CONWAY- Preparing for the NFL Draft and balancing every day life is no easy task for a college athlete, but Chad Hamilton makes it look seamless. The former Coastal Carolina offensive lineman managed to do it all, while also balancing quite a few life-changing events.
“Every time I look at that jersey, it’s like wow, I’ve been there for five years,” Hamilton said, while pointing out the jersey hanging on the wall in his living room. He says the work he put in during Coastal, has been more than worth it.
“There’s so many emotions running rampant through me right now,” Hamilton said.
Last week, Hamilton was in Chicago, talking with the Bears Head Coach, General Manager, and Offensive Lineman Coach. He says the feedback, has been great. He’s also had workouts at Coastal with the Falcons, the Texans and the Eagles. The 22-year-old is expected to be a late round draft pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
“I almost have to pinch myself just to wake up and for me to know it’s real, because this is something you dreamed about as a kid,” Hamilton said.
He isn’t just the typical college athlete with big dreams; Hamilton already knows what it’s like to have his life change in an instant. For him, that day was March 30th, 2015. It’s the day he welcomed a son, Chad Jerome Hamilton, Jr., Rome for short, into the world.
“Just to know you have someone here that’s a part of you. Every time I see him smile I smile, I just feel so big and high,” Hamilton explained.
Two weeks into his new title as father, he added another name to his list- when he married his fiance on April 11th.
“It was me her, our son, and our parents, just something real small just small and intimate- that’s the second best day of my life,” Hamilton said.
But the big events don’t stop there. While training for the draft and balancing his new roles within the family, Hamilton also taught at Whittemore Park Middle School. He gave students much more than just a math lesson.
“A lot of them think you can go to the NFL or NBA just because you’re good,” Hamilton said. “But I’m trying to tell them if that’s your dream, have it chase it but you have to have your back up plan.
Teaching is Hamilton’s Plan B. On Wednesday, he completed his Masters Degree, one year after finishing his Bachelors.
“I always dreamt of going to college and then let alone I just hopped right back in school and finished my masters. To get that out the way- that in itself is just amazing,” Hamilton said.
This weekend, he has the chance to add another title to his growing resume. Hamilton hopes that after the draft, he’ll have the word “professional” locked in before football player.
“I cannot wait until I hear my name, or see my name across that television screen, i’m not an emotional guy, but I know I will ball, I will break down, I will cry,” Hamilton said. “But it’ll be tears of joy that my dream is finally coming true.
If that does indeed happen, it will be just the latest dream for Hamilton to check off his bucket list.
“Every time I look at that jersey, it’s like wow, I’ve been there for five years,” Hamilton said, while pointing out the jersey hanging on the wall in his living room. He says the work he put in during Coastal, has been more than worth it.
“There’s so many emotions running rampant through me right now,” Hamilton said.
Last week, Hamilton was in Chicago, talking with the Bears Head Coach, General Manager, and Offensive Lineman Coach. He says the feedback, has been great. He’s also had workouts at Coastal with the Falcons, the Texans and the Eagles. The 22-year-old is expected to be a late round draft pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
“I almost have to pinch myself just to wake up and for me to know it’s real, because this is something you dreamed about as a kid,” Hamilton said.
He isn’t just the typical college athlete with big dreams; Hamilton already knows what it’s like to have his life change in an instant. For him, that day was March 30th, 2015. It’s the day he welcomed a son, Chad Jerome Hamilton, Jr., Rome for short, into the world.
“Just to know you have someone here that’s a part of you. Every time I see him smile I smile, I just feel so big and high,” Hamilton explained.
Two weeks into his new title as father, he added another name to his list- when he married his fiance on April 11th.
“It was me her, our son, and our parents, just something real small just small and intimate- that’s the second best day of my life,” Hamilton said.
But the big events don’t stop there. While training for the draft and balancing his new roles within the family, Hamilton also taught at Whittemore Park Middle School. He gave students much more than just a math lesson.
“A lot of them think you can go to the NFL or NBA just because you’re good,” Hamilton said. “But I’m trying to tell them if that’s your dream, have it chase it but you have to have your back up plan.
Teaching is Hamilton’s Plan B. On Wednesday, he completed his Masters Degree, one year after finishing his Bachelors.
“I always dreamt of going to college and then let alone I just hopped right back in school and finished my masters. To get that out the way- that in itself is just amazing,” Hamilton said.
This weekend, he has the chance to add another title to his growing resume. Hamilton hopes that after the draft, he’ll have the word “professional” locked in before football player.
“I cannot wait until I hear my name, or see my name across that television screen, i’m not an emotional guy, but I know I will ball, I will break down, I will cry,” Hamilton said. “But it’ll be tears of joy that my dream is finally coming true.
If that does indeed happen, it will be just the latest dream for Hamilton to check off his bucket list.
