So but I checked all the boxes that I could
possibly check. My film is.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Really amazing and I'm excited to see where this will
take me.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Michael, think about this. Five schools didn't get recruited out
of high school. Come here, if you play great, go
to Juco. Find your way through the coach Fritz's team
of Houston. Now we're on the morning of the draft
and you're somehow, some way, regardless of the free agents
are getting drafted somewhere, you're going to be putting on
an NFL uniform training camp. The road you've been on,
(10:31):
you've got to be fired up. So thoughts today about
possible round, what they've told you, and where are your
emotions today heading into.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
What right now?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I mean, for you, you've been through plenty of adversity, but
what a great reward to be able to anticipate this
day for you.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Yeah, certainly, it's still hard to believe. I think it's
still setting in that like the draft is today. But
you know, I got at least twelve teams interested. I
mean twelve teams have made contact with me and showed
some strong interests, So you know, things are looking pretty good.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
I think early as our fall is the fifth.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Round, but you know, I think I'll be anywhere from
fifth round to seventh round to a priority free agent.
Should if I don't get drafted, I should be getting
that getting several calls right after the seventh round, and
so yeah, obviously I'm very excited. I feel very blessed.
Things are definitely coming full circle.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
You know.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
To be able to start in Houston, come all the
way back, play like I did.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
And to be on this stage is it's it's really
a dream come true.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And I think it's just a lesson and just putting
your best foot forward and everything that you do and
God kind of leads you down a path that maybe
you didn't expect and sometimes it's a lot.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
Better than what you had planned.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
But you know, obviously I'm excited and I'm thankful, but
at the end of the day, I won't be pleased
until I make that fifty three man roster.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
So this is really just step one of a long,
long process.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
See Michael, the transfer portal was set up for stuff
like this. You know, when somebody says five schools, everybody,
oh my gosh, was he chasing nil money? Your whole
thing was chasing an opportunity and you had to switch
positions to do it. And these are the stories everybody
wants to hear. But for you, yeah, it's a feel good.
But the feel good is getting getting paid on Sundays
and going to knocking people around. So with that in mind,
(12:32):
were you given is there somebody, family member, coach, player,
advice you were given not just to get to this point,
but in your preparation and expectations, advice you were given
as you prepare to embrace a chance to play in
the NFL.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
One thing I've mentioned on several different radio shows and
some people that I've talked to about this journey. It's
something my father's with me. I think it's so simple,
but it really resonates me. Was he told me that
it's not about winning or losing, it's about trying. And
the reason that resonated with me so much is because
I think I was so paralyzed with fear of failure
(13:12):
in high school that held me back so much that
you know, it was more about, oh, I don't want
to look bad versus all. I want to go out
there and be the best I can be, and whatever
happens happening.
Speaker 5 (13:22):
Because at the end of the day, if you give
it your all, if you try, you.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Prepared as much as possible, you can't lose it, no
matter the outcome. And so once I took that mentality
into this life and into this game, everything took off
for me. So that that would be the one thing
that really kept me going and it is keeping me going.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Now, all right, real quick and we'll let you go.
We can't thank you enough for coming on. Your story
is so fascinating and I hope it culminates in this
next few days of excitement for you. This approach to
it is, did you grow up a Texans fan?
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Be honest?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Now, if you were putting a jersey on that, I said, hey, man,
you get to put a jersey on your team, who
would it.
Speaker 5 (14:09):
Be well to tell you the truth?
Speaker 2 (14:14):
I actually did grow up in Denver, Colorado during my
elementary days and been to Denver game.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
So that's one team that would definitely be a blessing.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Unfortunately they haven't contacted me, but I have always been
a Denver fan. But of course I moved to Houston
here back in twenty eleven, and I've been a Houston
fan ever since. You know, how could you not wrap
your hometown team.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Putting on the Houston Texans.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Jersey would just really put things into full circle and
I think would really even be a cooler story.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
And you know, I went to their local dad.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
I got to meet Tamiko Ryans, the DC, the linebacker coach,
and walk around their facility and just super cool for
obvious reasons. Putting on the Texans Jersey wou definitely be
a blessing and hopefully they can give me an off
or or draft me. I think they'd be very pleased
(15:07):
what I can do for them as an organization.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Well, Man, what a fascinating story, and your resilience is
pretty damn special, So getting in that uniform I have.
I don't think any of us are going to question
the fact that you will finalize that goal of a
fifty three man roster. But we're so gratefully you spent
time with us. Man, I hope this weekend is a
life changer for you and and validates all the hard
work and time you've put in to continue to believe. Man,
(15:32):
it's great, and we were pulling for you, and now
now that we got you on, we would imagine that
when you're out there making Pro Bowls, that any time
we call, you are coming on the radio with us
without without saying no, I don't have time for you guys.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Fair enough.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Absolutely, I love doing this stuff and I really appreciate
y'all getting me on the show. So certainly I'm making
those Pro Bowls, getting in them super Bowls.
Speaker 5 (15:55):
Just just give me a call, right.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
We'll do that, Michael. Congratulations and good luck. We sure
appreciate you, brother, Thank you.
Speaker 5 (16:01):
All right, guys, I appreciate it. Great.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
What a great story.
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