Hard Work, Adversity Part of Journey to NFL for Lorenzo Mauldin

Lorenzo Mauldin (Getty Images)

The 2015 NFL draft was definitely a successful one for the New York Jets after drafting Leonard Williams at sixth overall. Williams was regarded as the draft’s top talent. But Williams does not come to the NFL with a great story like Lorenzo Mauldin does. Mauldin was the Jets third round pick at 82^nd overall, an outside linebacker out of Louisville University.

A lot of NFL players come into the league with crazy stories of how they got to where they are. Sometimes it’s a story of a parent abandoning them and siblings. Sometimes it is a story of substance abuse and they had to overcome their addiction. But Mauldin has an incredible story himself.

Lorenzo Mauldin never knew who his father was. His father was always in prison so it was up to his mother to raise him and his brother. But his mother was never much of a mother figure. She had a major alcohol addiction and that kept Mauldin and his brother in foster homes. And not just one or two foster homes, but 16. That’s right, 16 foster homes! Not only did Mauldin and his brother not have parental figures, they didn’t even have parental figures within their foster homes because they jumped around so often. When Mauldin was 15 years old in 2008, he and his brother were split up within foster homes and Lorenzo was put into a group home.

Aside from all of his problems with his living situation, Mauldin was a huge star in athletics in high school. He was a three sport athlete as he excelled in football along with basketball and track.

Mauldin’s original intention was to play football at the University of South Carolina. But just days before signing his letter of intent to play with the Gamecocks, he got a call saying that he would not be able to play for them because his grades were not good enough.

Mauldin was then on his way to visit Troy University when he got a call from the University of Louisville, offering him a scholarship. After a tour of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Mauldin made the decision to attend Louisville. Mauldin was a hard worker and quickly made his way into the starting lineup. In his tenure as a Cardinal, Mauldin totaled 113 tackles along with 20.5 sacks.

After a successful collegiate career, Lorenzo Mauldin now finds himself with the New York Jets. And judging by his childhood, I think it is safe to say that Mauldin is the kind of player that will work as hard as he possibly can and has the ability to overcome any adversity that is thrown his way. He probably will not be an impact player right away for the Jets, but he is definitely a good player to have on the roster because he will be able to handle anything that is thrown his way.