A cornerstone to Urban Meyer's first four seasons in Columbus, Joshua Perry is a future NFL Draft pick. Over the next few weeks, the Ohio State linebacker will join Eleven Warriors to share his thoughts on the process of turning pro.
Buckeye Nation,
Before I continue, I want thank you for a great four years. In that time I enjoyed a ton of on-field success, including 50 wins, a conference title and the first College Football Playoff National Championship. The same goes with off the field, having many chances to support the community locally in Columbus and abroad in Costa Rica, plus the opportunity to speak at Big Ten Media Days about what it truly means to be a student-athlete and much more. To cap it all off, I earned my bachelor’s degree and ended my career with a win against another historic program in Notre Dame.
That’s where the journey picks up. After the last game, I signed with Element Sports Group and a few days later, headed to Gulf Breeze, Florida, to start my preparation for the first step in the NFL Draft process, the NFL Combine. Before I left, I told myself that I wanted to really take this time to sharpen my skills as a football player, but also learn about myself in the process. Looking back now, as I get ready to ship out for my workouts in Indianapolis, I realize I have done just that.
When I arrived, I didn’t really know how things were going to go. There were guys here from all over, big schools and small schools alike, all with the same end goal in mind. As I got into the program, I realized what the key was going to be — compete!
The program is set to help each player reach their body composition goals (weight, body fat), their testing goals (40-yard dash, vertical jump, bench press) and also their mental goals (interviews and football knowledge). To me, that just meant I must compete against both myself and others in those areas.
The first few weeks in the program were orientation. I learned the schedule and the expectations. The workouts we did were double sessions with lunch in between each. We worked alternating emphasis (movement or lift) each session, and worked alternating types of movement/lift each day. The expectations for the workouts? Something like, “You are a pro now. Your career is in your hands." That is a big change from college, where coaches dictate everything and someone is always watching to keep you grounded. Some players flourish in that, others flounder. That is the name of the game.
Over the course of the next few weeks, I started to see the magic of this program. The training is highly specified, with us using air pressure resistance instead of free weights and other things like sleds, bungees and harnesses to run in. They taught us the basics of everything, from how to get in a rack to bench, to how to take a step out of a 40 stance. There was also positon training, to teach us football skills and also concepts that teams play. Even when I injured my groin, I was able to rehab and train in unique ways, with the help of a world class medical staff.
Outside of football, all sorts of topics were also covered by the players and coaches, teaching us lessons that we will take along in our journeys. It was awesome to see my workout numbers change just the same way as my mentality did. Those are the exact results you want to see as the program comes to an end.
One big thing I appreciated by being here was bonding with the other players. We were all a little reserved at first, just feeling our way out in the program, but now, it feels like our old college locker rooms. The group bonded because we are all similar people at heart with the same goals. We had shared in many of the same struggles during our college careers, and well as some similar triumphs, and those experiences that are so unique to ball players brought us together. I know I’ll have some buddies around the league for years to come.
Perry's Path
- 03/16: Forming a Team
- 03/09: Pro Day Prep
- 03/02: Combine Prep Q&A
- 02/24: Combine Prep
Finally, there was one really special treat in coming here. I had the opportunity to train next to members of the Special Operations community. Wounded active duty members get to come and take part in physical, nutritional and wellness training in our facility. Hearing from them and learning about their experiences and what drives them lends perspective, but also motivation.
This is the final week and I have come a long way. I feel ready to perform. My body is healthy and my mind is fresh. I’ve gained perspective that will help me along my journey. Most importantly, I have the tools now to be successful in a unique transition and am set to go on to the next step.
Until Next Time,
Joshua Perry
Joshua is set to post a journal entry each week on Eleven Warriors. For next week's installment, he will respond to your questions about the entire training and preparation process for the NFL Combine. Please leave your inquiries in the comments section of this article.
