From Wendy's Drive-Thru to NFL Gridiron
Plus: an overlooked NFL hotspot, a freshman QB writing his own underdog story, and more.
This edition of the Underdog Newsletter features:
An overlooked hotspot for NFL talent
From Wendy’s drive-thru to rookie NFL playmaker
The son of a Hall of Famer writing his own underdog story
And much more. But first…
Trivia Question of the Week (submitted by Thomas V.)
Barry Bonds set the MLB record with 73 home runs in 2001. Who hit the second-most homers that season?
A) Alex Rodriguez
B) Manny Ramirez
C) Jim Thome
D) Sammy Sosa
The answer is at the end of this email! Look for the ⭐ emoji.
This Freshman QB is Writing His Own Underdog Story
It's easy to compare E.J. Warner to his father, Kurt:
Unheralded backup QB replaces the starter
Not afraid to stand tall in the pocket & take hits
Exceeds expectations & never looks back
But this comparison is doing the freshman QB a major disservice.
At 5’11” 185 pounds, E.J. was an undersized 3-star recruit.
He missed all but a quarter of his entire junior season with a broken right fibula.
He didn’t have many college offers by that point and faced a long recovery ahead of a critical senior year.
So E.J. buckled down, got healthy, and returned to the field for his final high school season.
He put up serious numbers, too
2,742 passing yards
26 touchdowns
7-5 record
College scouts took notice, and a few offers trickled in.
After visits to other schools, Warner fell in love with Temple University.
5 days after his official visit, he committed to the Temple Owls.
But he knew he wouldn’t waltz right in and become a starter.
“Whether it’s playing early on or waiting my turn, I’m going to do it for them.”
Making the leap from high school to Division 1 college football isn’t easy.
The game is faster
Defenses are smarter
The players are bigger & stronger
On top of that, E.J. faced stiff competition at Temple’s QB position.
He was up against transfers from big-time programs like Georgia and Virginia Tech.
It looked like he'd need to wait to get playing time.
Kade Warner, a receiver at Kansas State, remembers talking to his little brother during that time:
“In fall camp, [E.J.] called me and said, ‘Hey, I’m not where I want to be on the depth chart.’ I said, ‘Only you can control that…so keep working.’”
So E.J. did.
In the second game of the season, Temple's offense struggled to move the ball.
After taking a 7-0 lead, they stalled out, killing any early momentum they had.
Coach Drayton made a change.
In came #13.
“It was a huge shock when we saw him come in,” said Bella DiAmore of the Philly Inquirer.
With more experienced QBs on the roster, no one anticipated the freshman to be first in line.
But the team needed a spark, and E.J. was ready for the opportunity.
The true freshman threw for 173 yards and 2 TDs, leading the Owls to a 30-14 victory over Lafayette.
If his early performance is any indication, E.J. Warner’s career will be exciting to watch.
Sure, his bloodline will remain a topic of discussion.
But when it’s all said and done, his accomplishments will stand on their own.
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🗞️ More Inspiring Stories
The path to the NFL doesn’t always go through the powerhouses of the SEC and Big Ten. Here are the best NFL players who started at the junior college level. [Joker Mag]
From working the Wendy’s drive-thru to snatching a 99-yard pick six on Thursday Night Football, rookie CB Jaylen Watson has come a long way. [USA TODAY Sports]
This 5’8”, 152 pound outfielder went from overlooked minor leaguer to breakout MLB prospect. [Sports Illustrated]
Baltimore Orioles OF Austin Hays helped a young fan – who overcame a traumatic event – pay for her college tuition. [FOX Baltimore]
“A year ago, nobody would have ever imagined this was possible.” A 2-time Super Bowl Champ is helping develop a new generation of NFL talent in Ghana. [NFL on Facebook Watch]
Who’s the fastest running back in the NFL? We ran the numbers (and it’s not who you think). [Joker Mag]
🐦 Top Tweet
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⭐ Trivia Answer:
D) Sammy Sosa – 64 home runs
Wanna submit a trivia question, fun fact, or cool tidbit for our next newsletter? Reply to this email.
🙏 Thank You
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Til next time,
Tyler