JEFF TUEL – Buffalo Bills
June 5, 2017
READY TO LAUNCH
June 5, 2017
Seattle Seahawks Benson Mayowa and Korey Toomer
WHAT ARE THE ODDS? Benson Mayowa (95) and Korey Toomer (59)
By Cameron Foster
The number of high school student athletes that play football in the U.S. is roughly 1,134,000. Of these student athletes, roughly 61,000 young men will play at the NCAA level. From the NCAA level to the National Football League only 250 are drafted each year. What does this mean: 5.7% of high school football players play at the NCAA level; 1.8% of NCAA football players make it to the professional level. The athletes that are fortunate enough to make it to the NFL total roughly 1,900 players. From these 1,900 best of the best, only one team or roughly 53 NFL players, each year, will be Super Bowl Champions. In other words, .006% of starry-eyed high school football players will reach the pinnacle of their profession and wear Super Bowl Champion rings.
I am proud that Foster & Easley had two clients playing with the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII (48), and yes, have Super Bowl rings. They are Benson Mayowa (Defensive End) and Korey Toomer (Linebacker).
From Inglewood, California, Benson Mayowa, graduated from Inglewood High School in 2009 and chose the University of Idaho to attend and play college football. In 2013, Benson signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Korey Toomer attended Shadow Ridge High School graduating in 2007 before attending Arizona Western Junior College (where he played 2 years of football) and then transferring to the University of Idaho to play his final two years of college football. In 2012, Korey was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 5th round of the NFL Draft.
The unique bond these two young men share is not only that they were friends and teammates in college, but they are also friends, teammates and now Super Bowl Champions for the Seattle Seahawks. I wonder what the odds for college teammates to then become professional teammates and then finally Super Bowl Champions are?
When you think about the NFL legends that never received the most coveted prize in the NFL (Super Bowl rings), it is amazing to think that Korey and Benson, a rookie and a 2nd year player for the Seahawks, have them. Dick Butkus, Dan Marino, Barry Sanders, Gayle Sayers, Eric Dickerson, etc. all legendary football players, don’t have what Korey and Benson have: college and professional memories that will last their lifetimes; and now, Super Bowl rings that will be past down from generation to generation and remembered forever.
What are the odds?
