How does one prepare himself for
success when there are people who don’t think he is worthy of reaching his
goal? The statistics clearly state he
should receive an invitation to an event where all the best will be present,
where they all have the opportunity to showcase their talents and have them
compared side by side in front of talent evaluators that shape futures.
How does he keep a million dollar smile
on his grill after the negative experiences?
NFL prospect, Keith Price, quarterback from the University of
Washington, wouldn’t have even made it this far if other people had their way.
Introduced to Price while we were
both attending the same baby shower, less than two weeks from the 2014 NFL
draft, he was gracious enough to share some of his thoughts with me. “Playing
in the NFL is all I ever dreamed about.
It’s all I ever wanted to do since I was a kid throwing the football
right here in the street,” KP said to me with the trademark smile (UW fans call
him Teeth Price) on his face after I prodded him about his level of nervousness,
“It’s more about finally realizing that my dream is coming true.”
KP wanted to know what my thoughts
were about his place among the quarterback prospects after mutual friends told
him that “I know more about sports than anyone around here.” I sized KP up and
mentioned that I’m not an expert on talent evaluation but if I stand about an
inch taller than him, off the top of my head I can say that he doesn’t have the
prototypical quarterback height (I’m 6’3”), however that didn’t stand in Drew
Brees’ or Russell Wilson’s way of winning Super Bowls.
After breaking several University
of Washington career passing records, Price was
overlooked for a place on the post-season Senior Bowl roster and even worse,
didn’t receive an invite to the annual NFL combine in Indianapolis. The NFL
combine is where collegiates who are hopeful of playing in the NFL display
their athletic abilities and skills via a variety of drills in front of
representatives which include general managers, assistant coaches, scouts, and
medical staffs of all 32 NFL teams.
Asked about being snubbed from the
combine KP said “I’ve had to deal with playing in the shadows my entire life.
In high school (St. John Bosco in Bellflower, CA), I played in the same league
as Matt Barkley. When I got to U-dub, they wanted to give the job to Nick
Montana (son of Hall of Fame quarterback, Joe Montana). I never worry about
what anybody from the outside says about me, I just put in the work and stay
focused.”
Prior to receiving the news about
not being invited to the combine, Price was training daily with several of the
players who would later showcase their skills including the number one
prospect, Blake Bortles from the University of Central Florida. Price ranks his
abilities “right up there with the best of them.” He has a good relationship
with the aforementioned Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks, who has taken
him under his wing, who believes Keith can be a starting quarterback at the
highest level.I asked Keith how his workout at the University of Washington was
received and he responded, “They saw what I can do.”
In the midst of laughs and a bunch
of little kids running around, KP always has a smile on his face as an example
to them to be happy because good things are ahead. “I believe that the cream will always rise to
the top,” is what he said to me as we parted ways.
