Could the NFL get another athlete from Rockford?

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. High school sports were not a big deal unless it was one of the bigger programs. The big professional sports like football, baseball, basketball, and hockey got all the love. Some of the minor pro sports got a little coverage. Same with the area colleges. High school athletes only got coverage by smaller local papers unless it was the state tournament or someone was headed to a major university program.

That is one of the first things I noticed about the Rockford area media. They give the local schools lots of attention. Plus, residents have a lot of pride in their school. I always thought that was really cool.

Through the years, there have been a few athletes from the Rockford community that have continued their sports career beyond high school into college. Some have even gone on to the pros.

Of course, we have a couple that has become stars in their sport. There is Fred VanVleet who played basketball at Auburn High School. Now, he is a main player for the Toronto Raptors. Also, Rockford Lutheran alumni, James Robinson, had a breakout rookie season as a running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This is so great for our community. It has the possibility of opening the door to more Rockford area athletes in the future. Teams might give more chances when they have heard about the Forest City. Could this be the next Rockford athlete to get a shot at his dream?

According to rrstar.com,

"Robert Jones may not have gotten a shot at playing in last Saturday's college Senior Bowl, but he was able to flash NFL potential in the practices leading up to it. Now the former East lineman, who worked his way up the college ranks, is hoping to get a chance at the next level. A recent invitation to the NFL Combine — which has been relegated to interviews only due to COVID-19 — and a list of possible Pro Days he can attend also should help him as the April 29 NFL Draft approaches."

Good luck Robert. Rockford is proud of you.


Video: Green Bay Packer Dean Lowry discusses going from Rockford, Illinois to the NFL

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