New York Giants: Kicker Jude McAtamney doubted college career was ‘enough to impress’ NFL scouts and coaches
New York Giants kicker Jude McAtamney admitted he had little to attend Rutgers University Career Festival, eventually giving him a chance to play in the National Football League (NFL).
The former Derry GAA underage goalkeeper from Swatragh made his NFL debut against the Washington Commander in November and scored a goal.
Three years after college, he joined the franchise as an unsigned free agent, the first free agent at Jowan University in North Carolina, before gaining another two more at Rutgers.
However, in his last season at the New Jersey School, he was no longer the team’s main goal score.
McAtamney’s demotion was “a bitter medicine to swallow” and needed to be convinced to continue chasing his NFL dream.
“These preparations have started in college career games, NFL teams come to your school to watch you, two weeks ago, I was sitting in my apartment in New Brunswick,” McAtamney Tell GAA to socializeBBC NI’s Gaelic Games Podcast.
“I said to my girlfriend, ‘I don’t want to do that, I just don’t want to do that.’
“I was in what I didn’t think I could. How did my college career do it, I don’t think it’s enough to impress the NFL Scouts or coaches on paper.”
In the end, it was McTany’s girlfriend who convinced him to participate.
He added: “I missed home at that time, too, and it affected my way of thinking and feeling.”
“She told me to do this, and I’m sorry not to. Fast forward two weeks and I’m in a good space.
“That’s or dead. If I didn’t play badly that day, I wouldn’t be kicking off.
“Looking back now, you take this opportunity for granted, but on the other hand it’s a different point of view.”
Listen to tHe’s socializing hereMcTani talks about his journey from Swatrag to Giants Stadium.
