Derrick Ming's High Hopes

An article written by Gregory Gaia on Missouri linebacker Derrick Ming was very good. It told the tale of a player who struggled early in his high school career with grades and off-the-field issues, before forming a bond with his head coach, Cliff Ice (side note: isn't that name sweet?). Ice straightened out Ming and told him that if he focuses he could earn a scholarship to a major university. I always enjoy these kind of feature stories on an athlete. So often, when you watch them on T.V., athletes seem to be not real, to be in a different world, but these stories always help me to realize that they are human beings just like me.

Another aspect that I like is that the reason for the profile on Ming is that he has a chance to be selected in the upcoming NFL Draft, and the Missourian has been running features on some of Mizzou's best seniors, and what their chances of being selected are. From what I got from the article, Ming has a good shot at being picked because of his versatility. He is an athlete, a linebacker who ran a 4.47 in the 40 yard dash, some teams were looking at him to play fullback, and he is willing to do anything to get on an NFL roster. After a solid senior season (81 tackles and 4 forced fumbles) I think Ming has a great shot at being picked on the second day of the NFL Draft.


Publish Date: April 26 in the Missourian. Sports section front page.