 "Photo: Lennie Mahler")
For former U wide receiver Bradon Godfrey, the road to success has been a long one.
This past week Godfrey signed a two-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons and will battle for a roster spot.
Even though he’s inked a deal to play football in Atlanta, he still has work to do.
Godfrey was one of Utah’s most prolific wide receivers, catching 128 receptions for 1,440 yards and eight touchdowns in 36 career games at the U.
As a senior last season, he recorded season highs in receptions (56), receiving yards (556) and touchdowns (four) while averaging 9.9 yards per catch. Godfrey’s 128 career receptions are tied for the seventh-most all-time.
During the NFL Draft, Godfrey was among hundreds of prospects hoping to be selected. After 256 players were chosen, Godfrey did not hear his name called and was one of many left out. He knew that if his dream of playing professional football was to come to fruition then it would be up to him to make it happen.
“After I didn’t get drafted, (my agent) went to work right away getting me workouts,” Godfrey said.
First up, Godfrey was one of 30 free agents given a tryout with the Buffalo Bills.
“In Buffalo, I gave it my best shot but ended up getting cut,” Godfrey said.
Although he wasn’t signed, he did make an impression on the Bills' wide receivers coach, Tyke Tolbert, who said Godfrey “outshined most of the rookies.”
Using his experience in Buffalo as a positive one, he decided to workout for a Canadian football team that was holding tryouts in Las Vegas.
“The workout was brief,” Godfrey said, and again he drew the short end of the stick and was not signed.
A short time later, Godfrey was given a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons. He was one of several wide receivers trying out and was told that only one player would be signed. The Falcons decided against Godfrey and he was again sent packing.
“After I was cut by Atlanta it kind felt like strike three," Godfrey said. "I thought to myself, ‘Is this football thing going to work out or should I get serious about life?' A couple weeks later, (Atlanta) called and wanted to sign me.”
“Bradon has a great opportunity in Atlanta,” said Josh Arnold, Godfrey's agent.
Arnold said that Atlanta currently has eight wide receivers on their roster and will only keep six.
"Five make the active roster, so Bradon might be on the practice squad,” Arnold said.
Because he has missed weeks of practice, Godfrey needs to learn the offensive system quickly and give himself chances to impress the Atlanta coaching staff.
“If I don’t know the playbook then I won’t be on the field," Godfrey said. "I’m so far behind learning the system, so I am doing my best to study the offense and create opportunities for myself."
Godfrey knows that there is a chance he won’t make the team but is confident in his playmaking abilities and route running. He said the competition in the NFL is fierce and everything is magnified because the coaches want everything done perfectly.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs during this process, but it’s something I have wanted, and it’s definitely worth it,” Godfrey said.
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