Troy University Athletics
A Life Changing Weekend
4/22/2010 6:00:00 PM | Football
The stage is set. The podium is ready. Cell phones are attached to the hip at all times, and every phone call will send a jolt through the bodies of these NFL bound Troy Trojans. The NFL Draft is set to begin tonight in its prime time debut, and some of Troy's best are looking to make their professional debut.
Defensive ends Cameron Sheffield and Brandon Lang, Linebackers Boris Lee and Bear Woods, Cornerback Jorrick Calvin and quarterback Levi Brown to name a few are all awaiting that life changing phone call this weekend.
"I've been running and working out a lot just trying to stay in shape," Quarterback Levi Brown said. "I went to visit the Chargers and the Titans for interviews in the past three weeks. It was really just to meet with them without a workout, and it was a chance for them to get me in and meet me. There have been teams that have shown more interest than others."
None of the Trojans know where they may wind up in the draft, and for some that is making the process more exciting.
"I'm excited about not knowing where life's going to take me," Linebacker Bear Woods said. "Leodis McKelvin has told me a lot about the process and what to expect. He's kind of given me a little idea about what's about to take place. I would be a good fit for any team out there, and I'm ready for the process."
Questions are and will be racing through the heads of these athletes the next few days as they inch closer toward their goal, and the speculation of what to expect has been the main theme.
"I asked (McKelvin) how hard it is," Woods said. "What should I expect at training camp? What are practices like as opposed to Troy practices?"
Woods is one that may go in the draft on Friday, and his day will begin with a presentation in class. He is hoping a phone call will interrupt that presentation.
"I'm expecting something big in faith to happen," Woods said. "I'm just waiting to let God take control, and we'll see what happens."
Woods set his goal to make a team, and he said they won't be able to cut him after that because of his hard work ethic.
"God has built my hands for war, and my war is football," Woods said.
Woods was part of the famous tandem dubbed the "Killer B's" in the defensive backfield for Troy, and his partner Boris Lee is waiting for his life-changing phone call this weekend as well.
"It's a nerve-racking experience," Lee said. "Going to all-star games, training for the combine, going to the combine was all a lot of work. I know that I'm going to play football, but I just don't know where."
Lee has been told by some teams that he could come in and make a quick impact on the field through camps, but at this point the waiting game has begun to see how the draft shakes down.
"I have talked with Sherrod (Martin), Elbert Mack and Leodis McKelvin about the draft," Lee said. "I asked them about what to expect. This draft is going to be very interesting because a lot of teams will have a lot of time to figure out what they want. I'm going to treat it like a regular day, and try to keep my nerves down."
Lee met a multitude of college football players and professionals at the combines. He even had the chance to sit and talk with former Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson. Johnson offered a few pointers on speed to the linebacker, and Johnson has spoke to Lee every time he has seen him since.
The draft is upon these young men as they make their journey to the next level. The questions will all be answered after this weekend, and Trojan fans can soon start ordering jerseys for their new favorites in the NFL.
