Rock Hill, known as ‘Football City,’ sends the most players to the NFL per capita

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Rock Hill calls itself “Football City, USA” for a reason.

The town of 75,000 people says it has turned out more NFL players per capita than any other city in the U.S.

“Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan visited Rock Hill and spoke with J’Zavien Currence, who plays at South Pointe High School, about the city’s high school stars who could become tomorrow’s next pro athletes.

“You’re one of the best wide receivers in the country,” Strahan said. “Is that a lot of pressure because you’re only a freshman?”

“Nah,” J’Zavien said. “You can’t let the game get bigger than yourself. I don’t think about it too much.”

J’Zavien, 14, already has multiple Division 1 offers to play in college.

Strahan asked J’Zavien’s father, Jay Currence, “When did you know he was good?”

“By the time he was six, he had his first, I think, like eight-touchdown season,” Jay said. “By the time he was nine, he had 30 touchdowns.”

J’Zavien also played three games scoring five touchdowns. In another game, the teen scored five touchdowns in the first quarter.

“We always prepared for him to get this much attention,” Jay said.

Big dreams pay off with big contracts and successful careers for some.

But Jibrille Fewell knows what happens when that dream bursts.

Jibrille was one of those high school phenom players everyone said would make it to the NFL.

He played college ball but didn’t make the cut in the NFL.

“How did that feel to come back here after not hitting the ultimate dream of making the NFL?” Strahan asked.

“It was depressing,” Jibrille said. “I felt like a failure, and I didn’t know what was really next, so I kind of went into a dark area.”

Jibrille is now a youth football coach, helping kids learn how to bounce back when football ends.

He brings in mental health advocates and former players to help kids think beyond the game.

“Once people realize that football is 90% mental, 10% physical, they’ll understand how important a mental health piece is to the football piece,” Jibrille said.

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