Our focus is on recruiting. But, as you have read this past week, we have learned so much about our area kids. We have asked tough questions and received thoughtful responses. This one has to be the most heart touching and revealing.

I will avoid the inspiring introduction and give you the facts so you can get to the Q & A. Tyler King is a 2016 RB at Fort Meade. I have evaluated him and he graded out to be a high level, major division 1 prospect. He stands 5’11/174
4.54 forty
7.59 3-cone
4.47 short shuttle
20.04 med ball press (8 lbs)
9.11 broad jump

Those Ignite Showcase numbers and his overall performance earned him an invitation to The Executives in June.

Take a big sip of your coffee, because the following will captivate you.

BCP: What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?
KING: The toughest decision I had to make the past few months, having to accept the fact that my household and me went through another tragic event. It was emotional, dangerous, and heartbreaking!

In 2009 my step dad, my mom, my 3 brothers, 1 sister, and 1 cousin, were about to get our lights cut off in our house and that night my mom decided to take all our food to my cousin house. We took like 2 trips back and forth. And on the last trip we was unloaded the car. My mom got a phone call from her cousin and she said “TANGIE YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE” and my mom said “What!” My mom broke out in tears man! My brothers, my sister, my cousins and me were screaming and yelling man! We dropped all the food on the ground and we got in the car and shot off… Man all I can remember is hearing my mom screaming and crying! On the highway, we saw so much smoke. Then we pulled in front of the house, my mom got out the car on her knees, screaming and crying; “Shouting why God? Why?” Me an my brothers went to my step-dad’s mother’s house. My little sister went with my mom afterwards.

But this is what might hit you! On January 29th 2014, my family and me witnessed another severe house fire! We were all sleep in the middle of the night. Now remember, this is four years later and my mom had another baby girl in 2012 and twins in 2013. Also, two of my cousins moved in with us. That’s 13 people in one little house! Anyways, my brother woke up yelling, “Ma the house on fire! Ma the house on fire!” She ran back in my brother room where it started in their closet.

Man do you know how blessed I am to even still be living? It’s all a blessing! But can you imagine this? That night when we all got out the house, imagine all of us being outside at 2:30 in the morning! My oldest brother and my youngest brother had no shirt on, no shorts, just their boxers. Me and my other brother and my cousin had no shirts and no shoes. All I heard was crying! The babies crying! All the girls crying and my mom! Man I’m just blessed to be living! Blessed to have people that care about me. Blessed that I still have a mother. I never knew my dad. I mean nothing about him! My very first step-dad use to always beat the living lights out my mom! If you saw her, she has all kind of scars on her face. Man it’s just crazy! I’m blessed that’s all I can say!

BCP: Which is your favorite college and pro football team and why?
KING: My favorite pro team is the Green Bay Packers. They just have an awesome team to me.

BCP: What movie, no matter how many times you’ve seen it, do you have to watch when it’s on?
KING: I’ve had to watch the movie Soul Man. Only because it was my favorite.

BCP: What would you most like to learn during the off-season that would help you in the future?
KING: I would like to know what I have to do to make it to the next level.

BCP: Describe a situation in which you aspired to reach a goal. What obstacles did you confront along the way? What did you do to overcome them?
KING: I was inspired by my cousin making it to the NFL; Onterio McCalebb (Auburn, Cincinnati Bengals) He came from a small town, got taken from his mother at a very young age. Everyone in the town doubted him and he made it. That inspired me to make it, and to get my mom, brothers, sisters and me out of our struggle.

I came across a lot of obstacles. But the main one is, not knowing my dad. It really hurt me because all of my brothers and sisters know their dad. And I don’t know mine. I think everyone needs a father in there life! It’s possible for a mother to raise a nice, responsible, respectable young man. But it ain’t nothing like a father! I kept my head up and listened to my mom and left it alone and didn’t worry about it.

BCP: What kind of role model has your head coach been to you?
KING: My head coach, (Jamalle Cornelius) has been an awesome person in my life. He reached out and helped me, when I needed him!