NFL Combine Prospects Reflect on High School Experiences

In early March, a group of NFHS staff members attended the NFL Combine media sessions held in downtown Indianapolis to ask the next group of NFL players about their high school experiences.

Below are some of the best responses from prospects reflecting on their high school memories, the benefits of participating in multiple high school sports, the coaches who had a lasting impact on them, and the advice they would give to high school athletes looking to reach higher levels of competition.

Question: What are some of your memories from your high school athletic career?

Answer: “We kind of made history going undefeated during the regular season and winning the (program’s first-ever region title). We didn’t quite finish the job with the state championship, but just the memories and the bonds that we created on that team were definitely special. Just growing up with each other and being around each other all our lives and then finally coming together as a team and doing what we had to do in the offseason and applying that during the season – it meant a lot.” – Charlie Thomas, linebacker, Georgia Institute of Technology, Thomasville (Georgia) High School

Answer: “I have a bunch of friends I still talk to. My high school team was very close. We started a group message that we use to talk to each other to this day, and they’re all wishing me good luck and (saying) ‘you know we’ll be watching.’ So, a big shout-out to all my guys at home. One of my best (high school) friends, Juma (Otoviano), goes to school and is a running back at Rice (University). That’s the guy that I talk to often.” – Brayden Willis, tight end, University of Oklahoma, Arlington (Texas) James Martin High School

Answer: “Going back-to-back. We won two (Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 6) state championships, and we started to play a national schedule my last year of high school. It was cool to be able to travel and see what football can do for you, even at the high school level.” – MJ Anderson, defensive lineman, Iowa State University, St. Louis (Missouri) Christian Brothers College High School

Question: Was there a high school coach who you felt had a particular influence on you?

Answer: “I’d say there were like three or four: J.L. Abbott, my head coach all the way up to my senior year; Nick Bartic; Joe Retton, my basketball coach; and I give credit to all of them, honestly. They spent countless hours on me, constantly pushing me, and I wouldn’t be the player I am today (without them). So, I give all the credit to them and all the hard work they put into me.” – Dante Stills, defensive lineman, West Virginia University, Fairmont (West Virginia) Senior High School

Answer: “The reason I didn’t (quit football) was because my old (defensive backs) coach in high school told me that if I quit one thing, I was going to want to quit another one. So that’s just kind of always been instilled in me. I always looked up to him, and he was always training me throughout high school. And he was always talking to me when I got to college and when I was (in junior college). He was my main mentor, role model, and just somebody that I looked up to.” – Jakorian Bennett, defensive back, University of Maryland, Mobile (Alabama) McGill-Toolen Catholic High School

Answer: “(Crenshaw High School coach) (Robert) Garrett was one of my biggest influences, for sure. I watched him push out a lot of athletes at Crenshaw, so he definitely inspired me. Coming from Crenshaw High School, it’s not the easiest thing to do, but he definitely made it possible for a lot of guys that I looked up to. And I had my Pops, too, he definitely inspired me, and I looked up to him. He was my coach from Pop Warner to high school. It wasn’t till college that he stopped claiming me as his athlete. Nowadays he wants that credit back, but I’m not giving it to him publicly.” – Daiyan Henley, linebacker, Washington State University, Los Angeles (California) Crenshaw High School

Answer: “For me, one of my favorite coaches EVER was my high school coach (Nate Conner). He took me in like one of his own. So, I feel like my high school experience was a lot different than everybody else’s and I feel like that benefited me a lot.” – C.J. Johnson, wide receiver, East Carolina University, Greenville (North Carolina) D.H. Conley High School

Answer: “Coach (Darren) Sunkett, he was my high school football coach. He pushed me really hard and really just instilled that work ethic in me, and I’m grateful for having him as a coach.” – Antonio Johnson, defensive back, Texas A&M University, East St. Louis (Illinois) High School

Answer: “My high school track coach. His name is Gary Satterwhite. He helped me out a lot with my confidence just because in high school I didn’t really produce as much as I would have liked. I didn’t have a lot of offers – I only had Princeton and Dartmouth. And so, coming into track season, he knew that my football career didn’t go as well as I wanted in high school, and he just instilled that confidence in me as a person and as an athlete. And I’m really grateful to him for that.” – Andrei Iosivas, wide receiver, Princeton University, Honolulu (Hawaii) Punahou School

Question: As a multi-sport high school athlete, how do you feel your experience playing other sports helped develop you into a better football player?

Answer: “In Iowa, you (play multiple sports) because there’s not much to do. But being able to compete year-round is something that I feel is invaluable to a lot of (high school athletes). A lot of people don’t realize that. A lot of kids, nowadays, pick one sport and focus on that, but you only have your (one) season (to compete). Going throughout the year and being able to compete, I don’t really feel like you can simulate that. And then, also, all the little things you pick up, like basketball helps footwork, in my opinion; track (helps) with your sprinting and running mechanics. And then, the most important thing is just hanging out with your buddies.” – Jack Campbell, linebacker, University of Iowa, Cedar Falls (Iowa) High School

Answer: “I think it’s huge. In high school I played football, volleyball, basketball. Basketball is free speed training. It’s fun, and while you’re doing it, you’re getting quicker feet. You’re working on your athletic ability – you have to jump, you have to run, have to move your feet. Volleyball I really just played for fun but (it) obviously helps your vertical and your athletic ability as well. So, I feel that at any opportunity, it’s best to play as many sports as you can because it will help you in that sport and other sports as well.” – Tanner McKee, quarterback, Stanford University, Corona (California) Centennial High School

Answer: “Being a multi-sport athlete helped me being a tight end in every way. In basketball, boxing people out transitions to the football field. When it’s a jump ball (in football), you box them out to go get it. I did shot put – don’t really know how that helped being a tight end – but in volleyball, jumping repetitively, that helps with jumping on the football field and things like that.” – Darnell Washington, tight end, University of Georgia, Las Vegas (Nevada) Desert Pines High School

Answer: “I think it helped me a lot with time management. I played soccer and football at the same time in high school, and then basketball and golf. But just being well-rounded, being in a lot of different locker rooms, having a lot of different experiences. So, just being around different types of guys, different types of players. But at the same time, I played with a lot of the same guys. There were guys I played basketball and golf with. There were guys I played soccer and basketball with. So, just being around those guys a lot was a lot of fun for me.” – Bryce Baringer, punter, Michigan State University, Pontiac (Michigan) Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

Answer: “It’s always been about situations. You experience a lot of pressure situations in the games. You go through a lot of different emotions. I think when you just get into one sport specifically, like football, there are not a lot of things I haven’t experienced already with those situations. So, whether it’s a physical thing or mental thing, I just think when you play multiple sports at a very high level, I think it exposes you to a lot. It makes you very comfortable in every situation.” – Jaren Hall, quarterback, Brigham Young University, Spanish Fork (Utah) Maple Mountain High School

Answer: “I was a varsity athlete for every single one of: football, basketball, baseball, track and wrestling. It was awesome just to be able to do all that for the school and be a part of everything, experience everything that I could. I did it my whole life growing up, so it really wasn’t anything new (in high school). Going to one sport was really new. I also think that it allowed me to show my athleticism. I’ve been athletic my whole life so just continuing to do that in other sports. Staying low to the ground, tackling, pass-rush moves – those abilities all come in handy with wrestling. With basketball, it helps you be able to make open-space tackles, things like that.” – Caleb Murphy, defensive lineman, Ferris State (Michigan) University, Dowagiac (Michigan) High School

Question: What advice do you have for high school athletes aspiring to play at higher levels?

Answer: “I’d say just believe in yourself. And that’s a lot easier said than done because the further you go in whatever endeavor you decide to pursue, people are going to be just as good, if not better than you. And at times, it’s going to be hard for you to see the value in yourself, but as long as you understand that not everybody can get to where you are and where you’re going, then you understand that you have an opportunity to do something great. And I think that’s something with all the great things that I’ve been able to achieve, and those still to come; it’s always been built on whether I believed in myself in the beginning, and usually the answer to that question is ‘yes.’” – KJ Henry, defensive lineman, Clemson University, Clemmons (North Carolina) West Forsyth High School

Answer: “You’re in control of your own destiny. I’m a big goal setter. The reason I’m (at the Combine) is because I set goals, and in order to do that, you need to write these goals down physically. Start with the short term and then the long term. In high school, my long-term (goal) was ‘get to Iowa and play football at Iowa.’ But short-term, it was ‘start on the defense,’ ‘start at (cornerback).’ I’d say making goals and sticking to those goals so you know what you’re shooting towards makes a big difference.” – Riley Moss, defensive back, University of Iowa, Ankeny (Iowa) Centennial High School

Answer: “My advice is to keep working. The work won’t lie to you. I’m a big believer in that. When you put in the hours, you may not see the results today, but they’re bound to happen. And just stay disciplined. Once you have a goal in mind, stick with that goal. Some things may happen along the line where you may have to change the plan, but never change the goal and continue to work toward it.” – Grant DuBose, wide receiver, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Montgomery (Alabama) Park Crossing High School.