All right, let's start from the beginning.
>> When I first fell in love with football, I remember I was like probably 6 years old and one day I was just at the house just chilling and I know my dad came to me and he was like, [music] "We're going to go to the field today." And we went out went to the field and spent some time just getting clothes together and I was just like, "Where are we Where are we possibly going?" [music] And he actually took me out to play flag football.
When I was running around just scoring touchdowns and everybody was like, "This kid's actually pretty good." So, that's kind of when I explored like my love for the game.
>> And when did it occur to you that maybe your height was going to be an issue or maybe even an advantage?
>> Uh definitely I'd say getting into high school because, you know, you have some people out here who's getting heavy looks just because or maybe [music] they might be 6'5".
They look the part from everybody, but I definitely had to figure out like early on that I can control the controllable.
There are things that you can't control.
>> [music] >> Your height is not something you really can't control.
It's genetics, really.
>> When those thoughts came to you like, "Man, maybe I'm not cut out for this.
Maybe I'm not tall enough." What did you say to that voice?
>> Uh that voice it definitely gets to you for a second, but at some point you realize if you want to be successful, you really you're going to have to make a way or find a way.
Like one of the biggest things I know is like for me out of my book, I know that one of the biggest things is the will principle.
That's actually a principle explaining like the people you have around you.
That's something I can't control and one of the biggest quotes I go by is "Show me your friends, I'll show you your future." >> You had higher standards for yourself.
You are a full-time student athlete [music] in college.
So, you have your classes, you have your tests, you have your projects, you have your studying, then you have your practice, you have your games, you have your travel for games.
What in the world make you want to write a book on top of all that?
>> I I feel like it was really important because I know as I said earlier, my father was definitely a coach when I was younger and I looked up to him [music] like as he was inspiring kids to be able to go outside their comfort zone maybe whether that's in the classroom.
[music] Maybe you might not have everything just made out for you, but basically just my passion for giving back.
So, that's That's my biggest reason for writing the book.
>> What's your message out there?
Athlete, non-athlete, just anyone out there who feels they have [music] a disadvantage, maybe not physically, but they can still find their success.
>> My biggest [music] message is just stay the path you're on, to be honest.
If you Like even in the book, there's even parts where [music] you actually have questions, so you can self-reflect on making sure that you're actually being honest with yourself and letting yourself know like if I'm trying to do what I want [music] to do.
If I really say I really want to do that, am I putting as much work in as I'm saying I am?
>> The most important question I ask you today, is there any [music] school you want to give a shoutout to out there?
>> I'm going to start at Ron Clark Academy.
They built my whole foundation, [music] just being able to develop social skills.
Woodward Academy, that was the first high school I went to and I had an amazing experience with them.
Went to Walker in my last [music] senior year.
I enjoyed that experience and met a lot of great people.
Now, I'm at Jacksonville State University [music] and now that's where I'm starting my college journey, so every place I actually took my journey is where I want to shoutout.
>> When I first fell in love with football, I remember I was like probably 6 years old and one day I was just at the house just chilling and I know my dad came to me and he was like, [music] "We're going to go to the field today." And we went out went to the field and spent some time just getting clothes together and I was just like, "Where are we Where are we possibly going?" [music] And he actually took me out to play flag football.
When I was running around just scoring touchdowns and everybody was like, "This kid's actually pretty good." So, that's kind of when I explored like my love for the game.
>> And when did it occur to you that maybe your height was going to be an issue or maybe even an advantage?
>> Uh definitely I'd say getting into high school because, you know, you have some people out here who's getting heavy looks just because or maybe [music] they might be 6'5".
They look the part from everybody, but I definitely had to figure out like early on that I can control the controllable.
There are things that you can't control.
>> [music] >> Your height is not something you really can't control.
It's genetics, really.
>> When those thoughts came to you like, "Man, maybe I'm not cut out for this.
Maybe I'm not tall enough." What did you say to that voice?
>> Uh that voice it definitely gets to you for a second, but at some point you realize if you want to be successful, you really you're going to have to make a way or find a way.
Like one of the biggest things I know is like for me out of my book, I know that one of the biggest things is the will principle.
That's actually a principle explaining like the people you have around you.
That's something I can't control and one of the biggest quotes I go by is "Show me your friends, I'll show you your future." >> You had higher standards for yourself.
You are a full-time student athlete [music] in college.
So, you have your classes, you have your tests, you have your projects, you have your studying, then you have your practice, you have your games, you have your travel for games.
What in the world make you want to write a book on top of all that?
>> I I feel like it was really important because I know as I said earlier, my father was definitely a coach when I was younger and I looked up to him [music] like as he was inspiring kids to be able to go outside their comfort zone maybe whether that's in the classroom.
[music] Maybe you might not have everything just made out for you, but basically just my passion for giving back.
So, that's That's my biggest reason for writing the book.
>> What's your message out there?
Athlete, non-athlete, just anyone out there who feels they have [music] a disadvantage, maybe not physically, but they can still find their success.
>> My biggest [music] message is just stay the path you're on, to be honest.
If you Like even in the book, there's even parts where [music] you actually have questions, so you can self-reflect on making sure that you're actually being honest with yourself and letting yourself know like if I'm trying to do what I want [music] to do.
If I really say I really want to do that, am I putting as much work in as I'm saying I am?
>> The most important question I ask you today, is there any [music] school you want to give a shoutout to out there?
>> I'm going to start at Ron Clark Academy.
They built my whole foundation, [music] just being able to develop social skills.
Woodward Academy, that was the first high school I went to and I had an amazing experience with them.
Went to Walker in my last [music] senior year.
I enjoyed that experience and met a lot of great people.
Now, I'm at Jacksonville State University [music] and now that's where I'm starting my college journey, so every place I actually took my journey is where I want to shoutout.