cowboyjoe
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...-mikel-leshoure-illi20110111,0,4380490.column
Leshoure, who broke five Illinois single-season rushing records in 2010, announced Tuesday at Centennial High School in Champaign that he would forego his senior year and enter the NFL draft. Jones, who goes by "Jazz'' and works two jobs so she can travel to see Mikel play, celebrated her 15th year of sobriety Sunday.
Ultimately Leshoure's choice had to do with walking 20 years in his shoes more than running for a single-season school-record 1,697 yards. Realizing that, Jones made her son promise only one thing as he considered his options.
"The only thing I told him was, 'Don't do it for me, do it for yourself,' '' Jones said.
Howard Griffith, a CSN analyst who spent 11 years in the NFL as a fullback, called Leshoure a more powerful inside runner than former Illini and current Steeler Rashard Mendenhall at this stage of their respective careers.
"He has to work on his speed and make sure he keeps the weight off,'' said Griffith, an Illinois alum. "If he can get into a good situation, this can work for him. But, sure, there's always some risk.''
Leshoure, who broke five Illinois single-season rushing records in 2010, announced Tuesday at Centennial High School in Champaign that he would forego his senior year and enter the NFL draft. Jones, who goes by "Jazz'' and works two jobs so she can travel to see Mikel play, celebrated her 15th year of sobriety Sunday.
Ultimately Leshoure's choice had to do with walking 20 years in his shoes more than running for a single-season school-record 1,697 yards. Realizing that, Jones made her son promise only one thing as he considered his options.
"The only thing I told him was, 'Don't do it for me, do it for yourself,' '' Jones said.
Howard Griffith, a CSN analyst who spent 11 years in the NFL as a fullback, called Leshoure a more powerful inside runner than former Illini and current Steeler Rashard Mendenhall at this stage of their respective careers.
"He has to work on his speed and make sure he keeps the weight off,'' said Griffith, an Illinois alum. "If he can get into a good situation, this can work for him. But, sure, there's always some risk.''
DAL @ GB
