Clay Iverson, who coached two-star recruit
J.J. Watt at
Pewaukee (Wis.), always knew that Watt had the potential to achieve great things. Standing at six-foot-five and weighing 220 pounds, Watt was a formidable defensive player and tight end in high school, tallying 26 receptions for 399 yards and five touchdowns during his senior year. Despite his impressive performance, only five schools offered Watt a scholarship: Central Michigan, Colorado, Minnesota, Northern Illinois and Wyoming.
After his freshman year at Central Michigan, where he caught just eight passes all season, Watt transferred to the University of Wisconsin. Determined to earn a scholarship, he asked his parents to pay for one year of tuition and promised that he would earn a scholarship afterwards. To make extra money, Watt even delivered pizzas for Pizza Hut before enrolling at Wisconsin. His hard work and perseverance paid off, as he went on to become one of the most successful players in the NFL.
Watt's story serves as an inspiration to all those who may not have received the recognition or opportunities they deserved early on. It just goes to show that with hard work and determination, anyone can achieve their goals, no matter how lofty they may seem.
