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,
Glad to be back again! This week is going to be a lot like the first — just a little about what I’m currently doing. And to be honest, this is not going to be as exciting (captivating, awe-inspiring?) as the previous posts simply because I’m not up to a whole hell of a lot. So here it goes…
When I got back from the combine a little over a week ago, the first order of business was to see my parents and brother. I didn’t have a car, but my close friend, Ericka, scooped me up from CMH and we went along our way. Obviously, I had to get a bite to eat first so we made a pit stop at El Vaquero. As we made our way back up to Galena, I was pretty excited. It was going to be my first time seeing my peoples in two months. We pulled up in the driveway and I walked through the front door and … NOTHING. I had forgot my dad was out of town, my mom was at boot camp and my younger brother was at school. So I just dropped my things and spent some time at Ericka’s visiting with her family before heading to dinner with some friends. We met up with Joe Burger and Craig and Kyle Fada for some burgers (Cam Williams made a brief appearance via phone). It was a great time catching up. That group keeps me on my toes, if you know what I mean!
The next day, I was able to get a car. Through some connections, I was able to get a brand new Cadillac XTS from the kind people at Germain Cadillac of Easton to roll around in while I’m in town. I’m blessed. The rest of that day was really casual. I visited my mom at work and that was about it.
Moving forward the next couple of days, it was back into the routine of things. I would go to work out in preparation for Pro Day Friday, then go to my apartment to take care of some housekeeping matters (mostly naps and SpongeBob). I visited friends and family, keeping a low profile like I usually do.
As the weekend came, I had some opportunities to meet some fans and supporters. I had my first autograph signing Saturday and it was awesome to be able to meet some supporters, especially the passionate young Buckeyes.
Sunday, I had a meet and greet signing at The Arnold. That one was really cool because it was my first time at The Arnold and that is something like I’ve never seen before! It was also cool because it was my first appearance as a brand ambassador for Adaptogen Science, a sports nutrition company based out of Miami. It’s special for me because I’m their first and only NFL athlete, but also because of how important sports nutrition has been for me to reach my goals (think: yearly before and after photos).
I haven’t always been a supplement guy, but with different demands now, I know the positive impact they can have on the routine. Adaptogen Science is up-and-coming just like me, so we will be able to grow with each other. That is something I look forward to. I ended the day with a spot on Wall to Wall Sports on 10TV. Dom Tiberi and the guys down there are awesome and I might be back in a couple of weeks to co-host!
Perry's Path
- 03/16: Forming a Team
- 03/09: Pro Day Prep
- 03/02: Combine Prep Q&A
- 02/24: Combine Prep
As this week started, it was back to the grind. I’ve spent time in the gym (as always) and with friends, finding a new balance as a pro athlete. I’ve also been busy scheduling team visits and private workouts/meetings. So as calm as this period can be, at times it’s much crazier than college ball. I’m loving every minute of it, though.
I appreciate everyone who reads this each week. It’s fun for me and hope it’s fun for y’all too! I might add a Q&A to next week so think of some good questions — I’ll be ready for ‘em!
Until Next Time,
Joshua Perry
