alt=Trent WoodSince its founding in 2012, the National Football League Players Association Collegiate Bowl has been an annual showcase event for NFL-draft eligible college football players, designed to prepare them for a professional football career, as well as provide an introduction to the players union and educate players on the business side of the NFL.
Former BYU defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku took full advantage of his invitation to the Collegiate Bowl this year, particularly on the field itself. The Northridge High graduate made one of the plays of the game, stripping former Ohio State tight end Rashod Berry and recovering the fumble himself.
Before the game, Ghanwoloku was the focus of a piece by NFL.com writer Adam Maya, a story that proved prescient in light of Ghanwoloku’s play.
In it, Maya essentially told Ghanwoloku’s life story, from his exodus from Liberia at five years old, through his recently concluded career at BYU.
All that and more led Ghanwoloku to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, and he expects the bowl to be anything but the end of his journey.
“Of course, I’m trying to play in the league and get drafted,” Ghanwoloku told Maya. “If I don’t, I’m going to find a way. I’m going to be on a team regardless. I just know. My work ethic, my drive for the game, how much I love it is going to get me there. I’m a hard worker, too. I’m for sure going to get there one way or another.”
Other links
NBA Midseason Grades: Evaluating Every Team in the Western Conference (Sports Illustrated)
Utah Jazz need to make a move for a more reliable backup big (The J Notes)
Jazz forward Royce O’Neale agrees to four-year, $36 million contract extension (CBSSports)
And finally...
For as rough as the past few games have been for Utah basketball, there was a bright spot to be found following the Utes’ 83-64 loss to ASU. A pair of old teammates, Utah’s Mikael Jantunen and ASU’s Elias Valtonen, who were teammates at the Helsinki Basketball Academy, had a reunion.