FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When the New England Patriots have been contemplating internet hosting Division II receiver Andrew Jamiel for a tryout this week, they reached out to five-time All-Professional cornerback Richard Sherman for a reference.
Sherman instructed the Patriots the identical factor he is been relaying to Jamiel: “What took you so lengthy! He deserves a shot within the NFL.”
How Sherman grew to become Jamiel’s high advocate highlights the lengths Jamiel has taken to maintain his NFL dream alive. When Jamiel graduated from Stonehill School in Easton, Massachusetts, in 2020 — having set lots of the college’s all-time data — it was the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was imagined to work out at Holy Cross’ professional day, however it was canceled. He then seemed to the Canadian Soccer League, however its season was canceled, too. So was the XFL’s.
“I used to be out of choices, and knew I wanted assist; I wanted a professional day analysis coming from a Division II college, so NFL groups would check out me,” Jamiel mentioned.
Then at some point, as he searched social media, he got here throughout the Fan Managed Soccer League, which was promoting open tryouts at a highschool discipline in Atlanta. Sherman is an investor/proprietor within the league. Quarterback Johnny Manziel and receiver Josh Gordon are amongst the one-time NFL players to suit up for 7-on-7 indoor video games which might be performed on a 50-yard discipline, with a one-hour operating clock and followers calling performs.
Jamiel’s crew, the Glacier Boyz, misplaced within the championship recreation within the 2021 season. However Jamiel’s quickness, and knack for getting out and in of his breaks with precision, rapidly earned him respect from Sherman, Terrell Owens and others. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Jamiel was declared a franchise participant after he led the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
“A number of the homeowners are well-known athletes, actors, social media personalities. So I knew there could be plenty of hype and plenty of eyes across the league. It was an important alternative for me, as a result of at that time I had solely performed towards Division II competitors,” he mentioned.
“Going to that league, I used to be not solely in a position to show to others, however I used to be in a position to show to myself that I belong.
“I may have simply competed on the Division I stage, and I deserve a shot at a stage larger than the FCS. It was superior to have the ability to chase my dream of taking part in professional soccer, and folks taking discover all throughout the web that I can play soccer.”
Jamiel, 25, went on to play within the Spring League (extra conventional 11-on-11 soccer performed open air), which finally led to his name from the Patriots, the crew he cheered for rising up on Cape Cod. Former Patriots receiver Julian Edelman is the participant he cites as having a significant impression on him.
Jamiel arose at 4:30 a.m. on Monday, and his older brother Joseph drove him to Gillette Stadium for a 6 a.m. arrival.
“An incredible expertise,” he mentioned. “It was my first official exercise with an NFL crew, in order that entire factor, simply strolling the halls that these gamers and coaches undergo each day, was nice. It made it much more particular, as a result of it’s the crew that’s an hour from my home and I grew up watching them and rooting for them.
“However on the similar time, I needed to recover from that, as a result of I do know I belong on the NFL stage.”
Jamiel spent 4-5 hours on the stadium, going by way of bodily examinations, a exercise within the fieldhouse, after which movie work with coaches.
He did not obtain a contract, however mentioned he is decided to remain prepared and presumably add 5-10 kilos of muscle. If the NFL does not name once more, he is ready to be a part of the XFL draft after going by way of tryouts final week.
Jamiel has additionally labored with some Patriots gamers, coaching with them at native excessive faculties. The group has included defensive backs Kyle Dugger, Joejuan Williams, Justin Bethel and former New England cornerback J.C. Jackson.
“He had plenty of velocity, good palms,” Bethel mentioned. “One other factor I appreciated was if he received beat on a route, and we lined him properly, he took route on how one can right himself to make issues higher. You may inform he needed to work onerous.
“It is superb to listen to the issues he is doing to attempt to get his likelihood within the league … I hope one thing occurs for him.”
Jamiel can be flattered by the assist from Sherman, who has reminded him gamers could make it from anyplace. Owens has echoed the same message.
“It is superior, as a result of I do know these guys would not say it in the event that they did not imply it. Them giving props means rather a lot to me, as a result of I used to be at all times watching them rising up,” he mentioned.
“They weren’t saying something too loopy like, ‘He may very well be an important NFL participant.’ They have been simply saying, ‘He deserves a shot.’ I really feel the identical approach.”
