Ovie M.

Activities/interests:  Tennis ,  Student Government ,  Track & Field ,  volunteering ,  Baseball ,  Choir ,  Football ,  French Club ,  Philanthropy

People With This Job:

People In This Industry:  Angie A., Bruk B., Christine B., John B., Lisa B., Melissa B., Anthony B., Mary Ellen B., Jason C., Ricardo D., Nicole D., Dave E., Torin E., Jeremy F., Duff G., Damion H., Tamara H., Nicole H., Scott I., Rex L., Erika M., Luci M., Bill M., Ronald N., Adam O., Kennie R., Margaret R., Kevin S., Andy S., Jackie S., Donna W., Greg W., Gabe Z.

Favorite Subjects/Classes:  Anatomy ,  English ,  Chemistry ,  Biology

Tell us about your job

Please elaborate on what you like about your job.

I love coming through the tunnel at home games. 

The crowd is jumping.  My teammates and I are pumped up because we have worked so hard together, training our bodies and our minds. 

I get chills everytime!

What is your approximate annual salary range?
As a pro fullback, we can make anywhere from $238,000 to $2 million (that's what the top players make).  I have to work as hard as I can, to be at my best and to stay healthy. 

Players' careers are short, so we make the most of every moment.

What perks or tangible benefits do you get?
Fame is lovely -- kids look up to me.  I grew up in the church where I learned that you must give back.  I live by the motto I was taught as a young person -- to those whom much is given, much is expected. 

So I can only try to give back as much as I've gotten.  God put His hand in for a reason.

How did you get your job?
I wasn't planning on being a professional football player; I wanted to go to medical school after college.

Football was my BACKUP plan, my hobby.  I worked hard at my high school studies to earn ACADEMIC scholarships.  Even in college, I didn't think of a  career in the NFL, I still planned to study sports medicine.

In my senior year of college, I knew I had a shot at getting drafted.  But  my heart sank on the second day of the NFL draft, because I was worried I wouldn't get called AT ALL. 

But I did!  I was drafted in the 4th round of the NFL draft in 2003.   I was the first Wake Forest student ever to get drafted by the Ravens.

What are the best and worst parts of your job?
I LOVE my job.  The best parts are game day, the deafening crowds and the goosebumps I get as we charge onto the field together.

The worst part is knowing my job is not stable.  There are no guarantees in a job where an injury can end your career.

What school subjects do you use at work?

Of course the science and math classes I took helped me as I was preparing for a career in medicine.  Understanding what is going on in the human body is really all about science ... it is biology, chemistry, and physics.

But even as a professional athlete, these subjects are important to my success on the field.  With math - I have to clearly understand percentages and statistics.  

There is a good deal of geometry and physics in knowing where the blitzing linebacker is coming from ... and how I can get the momentum and blocking angle to stop him ... before he gets to my quarterback!

Business skills are also important and useful.  Communication and teamwork and my ability to take responsibility for MY share of the work.  My teammates know I will be there, I'm showing up every day and contributing ... this is what makes a successful team.

If you weren't in your current profession, what would you be?

I would be in medicine, probably a physical therapist.  After my playing days are behind me, I'll be working in sports medicine.

What do you do in your spare time?

In the off season, I'm a motivational speaker - I speak to young people and businesses about education and leadership. 

I'm also a movie buff - I love Sci-Fi movies and video games.

Can you recommend any resources that are important to you personally?
The Bible

Getting to where you are now

Who inspired you growing up?
My parents - they set the bar high. They came to this country and really applied themselves in school. 

My dad is a doctor and my mom a business person.  They have always made sure that my brothers and sisters and I focused on SCHOOL WORK first and HOBBIES (like football and tennis) second.

I still put studying first and play second.  It has worked for me! Why change it?

What critical choices did you make growing up that helped you get to where you are now?
I have no regrets about working as hard as I did in school.  I learned that GPA and SAT scores are important.  Above all, success in school matters most to your success later in life.

Did I give up some things ... some time hanging out ... to study and practice and prepare myself?  YES I DID.  But I don't regret that.  I decided to focus on improving myself. I have always invested in myself, and that has led to success for me.

One experience I had in high school really helped me develop my confidence as a leader.  Students in my school raised money for cancer research ... a service project called Relay for Life.  I was asked to lead the event one year.  It was a stretch for me.  I was always good on the field ... but shy otherwise.  I didn't want the spotlight, or the responsibility of running an important event like this.

But I decided to try it.  And I gave it my all.  I said to myself ... "Everyone is looking at me on this project. If it fails, it will be my failure.  Okay then, I WON'T let it fail."  And I poured myself into it.

We raised a huge amount of money for a great cause.  But it was also so important for me to realize I could do far more than I initially thought.

What do you wish you'd known then that you know now?
I always knew school was the ticket to success.  But I didn't realize that taking AP courses allows you to earn college credits if you score high enough.

What obstacles did you face in college and how did you overcome them?
Juggling athletics and school is very hard.  I had a big workload.

I was one of only two football players in my major, which was a demanding one. 

I had to buckle down, give up certain things, and just know that work comes before play.

What critical decisions did you make in college that helped you get to where you are now?
I knew I didn't want to put all my eggs in one basket so I studied hard and prepared for medical school. 

If something ever happened to my health, I will have my degree and education to build upon.

Who inspired you to go into the profession you are in now?

Because I went to a very small high school, no colleges really looked at me.  Yes, I had 69 career touchdowns ... but no recruiters came. I was counting on an ACADEMIC scholarship!

But one person took a chance on me and I found my way to Wake Forest, to study medicine AND play football.  At college, Coach Caldwell and Coach Grobe - they both believed in me.  They convinced me that my talent was real.  (This is a picture of me in college.)

I never really thought I could go pro.  The coaches  pushed me to work hard in class and in football, because they thought I could make the NFL. 

When I scored my 4th touchdown in the first game of my senior year, I believed.

Then I set a goal for myself ... to make it in the NFL as a fullback.  Now I have a starting position, and I even made pro-bowl honors.  Not too bad for a guy no one recruited out of high school! 

You know, young people should understand how motivating it can be when people misjudge you or sell you short.  That can be the fuel to get you really working hard to be your best and exceed everyone's expectations.

I do believe we must all "be our best selves!" ... whatever we do, we should do our best.

Go for it. 

Set your goals, exceed them through hard work and you WILL be what YOU want to be!