Randy Gregory's Path to the NFL - In His Words(ish)

Mavric

Mavric

Yoda
Staff member
It's been a long journey. I was born in Jacksonville, Fla. We moved around a lot – probably seven or eight times leading up to my graduation in high school. Bounced around Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana. My parents met in Sicily, Italy, where both were stationed in the Air Force. We are kind of a military family. My older brother is 24 and he's in the Navy. But that wasn't why we were moving. My dad was always getting a promotion, a new job. They're in Michigan now. My younger brother is 13, so they want to wait until he gets done with high school and then they'll probably retire and buy a nice little house out in Florida or something.

Alabama was where my youth leagues started. The first thing my dad taught me was how to snap the ball, so when I went to try out, I ended up being the center. Ohio is where I started becoming the player I am today. They moved me to running back, and I was probably the best athlete out there. In Missouri, I got on a Pop Warner team and I played running back. I took my team to nationals. I think we were third in the nation my first year and then we were fourth my second year. I had over 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. I still played running back pretty much all the way to my sophomore year of high school at Hamilton Southeastern in Fishers, Ind. There's where I switched to defensive end.

Alabama was where my youth leagues started. The first thing my dad taught me was how to snap the ball, so when I went to try out, I ended up being the center. Ohio is where I started becoming the player I am today. They moved me to running back, and I was probably the best athlete out there. In Missouri, I got on a Pop Warner team and I played running back. I took my team to nationals. I think we were third in the nation my first year and then we were fourth my second year. I had over 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. I still played running back pretty much all the way to my sophomore year of high school at Hamilton Southeastern in Fishers, Ind. There's where I switched to defensive end.
Click to expand...

USA Today

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I had a real good first year there, but no one knew who I was. I surprised some people. This past year, I'm getting schemed and getting two guys that blocked me on pass rush, keeping tight ends on my side, chop blocks. It's hard to make plays when you're getting game-planned against. It's not a reason to give up on anything, but it obviously makes it harder to make plays. I guess that's the reason you see that dip in stats. I also had my knee scoped first week of the year. I had a bad toe all year. It was various little nicks. It was a tough year to get through as far as injuries go and my how my body felt. But I'm healthy now.
Click to expand...
Don't tell that to some Husker fans, they think you mailed it in, a la Clowney.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
QMany said:
I had a real good first year there, but no one knew who I was. I surprised some people. This past year, I'm getting schemed and getting two guys that blocked me on pass rush, keeping tight ends on my side, chop blocks. It's hard to make plays when you're getting game-planned against. It's not a reason to give up on anything, but it obviously makes it harder to make plays. I guess that's the reason you see that dip in stats. I also had my knee scoped first week of the year. I had a bad toe all year. It was various little nicks. It was a tough year to get through as far as injuries go and my how my body felt. But I'm healthy now.
Click to expand...
Don't tell that to some Husker fans, they think you mailed it in, a la Clowney.
Click to expand...
good for him and i wish him the absolute best, but for all the huskers who have gone anywhere in the NFL draft let alone top 5, i cant remember one who i could remember less about....when i think of some our top draft picks like Suh, Peter, Wistrom. green, etc. the list goes on...there are whole high light movies....Gregory, not so much...makes me wonder how durable he will be in the NFL if he was so dinged up all through college. top nfl picks are supposed to be men among boys in the college game...not sidelined...Gregory wasnt the first to be schemed for and double teamed...

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Gregory will be a high first round choice because of his athletic ability and potential. He showed flashes of that ability at NU. There are plenty of guys who get drafted high for their athletic ability and potential, including former Huskers. Bruce Pickens was a top 5 choice in the late 80s and was a complete bust.

Also Green wasn't a high draft pick when he came out early. He was a 2nd or 3rd round choice who the Seahawks gave up on before he flourished at Green Bay.

 
Good read thanks. If he stays reasonably healthy he should become an NFL star. Best wishes to Randy.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top