As the end of April is near, football is once again the topic of conversation. The 2021 NFL Draft is approaching and some Hoosier superstars have declared for the draft with hopes to take the next step in their career.
Six former players have declared for the draft, including running back Stevie Scott III. Scott finished his career fourth in program history with 30 rushing touchdowns, fifth with 32 total touchdowns, seventh with 562 attempts, ninth with 2,543 rushing yards and tied for 10th with nine 100-yard games. He joins running back Anthony Thompson and quarterback Antwaan Randle El as the only Hoosiers to score at least 10 rushing touchdowns in three-straight seasons.
Reflecting back on the 2020 season, Scott said, “Being nationally ranked, and just being on top of opponents, was a dream of mine and a goal of mine. Especially coming here and putting Indiana back on the map.”
Scott speaks about how his IU teammates will be his family forever, no matter where he ends up.
The 2020 Indiana football season was one for the books. For some, it was the perfect note to end on as they move on from the cream and crimson to live out their dreams on the pro stage.
“I just knew it was always there,” Scott said. “I just had to have that working mentality to keep striving and keep pushing just to better myself and be a better version of me. It started at a young age, but I stuck with it. Stuck with the plan, and it’s finally paying off.”
Jerome Johnson, former IU defensive tackle and another Hoosier who declared for the draft, said that it was his dream to make it to the NFL since high school.
“I think at some point you have to take the next step,” Johnson said. “Whether that’s now or next year, at some point I was going to have to take it. I think with me being there 5 years, I’ve done enough, or feel like it was time to move on to the next thing and see what happens. At some point you have to stop dreaming and try to make it a reality.
Johnson discusses his desires to be a role model for others once he makes it to the league.
With the draft in sight, each former Hoosier has their own style of training, both physically and mentally, to get them in shape for the league.
“I’m training six days out of the week, twice a day,” Johnson said. “You do that, you get your body right, you prepare your body physically and mentally. They have people prep you and prepare you for things that teams would interview you and ask you questions about.”
Similar to Johnson, Scott said that physical training is only part of the process. He said that preparing for the pro stage is dependent on work ethic.
“I’m out here training for speed, speed technique, working on my craft,” Scott said. “It’s definitely that work ethic that you have to have that’s gonna keep you motivated and striving to reach your potential.”
Six Hoosiers for life, but this month presents an opportunity for something much bigger than the Indiana script. Those who have declared are among a pool of 259 players around the country.
The draft is set to start Thursday, April 29.
