weekend report 005: from NFL prospect to rookie
sharing updates from the NFL draft, NBA playoffs & wellness tips
Hi friend,
The NFL draft just finished and over 200 dreams came true for NFL prospects (turned rookies).
I love this time of the off season because it’s a showcase of years of hard work and talent from athletes. It’s also where fans are able to show excitement over new talent and dynamics for their teams (and maybe some level of sadness as front offices make some surprising trades to players already on the roster).
But as someone who loves to see dreams come true, I’ve been paying very close attention to some of the athletes who stood out to me this week.
Sonny Styles — drafted by the Washington Commanders, Sonny is a 6'5" linebacker who ran a really fast time of 4.46 at the combine. I think he has the versatility to fit in many areas on defense (especially as a previous safety) and the athleticism that the commanders need. I found a Substack article that breaks down what makes him special if you want to read more. I’m looking forward to seeing him on the field.
Arvell Reese — drafted by the New York Giants, Arvell has been into football since he was a kid. Like Sonny, Arvell is a linebacker who was his teammate at Ohio State. They even ran the same exact time of 4.46 in the combine (twinnn 🤞🏽). It’s a little ironic that they ended up being drafted to competing teams in the same division, but I’m sure it’ll still be fun to play each other twice a season. Arvell is really open about the fact that he had a 0.4 GPA at one point. He credits his previous coach, Coach Ginn, who took him under his wing and helped him build a better life. He took Arvell on college tours, put him in credit recovery and believed in him when others didn’t. That kind of mentorship changes lives. I think Arvell will be a great addition to the Giants and I personally would love to see a social media series of him getting introduced to New York culture.
Jeremiyah Love — drafted to the Arizona Cardinals as a running back. Jeremiyah's story really touched my heart. While he wasn’t formally diagnosed, a pediatrician suggested he may be on the autism spectrum. His parents chose not to have an official diagnosis and instead supported Jeremiyah’s unique perspective. Watching him succeed at this level is a reminder that different paths can lead to the same dream. He encourages people to be their authentic selves, no matter how different they may feel. Besides his great character, I think this highlight reel speaks for itself on what the Cardinals can expect :)
Jordyn Tyson — drafted to the Saints as a wide receiver, Jordyn credits all of his success to his faith journey and it's been beautiful to see. He has a tattoo that says "fear God” which to him means fear a life without him. Jordyn talks about persevering through doubt and setbacks while anchoring faith as the core foundation. He’s also known to be a very reliable, and excellent route-runner on the field. Excited to see what he'll do for his team.
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Uar Bernard — drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles as a defensive tackle. Uar is an athletic beast from the International Player Pathways program. 6’4”, 306 pounds, 36-inch arms, 11-inch hands and a reported 4.63 speed time on the 40-yard dash. I’m not a numbers person, but I think his agility gives the Eagles a lot of edge to work with. The interesting part is, he’s never actually played a professional game of football before. But the Eagles have a history of drafting and developing IPP players like Jordan Mailata, who became an O-line star. Can't help but think, did young Uar who grew up in a small village in Nigeria know all the moments of adversity would lead him to the biggest stage in football... without needing to touch one?! Ready to see him in action on my team!!
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Side note: I’ll be doing a series soon before regular seasons starts to break down football positions and make the game more accessible, so if you don’t know what the positions i’m referencing actually mean, I’ll have something you can refer to :)
These are the stories that remind me why I love the draft. It’s not just about who has the best stats or the fastest 40 time. It’s about the paths athletes took to get here.
Coach Ginn believing in Arvell when a 0.4 GPA could have been the end. Jeremiyah reframing what others saw as a limitation into his superpower. It reminds me that our challenges often guide us toward our greatest advantages.
And as fun as these origin stories have been to look into, I always think about the athletes who go undrafted.
The good news is that it’s not too late for them.
Going undrafted doesn’t mean the dream is over. It just means the path looks different. Some of the league’s best players were undrafted. They signed as free agents, proved themselves in training camp, and earned their spot through hard work and refusal to quit.
The draft is one door, but it’s not the only one.
Other sporty stuff
Knicks are moving into round 2 of the playoffs!!!
Sixers have pushed their series against the celtics all the way to game 7 (the final game). A seed 2 team against a seed 7 team, needing to go to game 7?! excellent hustle to the sixers.
wellness tip
Chamomile tea (after late games) - i noticed playoff games tip off late, and between the postgame reactions and replaying the insane moments, chamomile tea has helped me wind down. it has a natural sleep compound that helps you relax and unwind. i make a cup right after the game, drink it while scrolling highlights for a few minutes, then brick my phone.
out my cart
Omnilux Red Light Therapy Mask - i've been reading about the benefits of red light therapy and wanted to try it long-term for healthier, even skin. it’s one of my favorite game day pieces when i’m watching at home lol
Lucky Honey [solidcore] Grip Socks - if you know me, you know i’m a [solidcore] girl through and through, and what better way to cement myself further in the brand than by buying their limited edition grip socks for class
I loved the Terrell brothers' story, too, that I learned over draft weekend (they'll both play for ATL!)