T.A.'s Story: How It All Started

I didn't have any expectations before high school. There were no expectations with football, no real hype about it.

I started playing football in the seventh grade, and I remember the first time my coach told me to block a guy... I just tackled him.  I didn't know the rules or anything.  I had the size and talent, but I knew nothing about the rules or plays. 

Up to that point, all I'd ever done was play backyard football in the neighborhood.