Former Northwestern football stars, now in NFL, in Rock Hill getting ready for season
Veterans report to training camp this week for more than half the teams in the National Football League.
Two former Northwestern High School football players are NFL veterans: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and Atlanta Falcons running back, wide receiver and returner Cordarrelle Patterson.
They have been working out, along with former Northwestern receiver Dupree Hart and coach Terrance Biddix, at District 3 Stadium in Rock Hill as they gear up for the upcoming season.
“I love coming back to Rock Hill,” Rudolph said. “I’m usually home, visiting my parents and family. We always try, in the summers, to get a couple weeks to prep for training camp.”
The road to the NFL is not a easy.
According to NCAA statistics, fewer than 0.2% of all high school football players make it to one of the most lucrative sports leagues in the world.
Rock Hill has produced 19 NFL players. And this is known as “Football City.”
There were six NFL athletes from Rock Hill high schools last season: Jadeveon Clowney, Stephon Gilmore, Derion Kendrick, Nick McCloud, Patterson, and Rudolph.
Rudolph said he has learned a lot on his journey through professional football. One key lesson has been how to deal with the adversity.
“When I think about lessons learned, I think about the losses and having to bounce back and overcome things,” Rudolph said during a recent interview. “Whether that be injury in the pros, or just that leadership experience that you get, I think that will be valuable forever. I’m grateful for all the scars.”
Rudolph was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Steelers.
After spending his rookie year as the third-string quarterback, Rudolph’s got a shot the following year. He started eight games after Ben Roethlisberger injured his arm the second week of the season.
However, the 2019 season wasn’t smooth sailing.
Here’s what happened:
He was knocked unconscious in a week 6 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens and placed in concussion protocol.
After returning, he won three-straight games from weeks 8 to 10.
He got in a brawl with Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett in the final seconds of a week 11 -- a Thursday Night Football game.
He was as benched the following week, replaced by Devlin Hodges in week 12 against the Cleveland Browns and did not play the next three games.
In week 16, he replaced Hodges against the New York Jets but suffered a shoulder injury that kept Rudolph out for the rest of the season.
Rudolph said he is happy to get the opportunity to win games with the team that drafted him.
“I went in, and there were some ups and downs and some adversity,” the 28-year-old quarterback said. “But I went 5-3 as a starter, I was just thrust in there. You’re ready for the moment, but at the same time, you’ve never played (at that level), so there’s going to be a learning curve. There’s going to be lessons each week, and you want to try to get better and start creating new problems, right? Fix old problems and create new ones.”
Versatility and setting records
Patterson was the Minnasota Vikings’ first-round draft choice in 2013. He played at the University of Tennessee.
He said his upbringing was motivation for making it in the NFL.
“You just have to be ready for whatever,” the 32-year-old said. “My mom, (when I was) growing up, she worked three jobs. On the football field, I feel like I could just play any position because of what she did for us growing up. You can’t just be stuck at one position. The more you can do in this league, you’re going to stick around for a long time, and I just want to be in this league until they kick me out.”
Patterson’s has played a variety of roles for several teams.
The four-time All-Pro kick returner won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2018. He also has the NFL record for the most kickoff return touchdowns in NFL history (9).
He started his career as primarily a receiving and returning threat, but Patterson has carved himself out a role in Atlanta’s rushing attack. He’s rushed for more yards in his two years as a Falcon (1,313) than in his previous eight years in the league (1,017).
Now a veteran on a young Atlanta Falcons team, Patterson said his ability to impact the game in so many different ways has allowed him to be a better mentor for younger players.
“You just got to have a different mindset in this business because you never know what happens,” Patterson said. “Somebody can go down and you can be the next man up.
“The younger guys, they already know how the game is because of the college they went to. Kyle (Pitts), Drake (London), our quarterback (Desmond) Ridder. They’re all great. They all got different mindsets, and they want to be in this league, and the stuff they bring to the table is unmatched.
“I’m just there to help in any way I can. I’m not going to just go up there and tell them they need to do this and that, but if you need my help, I’m always there. I’m always here to listen or whatever I need to do.”
Rudolph and Patterson say their plan alwyas has been to respectively impact their teams in a positive way.
Rudolph said he is optimistic about the Steelers’ chances at success this season. The team made improvements in key areas like the offensive line. He wants to do his part.
“Control what I can control,” Rudolph said. “I’m going to be the third-string quarterback to start the year. Going to get some reps in training camp. Won’t be a lot but I’ll make the most of what I get and try to be a professional and a veteran that can help our team and know when to speak up.
“I’ve always been a leader. I’ve always been vocal, but I know my role as a backup quarterback. I’ll do what I can to help us win. You’re going to get a chance to play in the preseason, and we’ll see what happens there.”
Patterson and the rest of the Falcons’ veterans will report to training camp on July 25. Rudolph will report to Steelers’ training camp on July 26.
