Persistence and Patience Lead to Spady's Success
August 10, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Orlando Guardians News Release
While the XFL is brimming with examples of the league's "Where Dreams Meet Opportunity" motto, there may be no more shining example than Orlando Guardians center Jalen Spady. He's also a prime example of patience, persistence, belief and the love of football paying off.
Spady played collegiately at Florida A&M University, leading the Rattlers to a 9-3 record and a berth in the 2021 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs for the first time in 20 years. Coming off a successful senior season, Spady considered entering the workforce but after conversations with family and friends, he decided to bet on himself and an opportunity in the NFL. But that opportunity never came.
"Didn't really get much of a look from the NFL ... so I was faced with the decision of keep working (at football) or do I just go get a job," Spady said. "My family was like 'Look, you might as well take your shot at it.' The XFL was coming back, so they were like 'you never know what will happen.' So, I just kept working."
After nearly a full year away from the game, the uncertainty of how his football dreams would unfold began to take shape. He was invited to an XFL Showcase in the summer of 2022, where he caught the eye of the Guardians.
"Those showcases are what our league is about. Guys can make teams and be successful," head coach Terrell Buckley said. "Jalen was in shape, he could snap and his movement as an offensive lineman was impressive. In speaking with him, the number-one thing that stood out to me was his attitude toward football. His dad is a coach and his football IQ was high.
"You could hear in his voice and see in his actions that his discipline and commitment to improve were there," Buckley continued. "All those things you look for to determine if this is someone you want on your team and in your locker room, he fit that mold."
Then, later that fall, the Guardians selected him in the XFL draft.
"I can't be more thankful for them than I am right now, which is why I work so hard day in and day out ... it would be almost disrespectful not to give them 100 percent every single day, because they took a chance on me," Spady said of being selected by the Guardians. "I was a guy with zero opportunities, then Coach Buckley and the staff drafted me and gave me the opportunity that was pretty much all I was looking for ... the opportunity to play more football."
But that chance to actually play football - getting meaningful, regular reps in an actual game - was still delayed. Spady earned a spot on the Guardians roster, but spent most of the season as a backup. So he went back to the same work ethic that got him into the XFL and relied on some patience, persistence and a positive attitude.
"When I got (to training camp), it was a bit surreal, like you're at the doorstep of your dream," Spady said. "I was the youngest guy on the team, so not too much going on in terms of experience or age. Training camp was a little stressful, never know when your number might be called, maybe you get sent home."
While he wasn't sent home, he didn't earn the starting position and spent much of the first six weeks of the season as a backup.
"I wasn't the starter, but I wasn't too pressed about it," Spady said. "I just kind of took my role in as a backup. When you're a backup, especially at center, you have to kind of fill a role as an extra set of eyes for the coaches. So, I just embraced my role as a teammate from there, continued to work hard, show up to practice, stay prepared, be ready."
Finally, in Week 7, with the undefeated D.C. Defenders coming to Orlando, Spady's attitude, ability and work ethic shone through when he was tabbed to start at guard against the league's best team at the time.
"Some guys might check out if they're a backup, they'll just worry about them," Spady said. "That's not what I wanted to do. I still wanted to be a great teammate, still wanted to be involved. I think that helped when I finally did get that shot, because I was ready."
Spady played well against the Defenders and the Guardians pulled off arguably the biggest upset of the season, topping D.C. 37-36. That led to the coaching staff giving him an opportunity to play center, his natural position, for the final two games.
"I was excited ... I finally get to play football in a game, get to say that I took real, meaningful professional snaps, which is huge," Spady said. "I think the D.C. game gave them some confidence in me, seeing this kid can actually play ... in a game, with professionals. That led to maybe wanting to see more."
Spady's opportunity against D.C. came due to an unfortunate injury to a teammate, but he made the most of the opportunity.
"You've got to be ready for whatever opportunity you get, whether it's handed to you or it falls in your lap or you created it," he said. "You gotta stay ready. I'm glad I was ready for it. I knew I was ready for it and I'm glad they noticed it. I'm a big advocate for showing up and doing your job every day, because eventually, when it's time for you to actually do your job, you're going to be ready."
Looking back, Spady and Buckley both credit his patience and the aforementioned preparation allowing him to be successful when his number was called.
"Jalen had that patience and the attitude that no matter what, he was going to go out and prove it every day," Buckley said. "That led him from being inactive to one of our most valuable players."
"I don't think patience is hammered on enough," Spady said. "A lot of guys, especially in this profession, want to rush things. They want to be the starter, win the game, get the award, get the gold jacket. If you just do your job every single day, all of that stuff comes with it. Whatever it is, if you stay patient and put the work in, you'll get there. If guys ask me for advice ... be where your feet are, do the work that's in front of you and great things will come of that."
XFL Stories from August 10, 2023
- Persistence and Patience Lead to Spady's Success - Orlando Guardians
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