From "Horrendous" High Schooler to NFL Hopeful
Plus our new Amateur Spotlight, NBA Draft sleepers, and more.
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Trivia Question of the Week (submitted by Sue C.)
Who was the man from York County, PA that played for 2 different professional sports teams? Hint: He was teammates with Babe Ruth for one season.
A) Hinkey Haines
B) Jackie Robinson
C) Howard Maple
D) Jim Thorpe
The answer will be revealed at the end of this email! Look for the ⭐ emoji.
From “Horrendous” High Schooler to Landing an NFL Contract
This kid was so bad that his high school coach told him not to play. Now, he’s fighting for an NFL roster spot.
Direct quote from his high school coach:
“It was just horrendous, horrendous. And we thought the kid was really going to wind up getting hurt."
The coaches tried convincing the 9th-grader to be a team manager instead.
But the boy refused.
He wanted to play.
Jason Poe struggled to get any playing time in his first 2 seasons at the JV level.
Understandable – it was his first time playing organized sports.
“I like when people tell me I can’t do something,” Poe told Eric Branch of the SF Chronicle.
“I end up doing it anyways.”
Determined to make it, Poe became a gym rat.
He bulked up & learned the techniques required of an offensive lineman.
After summer workouts with the team, he'd mow lawns until sundown.
"He established himself with so much work ethic," his coach recalls.
During those summers, he went to full-contact college camps with his HS teammates.
And the work paid off.
Poe transformed himself into an All-State selection in his junior & senior seasons.
And he attracted the attention of several college coaches.
Still, Poe was a longshot. A zero-star recruit.
A kid whose coaches called "a lifetime scout-team" guy.
But Poe believed in himself when no one else would.
“They say if you can play football, they’re going to find you. And I believed that.”
Poe's journey took him through 3 different levels:
Hutchinson Community College (JUCO)
Lenoir-Rhyne University (D2)
Mercer University (D1)
He got better at each stop, adding size, moving positions, and making his mark on the field.
Mercer – Poe's last college stop – has zero players in the NFL.
Now, he'll get a chance to become one.
After this year's NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers signed Poe as an undrafted free agent.
He'll face a steep climb to making the final 53-man roster.
With a fresh batch of draft picks & depth across the O-Line, it'll be an uphill battle.
But if there's one thing to learn here, it's to never bet against Jason Poe.
“As a 9th-grader, if you’d told me he was going to figure out how to tie his own shoes, I would have probably laughed at you,” his former coach said.
“Today, if you asked me if he’s going to make the 49ers, I’d say there’s no doubt in my mind.”
SOURCE: SF Chronicle
🗞️ More Inspiring Stories
In 1983, a 13-year-old boy was kicked out of the Yankees dugout. His response changed baseball forever. [Joker Mag]
“It blows me away every day, honestly.” Landis Sims, an Indiana teen with prosthetic legs and no hands, has overcome every obstacle on his way to playing high school baseball. [Sterling Riggs WDRB]
As excitement builds for the NBA Draft, take a look at SI’s list of sleepers and overlooked prospects to keep an eye on. [Sports Illustrated]
This man is playing catch every day to raise $100,000 for The Miracle League – a nonprofit that provides recreational opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. [Wanna Have a Catch?]
While most of the hype surrounds the top draft picks, hidden gems can fall to the later rounds. Here are the best 7th-round picks in NFL history. [Joker Mag]
Rich Strike pulled off a stunning upset at 80-to-1 odds. But where does the performance rank in Kentucky Derby history? [USA Today]
She lost her leg to cancer 20 years ago. Now, marathon runner Jacky Hunt-Broersma is setting records and breaking barriers. [PBS NewsHour]
🔆 Amateur Spotlight
Wheeling Central Catholic (West Virginia) senior Cooper Blair helped his relay team win state titles in both the 4x100 and 4x200 relay. And he did it all in running blades.
At birth, Blair was affected by Amniotic Band Syndrome. As a result, his feet had to be amputated at 2-years-old. His parents were told he’d never walk, run, or play sports.
Now, after reaching the top of the mountain as a high school senior, he plans to try out for the Paralympics in 2024.
“They said he would never walk,” his mother told the Charleston Gazette-Mail. “So now to see him with state championships in his relays is pretty awesome.”
Do you know a youth, high school, or college athlete who has overcome the odds? Reply to this email to submit their story to be featured in a future Amateur Spotlight.
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⭐ Trivia Answer:
A) Hinkey Haines
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Til next time,
Tyler