John began to show an interest in football at a very young age. By the tender age of 7, John was throwing, running, and catching a football. Throughout his career he has been able to achieve the goals that he had made for himself. "Even if they weren't part of my goal setting it just happened for me and only God knows why". As a kid playing in the Pop Warner leagues, John was selected as an all-star for 2 seasons, even though he was overweight the entire season. Most of his talents could be given credit to many of his childhood friends playing in the playgrounds. A childhood friend of his, Robert Brooks, grew up playing together. John and Robert both had the pleasure of playing with one another at Greenwood High School in 1985. John was an offensive lineman and short yardage specialist on the defensive side of the ball as a ferocious D-Tackle. Things did not always turnout for John, during the 7th - 9th grade John wasn't very tough playing under the guides of coach Dale Adair, who was a very tough coach. John was a starter at inside linebacker in the 7th grade but after a first game knee bump and later a broken finger he worked himself out of playing football, he quit. Once he entered high school, 10th grade, he began to grow in both height and size so he began to pursue football once again. During 3 seasons with the Golden Eagles of Greenwood High School , he and his teammates never lost over more than 3 games each season. In his senior year they only lost once during regular season, but fell short of winning the state championship. During his senior year he was named "Most Valuable Offensive Lineman" for the team, 2nd team "Allstate" and "Shrine Bowl alternate"; State All Star team that plays against North Carolina high school all-stars. He was very highly recruited out of high school. Schools like, University of Tennessee, Clemson, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, (just to name a few). Not having the guidance to maybe attend a Junior College, John signed a scholarship to attend division 2 school Johnson C. Smith University, located in Charlotte N.C.. He played two seasons with the Golden Bulls as an offensive tackle. He started there his freshman and sophomore year. Things didn't go well with John academically being from a small town entering a big city . After a two year absence from football John returned to the football field after his cousin Ben Coates; 2-time All Pro with the New England Patriots, talked to coaches at Livngstone College to give him a scholarship to play football. To Johns surprise they wanted him ever since high school. Their in his junior season he probably made the best position change of his career. He was moved to pulling guard and that's what made him a very special offensive lineman. Thanks to both John and Ben's talent it made the Blue Bear offensive a force to be reckoned with. John blocked for conference record breaking running back and Ben Coates speaks for himself. Johns senior season he was named "All C.I.A.A.", Black College Sports All American nominee, "Most Valuable Offensive Lineman", and "Baxter Holman" award winner for outstanding student athlete of the school. All of this happened in 1991-2. Those two years at Livingstone made him realize how blessed he was as an athlete. April 26th, 1992 late afternoon John was with his then agent when he received a phone call from the Dallas Cowboys letting him know that he was there 10th rd. draft pick. It was a little disappointing for him because he predicted to go as early mid 5th to late 6th rd.. Nevertheless, he was still happy because their were millions of players who didn't get their name called. In 1992 John went to camp with the Dallas Cowboys he was in awe over the fact he was with the likes of Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and Nate Newton all whom his locker was very close to. He felt as though he was a little fish in a big pond and not a big fish any more. (the way that he was in college). He was eventually released at the start of their super bowl winning year. He was very depressed and thought about giving up again but that didn't happen. The following year ,1993, he was called up one month before the start of Chicago Bears training camp by his former O-Line coach Tony Wise. Having better confidence in his ability John had a decent football camp. "But when you are playing in the professional league you can't have decent you need outstanding". He was not in the best shape because of the short notice. That taught John a lesson, "always be prepared because you never know when that call will come". That forced him into playing semipro football in Charlotte with a team he cannot remember but he gives them thanks for the opportunity to sharpen his skills. There he played every position on the offensive line even Center and Long snapper. That helped, because in 1994 John was given a phone call by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. This time he was prepared he was working to attend the camp of now defunct Charlotte Rage of the Arena Football League. He received the phone call before that camp could get started and he then signed with the Argonauts. He had an outstanding camp he had all the confidence in the world of his God-given talents. During that training he sustained an eye injury that caused him to miss several weeks leading into the 1994 season. The first week of regular season at left offensive tackle he injured his left ankle during practice and that kept him out for 8 weeks. Subsequently John was released after his return so there it happened again. He did not give up because the Argonauts recalled him in 1995 and he did not disappoint them. He had a very good season starting 15 of 18 games at left offensive tackle. April of 1996 John was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the Argonauts former center Mike Kiselak, whom is the now starting center of the Dallas Cowboys as of mid Nov. John has been with the Roughriders since 1996 and every season he has had with them he has been named the teams "Most Valuable Offensive lineman" in 1996, "Roughriders Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman "1997-98 voted on by the Sports Casters and Media of Canada, "Western Conference All-star "1997-98 voted on by the Sports Casters and Media of Canada, and his most cherished award is the "Canadian Football League Players Association all-star team 1997-8". The award for this accomplishment is a 10kt gold watch personalized watch with your name position and the year nominated. John quotes "That's not the main reason it is so important to me, its important because it is voted on by the defensive coaches and players across the league". John resigned with the Roughriders during the 98 season that will carry him to the year 2001. As he continues to strive towards greatness one thing he has yet to accomplish and that is to becoming a team champion. " It's good as I accomplish individual goals but I would trade all of that in for being on a championship team" he says. His patience and perseverance almost came true in 1997 as he and his teammates made to the Grey Cup but to be denied by his former team the Toronto Argonauts and Doug Flutie. As for John he will continue to strive to become that team champion and maybe one day he will hang up the cleats for a last time.

 

My pages are hosted by geocities

(page last updated Sept 4 2002)