Warner Robins, Georgia
I saw more for my life
before I ever experienced it.
A Small Town,
A Bigger Vision
I'm originally from a small town in middle Georgia. It wasn't a whole lot going on around us. You had your day to day life, people doing what they do, and for the most part, that was the environment. As I got older, I started becoming more aware of what was really going on around me.
I could see there were a lot of issues, a lot of limitations, and a lot of people who were just used to what they saw every day. That was normal for them. But even at a young age, I didn't fully see things the same way.
I remember just thinking to myself that it had to be more than this. I didn't always know what that "more" looked like, but I knew I didn't want to be limited to what was right in front of me.
The Mindset
Going to Get It
I was always trying to make something happen for myself. Whether it was taking out trash, washing cars, or doing whatever I could to make some money, I was always in that mindset of going to get it. It wasn't even about the money. It was about the mentality behind it.
A lot of that came from my mom. She always found a way to make things work no matter what the situation was. Watching that growing up instilled something in me that I carry to this day.
I also spent a lot of time around older people. I would listen and observe more than anything. I noticed that a lot of people would say what they wanted out of life, but the way they were moving didn't match what they were saying. That stuck with me early. I told myself I was going to be intentional about everything I did.
8th Grade
One Percent
"Yeah, I'm going to be that percent."
I remember being in eighth grade, talking to my girlfriend's mom at the time, and I told her straight up that I was going to play Division I football. I said it with full confidence.
She looked at me and told me that only about one percent of athletes actually make it to that level.
Without hesitation, I just looked at her and said, "Yeah, I'm going to be that percent." From that moment on, everything I did had purpose behind it. It stopped being something I said and became something I lived.
The Work
I'll See You Up There
I've always been a worker. I remember during the summers, I would wake up early, jog to the field by myself, get a full workout in, jog back home, shower, take a nap, and then go back later for practice with the team. That was my routine. Nobody had to tell me to do it.
"I'll see you up there."
One day my coach pulled up beside me while I was jogging and told me to get in so he could take me. I told him, "I'll see you up there." And I kept running. I never wanted the easy way. I wanted to earn everything.
High School
Graduating Early & Going to Vanderbilt
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13WMAZ — Warner Robins, GA
By my sophomore year, we won the state championship. I started all 15 games. After that, everything started happening fast. My junior year, I had letters coming in from Division I schools every single day.
When it came time to decide, I chose Vanderbilt University. My grandfather's whole energy changed when I said that name. He said, "Do you know what that school is? That's a prestigious place. That can set you up for life." Later, I transferred to Virginia Tech and proved myself all over again.
Education
Degrees Beyond the Game
I graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Business. Football opened the door, but I made sure I walked through it with more than athletic credentials. I wanted the education to mean something on its own.
I went on to earn my Master's degree in Education from Virginia Tech, with a focus on design technology. That program sharpened how I think about learning itself — not just absorbing information, but designing how people experience it.
Those degrees became part of my foundation. They gave me tools that no field or locker room ever could, and they're woven into everything I build today.
"Football opened the door. Education made sure I had somewhere to go once I walked through it."
Education was never a backup plan for me. It was part of the same mindset I carried on the field — be intentional, put in the work, and make it count.
Professional Football
Arizona Cardinals & the CFL
After college, I had the opportunity to try out for the Arizona Cardinals through a coach who believed in me and gave me a shot. When I got there, I understood that everybody in that building had seen talent before. So I focused on everything, from the way I worked, to the way I carried myself, to how I interacted with people.
Within three days, I earned my spot. Because at that level, it's not just a game. It's a business. You're not just a player, you're an asset.
After that, I went to play for the Calgary Stampeders in Canada. Different country, different culture, different environment. It forced me to step outside of everything I was used to and adapt in a new way.
Transition
Who Am I Without Football?
When things started slowing down, I had to ask myself a real question: Who am I without football? For so long, everything in my life was built around the game. And when that started to shift, it wasn't easy.
I took time for myself. I traveled. I met new people. I experienced different things. I got into modeling. I worked different jobs. I even managed a lounge. All of those experiences helped me understand myself better and see what I was capable of outside of football.
And eventually, I stopped asking what I wanted to do next and started asking what I wanted to build. That's a different kind of question. It requires a different kind of answer. That shift is what led me to pursuing my pilot's license — and to creating Outside the Block.
Purpose
Outside the Block
Outside the Block comes from something personal. Growing up, I had what I needed, but I didn't have exposure. I was limited to what was around me. For a long time, I thought football was the only way.
That wasn't anyone's fault. My family supported me. But when all you see is one path, that path becomes your only option. The world was bigger than what was in front of me. I just didn't know it yet.
That changed when I started experiencing more of the world. I remember going to Guatemala and seeing how people lived and worked. That experience shifted my perspective completely. It made me realize how powerful exposure really is. One new experience can change how someone thinks. And that can change the entire direction of their life.
Outside the Block is the nonprofit I created because of that. If I can get one kid to see something different, it can change everything for them. And that's where real change starts.
The Vision
Anything is Possible
When it's all said and done, I want people to say that I went for it. That I didn't sit back, that I didn't wait, and that I made things happen. Because where you start does not define you. What you build does.