Motivational Story - Chase Claypool (Pittsburgh Steelers / NFL)

 


Greetings! For this piece, I want to go behind the mind of a coach or personnel decision maker when they see a prospect for the first time and what was it specifically that caught their attention and led them to pursue the athlete? Was it the skill set? The determination? The person’s personality? Regardless, I’ve always been a believer in life that you only need “one set of eyes” whether in person, on film or through social media, to change the course of your career!

This week I am pointing out to you a Canadian football player name Chase Claypool. Back on Oct. 11th (2020), he set a Pittsburgh Steelers rookie record for most touchdowns in a game (4) and had the entire football world in a buzz! This was accomplished in just his fourth professional game and for one of the NFL’s most storied franchises!

Let me go back to this young man’s beginnings. His journey was a most unusual one. His high school years were played out with the Abbotsford Collegiate Panthers in British Columbia, Canada. There, he set numerous school records. He was a 6-foot-4 wide receiver that weighed over 230 pounds and sported a physique that brings to mind a CrossFit world champion.

He was a raw prospect no one knew about in the U.S. until one day Claypool decided to upload a highlight reel on his own Facebook page that a friend of his produced. Prior to this time, NOT ONE American college had reached out to Chase. Out of nowhere, an assistant coach from the University of Notre Dame saw his social media post.

Much to Claypool’s surprise, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly actually traveled to Abbotsford unannounced to watch Chase perform in a high school basketball game against a local B.C. rival. Claypool, then a two-sport star, dropped in 51 points and had dunks and put-back rebound shots so ferocious that players were bouncing off of him. He appeared to be a man among boys.

To Kelly, it wasn't just Claypool's performance that impressed him. What did was his desire to dominate! "We never really got to see him play football in person," Kelly said back then. "Once we were able to see the athleticism that Chase had and his competitive fire … It piqued our interest and we took a bit of a flier on him."

Heading to Notre Dame, Claypool was mostly a special teams player as a freshman, making just five receptions the entire season at the receiver position. He continued to improve though every season but still was always considered an “under the radar” type player, grading out in the middle rounds as a future NFL draft prospect. Things began to change when he then put together a terrific senior season where he recorded over 1,000 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns before capping his college career by being named MVP of the 2019 Citrus Bowl Game and being named to the Senior Bowl where he would compete against other top draft eligible NFL prospects.

Soon thereafter Claypool prepared for the NFL Combine where every NFL team decision maker would be on hand to evaluate his athleticism and skills and to meet in person to determine his football acumen and game knowledge? Everything about Claypool screamed a “Pro’s Pro!” He ran a blazing 4.45-second 40-yard dash and opened eyes during the broad jump with an explosive 126” jump. He also measured in with an 80” wingspan.

Yet, very few analysts and NFL scouts had Claypool high on the draft board. Many felt the Steelers made a reach when they selected him at pick No. 49 in the second round. However, credit the encouragement of Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin, who never forgot his one-on-one meeting with Claypool back at the Senior Bowl that more than anything led him to becoming a Pittsburgh Steeler.

Said Tomlin: "We just loved the way Chase sunk his teeth into the special teams combat during that one game. He showed me football awareness in things that were outside of the wide receiver position, and for us, we believe that that's a good indicator that you got a good football player. We look for guys that show a certain toughness and competitive spirit that goes above and beyond their position."

The moral of this story…. Never forget that it only takes ONE SET OF EYES to change your course in life OK! Be a Game Changer every single time you put on your uniform when the lights go up! 


Jim Loria

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