Would Be First Salisbury University Player In NFL
POSTED: 2:13 pm EDT July 20, 2007
UPDATED: 3:43 pm EDT July 20, 2007
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WASHINGTON -- When the Redskins had their rookie mini-camp in May there were over 80 players on the field.
Former Salisbury University player Byron Westbrook is one of the lucky few to be offered a free agent contract by the Redskins. Westbrook is a rarity -- he is a Division III college player getting a real chance to make an NFL roster.
"There's a couple of D-III guys out here and, you know, the coaches obviously had to see them and the scouts probably saw them, too, as well, and know that we can play," Westbrook said. "We just went to a smaller school, but now we out on the national scene, the big scene and you got to do what you got to do to get on the team."
Westbrook knows he faces an uphill battle to make the Redskins' regular season roster, but he has a little help in the mentor category.
His older brother Brian is the star running back for the Philadelphia Eagles. Brian knows all about what it takes to come from a small school and make it in the NFL because he's already done it. Now, he's trying to help Byron do the same thing.
"What I try to do for Byron is to push him even harder than the next man and continue to educate him on the process of the NFL, the different skill set that he needs and let him know that you have to outwork everybody," said Brian. "That was my mindset coming into the NFL, is that you have to outwork everybody and prove to them that you can play."
"As a big brother, I mean, he always pushes the little brother, but now this is for a living, you know, for a career; you gotta raise a family and stuff like that. Therefore, I have to work hard so I can make myself a living. I can't live off him for the rest of my life," said Byron.
So far, Byron is off to a good start. He got over his disappointment over not being drafted quickly enough to make a solid impression on Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Williams, who just wants to make sure the Skins playbook doesn't end up in enemy hands.
"He's caught on, he really has," said Williams. "He's done very well."
Part of the reason is that Westbrook knows exactly what to expect -- big brother has been putting him through intense workouts for the past four years. Brian tries to instill his work ethic in Bryon, hoping that it will pay dividends on the field.
"He knows that I love him because he's my brother and I want the best for him, no matter what," said Brian. "No matter how hard I push him, I always want the best for him. And I'm pushing him because he can be better than what he is, and I push myself because I know I can be better than what I am. So, you know, that hard work and that pushing is out of nothing but love and desire and hope that he can have everything he wants."
One of those things would be to make his hometown team, which means he would be able to play against his big brother and the Eagles.
"Luckily, being on the Redskins I could have the chance two times every year to give back the 22, 23 years he's been punishing me since I was a baby," said Byron.
With inspiration from his brother and mentor, Byron Westbrook is trying to become the first player from Division III Salisbury University to make an NFL roster.
Good luck Byron. You know guys he really seems like a good kid.
<- theres my bet