The National Football League has become full of former Alabama players that won’t stop at nothing to make it big time.
On Sundays, many Tide fans see a lot of Bama on Bama crime with standouts going head-to-head. A brotherhood that was formed in Nick Saban’s first year at Tuscaloosa not only loves competition, but it’s also not afraid to help its fellow man.
Ex-Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson is one of the lucky ones.
Second chances do not come often to some players, yet the former No. 3 overall pick will have a fourth NFL home in the fall. Coach John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens signed him today, after he completed the requirement needed for his physical. Richardson dropped 22 pounds this offseason, going from 240-218. Behind his transformation, confidence and motivation to revive his career lies an Alabama standout who’s based his life on divine intervention, wide out Mike McCoy.
McCoy, who turns 30 in July, played at Alabama under Mike Shula and Saban from 2006-09.
He brought in 54 passes for 547 yards and three touchdowns in his career, with his finest work coming in the 2009 season.
McCoy averaged 14.9 yards per catch in the school’s first championship year since 1992 (Eugene “Gene” Stallings).
He said training was something he was always good at.
“The first thing I marked in my Bible was that I wanted to be in the NFL,” McCoy said. “That was my goal. My mom once told me ‘if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plan.'”
Professional football did not pan out for McCoy, despite him putting time in the Arena League and getting an invitation from the Cleveland Browns. Strength and conditioning coaches Johnny Jackson (IMG Academy) and Scott Cochran (Alabama) reached out to McCoy, introducing him to an avenue that he would later fall in love with. His journey as a physical trainer started in Florida, working with Alfred Morris, Luke Kuechly, Mohamed Sanu and Russell Wilson.
Hard work and a passion to see others succeed and look their best earned McCoy a chance to work with autistic children and others with attention disorders. His latest facility, The Warehouse Peformance Institute, is in its fourth-year as the training ground for pro athletes and youth that aspire to be athletes. The 3,500 square-foot building is located on 4010 Farr Road in Bessemer, Ala.
Courtney Upshaw, Marcell Dareus, Blake Sims and Dont’a Hightower are just a few marquee names from Alabama that McCoy has trained. Richardson stands as the one that’s close to his heart.
“Trent has never been a bust by no means,” McCoy said. “He had to learn how to value himself again. I challenged and pushed him. The one thing people like about me is that I don’t kiss butt. I told him that he had to get a few squares out of his circle and focus on himself.”
Richardson’s weight issues and struggles in the NFL were initiated when he was traded to Indianapolis from Cleveland.
He totaled 950 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie in 2012. McCoy said the difference between college and the NFL is “one loses love for the game.”
“It becomes a job when you reach the pros because you are getting compensated,” he said. “A man without a vision or plan won’t make it. You have to set goals for yourself.”
Depression from being traded along with family issues took Richardson’s focus away from the game, leading to him being cut from Indianapolis and waived from Oakland after getting a $600,000 signing bonus. He was away from the game for a full season, yet McCoy said Richardson is ready to show why he was one the more coveted backs in the 2012 draft.
“Don’t be surprised if you see Trent in the Pro Bowl or if he’s named among the top five running backs in the league next season,” he said. “Mark my words. I love him like he’s family.”
Richardson was in Tuscaloosa last week for A-Day, joining Mark Ingram, Eddie Lacy, T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake. He and McCoy were on the same team in 2009 and with McCoy’s help, the former All-American, Doak Walker winner and Heisman finalist is back in the professional game.
Both Richardson and Lacy slimmed down this offseason, creating better opportunities to be successful.
Marriage awaits McCoy later this month, but his journey to growing one of the best training facilities is special.
“People are going to start calling The Warehouse ‘The Disney World of Sports’ pretty soon,” McCoy said.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
