T.J. Ward is a two-time Pro Bowl safety.
He was a crucial piece of the Denver Broncos' defensive backfield that propelled the team to victory in Super Bowl 50.
Ward totaled seven tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in the big game.
But at the legendary De La Salle High School (Concord, California), Ward did not become a starter until his senior year.
Then, in the third game of his senior season, he suffered a broken leg.
"No colleges were calling…I was kind of forgotten," Ward once told the Denver Post. "I was a late bloomer."
Ward eventually decided to walk on at Oregon. He worked hard on the scout team and eventually earned himself a scholarship.
He continued to battle injuries throughout his college career, but NFL scouts saw a lot of potential on film.
The Cleveland Browns drafted Ward in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
In 2014, he signed a four-year, $23 million contract with the Broncos.
Not bad for a guy who only started three games in high school.
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