Jabrill Peppers’s Path to the NFL

By JAMES SCALIA

Chris Hogan, Brian Cushing and Mohammad Sanu headline the list of successful NFL players to begin their high school careers in New Jersey. Former Michigan Wolverine Jabrill Peppers has just recently joined the “Jersey Club” after being drafted with the 25th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. A stand out athlete at Paramus Catholic High School and Don Bosco Prepatory High School, Peppers screams versatility and athleticism on the football field. He also isn’t shy to show his physical attributes off the field as well.

Seen this on IG.. Had to try it lol harder than I thought pic.twitter.com/ZvLZRjfLhM

— JP27 (@JabrillPeppers) August 6, 2016

The post from Peppers’s Twitter account shows his intense pass-catching ability along with a landing back-flip at the end. The video represents Peppers accurately as a player: disciplined and flashy.

“There was always something different about Jabrill. You could tell the way he carried himself in school, at practice, on the field, on the track that he was special and that he knew what he needed to do to get to the next level,” said vice principal and athletic director Scott Langan.

Every NFL player has their own unique journey, including New Jersey’s own Jabrill Peppers. Eli and Peyton Manning grew up in a house with a professional athlete (their father Archie) before making it to the NFL. The same could be said for Odell Beckham Jr., who’s father (Odell Beckham Sr.) was a star running back at Louisiana State University and mother (Heather Van Norman) a track athlete at the same school. But Peppers was around a much different enviroment compared to the Manning’s and Beckham Jr. It was an environment that featured an incarcerated parent and a childhood in a low-income neighborhood.

Through much adversity, Peppers let his athleticism and determine flourish through the sport of football. He became a four-time State Champion, a Heisman Trophy Finalist and a first round NFL draft pick.

Early Life

Peppers was born in East Orange, New Jersey, which is located in Essex County and borders West Orange and Newark. It was a low-income area that featured a lot of distractions for Peppers to pursue illegal activities, yet he remained focused on school, and more importantly, sports.

When he was 7-years-old, Peppers was forced to grow up early after discovering that his father was sentenced to 11 years in prison for drug and firearm charges. Peppers was only allowed to talk to his father for about 20 minutes a week on the phone since his parents did not want him visiting the prison, according to ESPN.

Because of this, Peppers relied on his mother, Ivory Bryant, and his half-brother, Don Curtis, for support throughout his childhood. Curtis became Peppers’ mentor and advised him to continue his discipline in school and athletics and avoid bad influences.  

His mother was very strict with him regarding his school work and even stopped him from playing a high school football game because he received a “C”. They relied on each other through hardships surrounding their living conditions and family relations.

Peppers also enjoyed rapping in his spare time as a child and even recently released a music video of himself performing a song. His football idol was NFL player Charles Woodson, who was also a versatile player for the Michigan Wolverines and the Oakland Raiders.

In 2010, Peppers had enrolled in Don Bosco Preparatory High School, located in Ramsey, New Jersey. Peppers’ versatility was first witnessed by his high school football coaches. He played and started at cornerback his freshman year and had switched to running back by sophomore year.

Peppers’ raw athleticism and strength led to his increased time on the football field. He led Don Bosco to two state championships in the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Peppers had a clear impact on the field and his play was widely recognized by USA Today as they named him a High School All-American in two separate seasons.

Don Bosco Prepatory High School athletic director Brian McAleer said, “There was no doubt that Peppers was going to be an NFL player.” 

After his sophomore season (2011), Peppers earned the title of Air Force National Sophomore of the Year for his impactful play at Don Bosco. Peppers also received attention from Sports Illustrated, after being named one of their “Future Game Changers,” a title that recognizes the most impressive 14-year-old athletes in a multitude of sports.  

Just prior to his 2011 season, Peppers suffered another blow in his personal life when his half-brother Don Curtis was shot and killed. Peppers had lost another male-figure in his life.

But instead of losing his focus, Peppers used Curtis’s death as extra motivation to achieve his dreams of being a professional football player.

Don Bosco to Paramus Catholic

After his initial success at Don Bosco, Peppers moved his talents to Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey. The addition of Peppers gave the Paramus Catholic Paladins a spark on offense and a presence on defense, one that eventually lead to a state championship in his first season in Paramus.

Paramus Catholic Paladins Head Coach Scott Langan said, “Peppers was the most dynamic player I have ever seen on a football field. When he had the ball in his hands there was the possibility of a big play and score every time he touched the ball.” Langan was not only impressed with Peppers’s impact on offense, but his defensive skill set also made some heads turn.

“On defense, he could make up ground on the field and tackle anyone anywhere. His awareness of everything that was happening and where everyone is on the field is unbelievable,” said Langan. 

MSG Varsity also named Peppers “Player of the Year”  after his junior season. His senior year also included another state championship for Paramus. This win solidified Peppers’ status as a five-star recruit and his perfect record; four state championship wins in four years of eligibility.

Many players facing recruitment into college football tend to focus on a specific position to build discipline and practice around their craft, but Peppers remained a flexible player on defense and special teams during his recruitment process.

Peppers rotated at safety and cornerback, but also played snaps and linebacker. This improved Peppers’s mechanics near the line of scrimmage and helped his skills when blitzing from different positions on the field.

Lodi resident Austin Roberts often saw Peppers play at football games and track events. “It seemed like he was always operating at a different speed than everyone else in any sport. He was a pleasure to watch week in and week out.” 

After much thought and support from his family, Peppers made a verbal commitment to the University of Michigan on May 26h, 2013. His decision was broadcasted live on ESPN and he even went out of his way to rap a part of his address explaining why he chose Michigan as his next stepping stone in his path to the NFL.

Becoming a Michigan Wolverine

Peppers enrolled as “Undeclared” and only started three games his true freshman season after suffering an injury against Appalachian State.

After having a reduced role during his 2014 campaign, Peppers returned from his injury and became determined to achieve success at the collegiate level. In 2015, he began to receive reps at running back and multiple defensive positions (linebacker, cornerback, free safety and strong safety). Peppers also aided on special teams, primarily returning punts and kickoffs.

University of Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh took over the team in 2015, after the San Francisco 49ers parted ways with him, and became a mentor for Peppers. Under Harbaugh, Peppers started at cornerback for the entire season (12 games), but would also rotate between other roles.

On Sept. 3, 2015, the opening game of the season, Peppers recorded a career-high eight tackles against the Utah Utes. As the season continued, Peppers received more opportunities on offense. On Oct. 31, he ran four times for 19 yards and his first-career touchdown on a rush. The following week against Rutgers, he ran for an 18-yard touchdown.

Peppers received various accolades for his sophomore season including 2015 All-Big Ten first team, a Paul Hornung Award Finalist nod and made the 2015 CBS Sports All-America second team, according to MGoBlue.com. 

Thanks to a few years of experience, Peppers’s role expanded within Michigan’s defense as he switched between playing corner and linebacker during his 2016 campaign. He recorded four sacks and caught his first college career interception against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

 

Peppers also added a forced fumble and three rushing touchdowns. Because of his efforts and statistical performances, Peppers became a finalist for the 2016 Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award in college football. 

Going to the NFL

On Januray 10, 2017 Peppers declared he would enter the 2017 NFL Draft. With the 25th pick in the first round of the draft, Peppers was selected by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns wanted to provide a spark to their defense, which was ranked 31st in the league out of 32 teams in the 2016 NFL season, according to NFL.com. 

After a long and difficult journey, Jabrill Peppers finally accomplished his goals and made it on an NFL roster. His athleticism and dedication to his craft propelled him to playing at a professional level. Peppers has helped represent New Jersey and the city of East Orange, as he now will be wearing the color orange with his new team, the Cleveland Browns.