Football

Gifted Star’s Story: From faith in Findlay’s plan to his NFL debut as Seahawks starter at Falcons

Nero Scofield

When Mike Jerrell was a junior in high school, a future in football seemed unlikely. Standing at 6 feet 2 and weighing 245 pounds, he was well-suited for everyday life or basketball, having played three times as many varsity seasons in that sport as he did in football. He was not big enough to be an NFL offensive lineman or competitive at most college football levels, and he was on the junior varsity team at Pike High School in Indianapolis.

By his senior year, he had grown to a fit 260 pounds, marking his only season of varsity football. Grand Valley State, a powerhouse in Division II, expressed interest in him, but he felt a deeper connection to the University of Findlay, a Division II school in rural northwest Ohio. “I wanted to go where it felt like family, because they had that family vibe,” Jerrell shared with The News Tribune. “And they had a plan for me.”

That plan was anything but typical. “They made it clear to me during my recruiting visit,” Jerrell explained, reflecting on the moment when Findlay coach Kory Allen came to his home in Indianapolis. “They told me: ‘You’re going to be an NFL player one day. In five or six years, you’re going to sign an NFL contract.’” This was more than just a sales pitch; Coach Allen’s prediction proved remarkably accurate.

Jerrell remained at Findlay for six years, enduring various challenges, including working as a security guard at Indiana Pacers games during the COVID-19 pandemic while the university was closed. He turned down offers of NIL money and interest from prominent programs like Purdue and Cincinnati, trusting in Coach Allen’s vision and Findlay’s plan.

Now, three months after his college coach attended his first NFL training camp in Seattle, Jerrell is set to make his regular-season NFL debut on Sunday in front of 71,000 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The rookie sixth-round draft pick, now weighing in at 6-5 and 309 pounds, is making his first start at right tackle, blocking for quarterback Geno Smith and the Seahawks (3-3) against the NFC South co-leading Falcons (4-2). “I’m incredibly proud of Michael,” Allen expressed to the University of Findlay athletic department. “His success is not just due to his talent as a football player, but also who he is as a person. Oiler Nation stands behind him!” Sunday’s game in Atlanta will have a crowd roughly 47 times larger than those who attended Jerrell’s home games at Findlay. “We had about 1,500,” he noted.

MIKE JERRELL’S JOURNEY TO BECOMING A SEATTLE STARTER

On the final roster cut day of the Seahawks’ preseason, Mike Jerrell was feeling the pressure. He had caught the attention of offensive line coach Scott Huff and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb by successfully winning one-on-one battles against $ 60 million defensive end Leonard Williams and rookie first-round pick Byron Murphy during training camp. When the Seahawks made their cuts on August 27, they chose to keep Jerrell instead of fellow rookie sixth-round pick cornerback D.J. James. Jerrell was ecstatic.

“It was a little nerve-wracking,” he remarked that day. “A dream come true.” According to the athletic department at the University of Findlay, Jerrell is the 12th player from the school to reach the NFL since 1925, when Clarence “Dutch” Strasser played three games for the Canton Bulldogs. This group includes Jerrell’s college teammate Andrew Ogletree, who is now a tight end with the Indianapolis Colts. Another notable figure is Jerry Savoy, a Hall of Fame inductee from Findlay who signed with the Los Angeles Rams but had his NFL career cut short by injury; he later became a prominent lawyer and civic leader in Elyria, Ohio.

So, how did Jerrell make it onto this list? Just a year ago, he was starting for Findlay against the Walsh Cavaliers in North Canton, Ohio, and now he’s set to start for the Seahawks against the Atlanta Falcons. Seahawks general manager John Schneider was impressed by Jerrell’s athleticism during Ohio State’s Pro Day, near Findlay. Jerrell scored in the 95th percentile for running, jumping, speed, and strength among offensive tackles in his draft class, which is why Seattle chose him.

Currently, the Seahawks are facing a crisis at right tackle, as three players are injured. Starter Abe Lucas hasn’t practiced or played since early January and remains sidelined indefinitely after knee surgery. Veteran George Fant began the season in Lucas’s place but was injured just 13 plays into the opener against Denver and is now on injured reserve. Stone Forsythe started the first six games but injured his hand in a loss to San Francisco on October 10 and is out for the upcoming game.

While the team could have called up 42-year-old, nine-time Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters from the practice squad for his 20th NFL season, coaches Mike Macdonald, Huff, and Grubb opted for Jerrell’s agility and ability to quickly grasp the playbook. “He had a great week of preparation and just kept improving,” Macdonald said before the team traveled to Georgia, eager to break their three-game losing streak. “He’s come a long way in less than a year. I’m so proud of him, and this is a fantastic opportunity for him.

“The game has slowed down for him tremendously, and he’s been working hard. He’s logged plenty of valuable one-on-one reps and faced our starters in practice. He has a very bright future ahead.”

MIKE JERRELL’S BIGGER PICTURE

From the moment he chose to attend Findlay in 2018, Jerrell has focused on a broader vision and a significant goal. During his time at Findlay, he gained 65 pounds while earning both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA. When the school closed due to COVID-19, Jerrell returned to Indianapolis and took a job as a security guard at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Pacers. While working there, he received offers from major programs wanting him to join them. “I think Purdue reached out,” Jerrell noted, mentioning that schools like Cincinnati and Coastal Carolina were following him on social media as a way of recruiting him.

Jerrell highlighted the rampant poaching occurring in college football, sharing that coaches were attempting to persuade him to transfer last spring, even as he was preparing to enter the draft, ultimately becoming a Seahawks pick in April. He prioritizes loyalty and long-term goals over the immediate financial benefits of NIL deals that dominate today’s college football landscape. “That’s short-term money,” he explained. “I wanted to pursue long-term money, which is what the NFL represents.”

He feels many lose sight of their ultimate objective: wearing an NFL badge. Jerrell takes pride in his six years at Findlay, and the whole community of Findlay, Ohio (population: 40,250), will be cheering for him as he lines up on the Seahawks’ offensive line against the Falcons on Sunday. “It meant a lot to me to stay,” he said. “I didn’t choose the easy route like many who chase NIL stipends. I balanced work, classes, and made the most of the limited resources available to me to reach this point.”

For Jerrell, seeing “Mike Jerrell, the University of Findlay” displayed on the screen, rather than a Power 5 school, holds immense significance. “It means everything to me,” he said. “It shows that athletes from smaller schools can make it to the NFL; you don’t have to attend a Power 5 school or chase NIL deals to achieve that goal.”

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