Football player goes from homeless to NFL Draft
theGRIO REPORT - University of Florida defensive lineman, Sharrif Floyd, has overcome many obstacles to make it to this year's NFL Draft.
University of Florida defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd has overcome many obstacles to make it to this year’s NFL Draft.
“The fastest decision I ever made in my life was moving out of my house at 16,” Floyd told NBC Philadelphia, “and I don’t regret it.”
The Philadelphia native moved from house to house, sometimes not finding anywhere to sleep or anything to eat.
Floyd then moved in with his grandmother.
“Just telling me her story and the stuff she had been through when she was young keeps me going and motivated because it was worse than what I had to go through,” Floyd said about his grandmother.
Two years ago, at the age of 20, Floyd was adopted by Kevin Lahn and his wife.
Lahn helps run a mentoring program that supplied funds to under-privileged high school athletes. The organization is not in compliance with NCAA rules, and Floyd was suspended two games while playing for the Gators and required to pay a fine.
Overcoming the odds and using his past as motivation, Floyd said:
“Don’t let your situation judge who you are.”
Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.
You Might Like
