“They didn't like me, like that ex-girlfriend… But I got a rebound and it was the Lions. They picked me up. Now they feeding me good, taking me to dinners.”

Jamaal Williams learned the hard way that just because one opportunity didn't work out doesn't mean that you should lose hope. Williams was let go by his long-time team, the Green Bay Packers, this past offseason. After the initial rejection, he moved on, saying there is always something better out there. Now he is on the Detroit Lions, where things seem to have fallen in place for him (not to mention the Lions beating the Packers last September).

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Translate the disappointment of not getting recruited by one coach into fuel to work harder and get recruited by somewhere better. Another team will recognize this drive and confidence and reward you accordingly. Even the greats hit bumps in their recruiting journey, so don't let one bad day discourage you.

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* Originally published on January 28, 2022, by Noah Fisher