Brevin Easton looking to make most of NFL opportunity
JACKSONVILLE, FL (NEWS10) -- Wide receiver Brevin Easton broke out in his second year with UAlbany. Now he's looking to stand out in training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
After going undrafted, Easton signed a three-year deal with Jacksonville. He is not guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster, but he will compete for a spot in training camp.
Easton racked up 1,086 yards and 13 touchdowns on 57 catches last season for the Great Danes. He exploded in the FCS quarterfinals, tallying nine catches for 228 yards and three touchdowns, leading UAlbany to a win over Idaho, and the program's first FCS semifinal appearance.
For a guy who started at Division-II Assumption University, worked his way up to UAlbany, and now to the NFL, he embraces the challenge of earning his spot on the roster. "I wasn't really recruited out of high school," said Easton. "I've been cut from teams. I've had to earn positions. So like, this my territory. This is what I've always had to do and I don't expect that to change now that I'm in the NFL. I really just keep the same mentality, have my work hat on and my lunch pail and I just get after it and take advantage of everything that comes my way. Although there is going to be adversity, there might be bad days, it might not go my way every single time, I still got to keep fighting and never quit. That's what has allowed me to get to this point."
Amitral "AJ" Simon was another former UAlbany player who had hoped to hear his name called, before he unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on April 16, a week before the NFL Draft, at the age of 25. Simon's funeral was held on Monday in his hometown of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. A busload of UAlbany athletes, coaches, and staffers took the trip to say goodbye.
Easton says as a teammate, Simon was as good as they come. "AJ had a great heart," said Easton. "He was a good spirit to be around. He always lightened up the room. He was a big, muscular, strong guy, but he was also a soft, nice and loving person at the same time. If you were his boy and you were one of his teammates, he had your back no matter what. He would do anything for anyone. As a football player, he was an amazing football player. Strongest dude on our team, most physical guy on our team. One of the hardest working guys on our team."
Simon's untimely passing has inspired Easton to chase down his own NFL dream with even more vigor. "My heart goes out to him and his family and definitely a part of the chip on my shoulder and a part of my motivation is AJ for sure," said Easton. "I know that he would have done the same thing and he would have been pursuing a chance at the NFL as well. So it just puts a lot of stuff into perspective that, it can be here and then it can be gone. So just to not take anything for granted. Life, football, family, friends, all that. I'm just I'm thankful to have been a part of his journey and to have him be a part of my journey. I definitely will never forget AJ."