Many of our wrestlers are multi-sport athletes. Here are some NFL players that excelled at both football and wrestling.

"I would have all of my Offensive Lineman wrestle if I could."
- John Madden, Hall of Fame Football Coach

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"Well-respected by coaches and teammates for his tough, aggressive nature (comes from his
prep wrestling background)"
- NFL Draft Scout on Alex Stepanovich

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"One of the messages Denney hopes to relay to the Valley high school coaches and athletes is that wrestling is the perfect complement to football. While football is in its offseason,
wrestling provides the perfect opportunity for the athletes to remain active, while
working on their agility and conditioning, Denney said.

Shawhan can attest to Denney’s theory, also having an extensive gridiron background. Along
with playing semi-pro football, Shawhan also has years of being an assistant football coach
throughout the Rio Grande Valley (Mission High, Harlingen High, PSJA High, McAllen Memorial
and McHi).

"In Texas, everyone knows that high school football is king," Denney said. "I’m telling you,
though, Texas is catching up in wrestling. And a lot of the football coaches are realizing
how much wrestling can help their football team. And believe me, that’s the
truth. I know it firsthand. You have to remember when I started out I was a football coach in
high school, and I would go to the wrestling team and get everyone that could to
sign up for my football team."

- By Wade Baker,The McAllen Monitor MCAllen, Texas.

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"My football coach told me, 'You better get in wrestling or I'll beat you up,'"
-- Tim Lee, Texas High School All-American

Lee said that wrestling helps him on the football field because he knows he has to stay low.

"In wrestling, you've got to have self-discipline and self-motivation. As a lineman, it's the same
thing ... me vs. you. He brings that mentality to the football field."
- Lee's High School Football Coach, Tim Howard

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"Some of Matt Roth’s intensity can also be attributed to his successful run as a state-champion wrestler in high school. Many coaches, scouts and wrestlers-turned-football-players will laud wrestling for the leverage and quick hands it provides for football. Roth credits wrestling for the never-say-die attitude it gave him.

"It’s the attitude. (Wrestling) helps you with your hips, your hands and your balance, but more
than anything it helps you with your attitude," he said. "A lot of these kids that are basketball
players, we eat those kids up. It’s just our mentality - you’re going to get the job done and you’re going to punish them."

Roth said his dream partner on the wrestling mat would be Ravens LB Ray Lewis, himself an
accomplished high school wrestler."

-- By Chris Neubauer, Pro Football Weekly