For many young children who play sports growing up becoming a professional athlete is just a dream. But for three former Southeast Missouri State University football players this dream has the potential to become a reality.
With three different stories and three different adventures, long snapper Brandon Gabbard, running back Levi Terrell and linebacker Blake Peiffer are training for the chance to play professional football that many athletes are not given.
Gabbard, a native of Peoria, Ariz., has spent his time after his last season of football at Southeast training in the Cape Girardeau area to prepare for the draft.
"I have been training and working out with the team still," Gabbard said. "I go out to run, lift and practice snapping to try and get ready for combines I have been going to."
Unlike Terrell and Peiffer, Gabbard had teams contact and scout him during the season.
"I had talked to a couple of teams during the season, including Carolina," Gabbard said. "A couple of teams have come out to watch a couple of games and film and so far have liked what they have seen. I have a chance but need to take advantage of my opportunities."
Gabbard said playing professional football would be a little kid's dream come true and figures the process of getting to the professional level is a fun experience even if all does not work out.
Gabbard has been working hard to prepare for pro days and combines and making sure he is in shape and performing at his best. Pro days and combines are times for athletes around the country to come together in one place to perform many tasks in order for scouts of NFL programs to see them.
"So far I have attended one super regional combine for the NFL that was out in California and basically we go through our 40-[yard dash] times, broad jump, vertical jump, height and weight and then you go through drills and see how well you do in your drills," Gabbard said.
Gabbard hopes to know by late April or early May if he will play in the NFL next season, otherwise he plans to train for a year and try again. If after a year he still does not sign with an NFL team Gabbard will look to play overseas.
Terrell is originally from Desoto, Mo., and has been dealt his fair share of adversity. Terrell began his collegiate football career at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2009, but after playing two seasons the school decided to cut the program. Terrell transferred to Southeast and five games into his junior season he broke his collarbone and his season was over.
"It's always been my dream to play in the NFL. This is finally my opportunity to make it a reality," Terrell said.
Terrell has spent this semester training in Alabama for pro days and NFL combines.
"I have done a lot of speed and power training, making the transition into track shape. The tests that are administered at the pro days are based on speed and power," Terrell said. "I hope to perform well in all of the tests at the combines including the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, 60-yard shuttle, vertical and broad jump, the 225-pound rep test and the L-drill."
Terrell has not heard from any teams specifically but knows the phone could ring at anytime and he could get picked up as a free agent.
"I'm not worried about what I can't control," Terrell said. "I'm going to perform my best and give God the rest to handle."
If the NFL does not work out this year for Terrell he plans to pursue playing in Canada or overseas.
"That will be a bridge I cross when the time comes," Terrell said.
Peiffer, from nearby Jackson, Mo., grew up around the game of football his entire life.
"I choose to keep playing for the love of the game," Peiffer said. "Over the years football has become my life and I want to keep playing as long as I can."
Peiffer has spent his time training in places other than his hometown.
"Since football has been out I have been training," Peiffer said. "I played in a small bowl game up in Minnesota with Levi [Terrell] and Drew Gelbach. Currently, I am in Buffalo, N.Y., preparing for the pro day."
Peiffer has been training to get stronger and faster and has focused on mastering his combine drills so he can do the best he can at the pro days.
"I plan to do all the combine drills that they run at the pro day," Peiffer said. "I am running in Missouri Western's pro day and SEMO's pro day. I am running multiple times so I can get as much exposure as I can."
Peiffer, like Terrell, has not heard from any teams yet. According the Peiffer, players usually will hear from teams within a week of when the combine has ended.
"I hope to get picked up as a free agent if I don't get drafted," Peiffer said. "As of right now I am focused on making it work this year and haven't thought or planned for what I will do if it doesn't work out."
