2021 National Scouting Combine Featured Athlete Shannon Warren, RB from Howard Payne University

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Shannon Warren | Howard Payne University | RB

Twitter: @adwarren13 | Instagram: @Shannon.warren.rb

 

Q: Tell us about your college (or pro) career and what the recruiting/scouting process was like. Why did you choose (Enter school name)?

A: Howard Payne University-DIII was not my first choice, but it was my only choice because timing.  I had zero help from recruiters.  I participated in combines, camps and games for years.  My parents lost hundreds of dollars by paying recruiters at these events.  I remember reading an email from one recruiter saying that there is nothing he can do to and we could not get a refund.  While playing at college, I played with a chip on my shoulder, because I wanted to show the ‘nay sayers’ that it was their lost.  One thing I learned even while attending HPU is it’s lonely at the top.  I graduated high school at the age of 17 and went on to HPU.  I became their starting RB.  Little did I know that the upperclassmen did not like that?  I knew what they were telling me was not how I was raised.  They said that I didn’t have to go to class and the professors would pass me because I was the top RB.  I messed up on my academics out of hurt and anger from not being recruited.  I have not sophomore time because of my mess up.  I got back on track and look at me now.  We all want to go to the next level, but in my case, I definitely have what it takes and am ready to perform in front of every scout at this event.  I promise I will not let anyone down.  I saw over time that it was not what I know, but who I know and those were the guys getting the big offers and scholarships.  All I need is for you to open the door for me and I will do the rest.

My college career stats

Rushing                                                          Receiving

            ATT     YDS     TD       Long                          REC     YDS     TD       Long

Totals  120      339      5          25                                13        131      0          35

 

Q: What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in your sports career so far?

A: I would say that my biggest accomplishment would be that I never gave up on myself, even when it looked like it was going to end.   I still have a chance to play at the next level.

 

Q: What do you consider to be one of the more important things you learned from the coaching staff while playing at (Enter school name)?

A: Howard Payne – The most important thing that I have learned from my coaching staff is “Trust the Process”.  The only thing that bothers me is they won’t share my 2019 Hudl and this was our last time playing because of the pandemic.  Other than that, I did have playing time.

 

Q: How was your career impacted due to the 2020 pandemic and what have you learned from the adversity?

A:  My 2020 career was impacted heavily due to this pandemic.  I had no season, but we did have a scrimmage that showed all of my skills.  What I have learned from this is just keep the faith and never give up on myself, my dreams or my future.  It’s not where I play.  It’s what I do when I play that’s important.

 

Q: What was your major and what are your plans if football doesn’t work out?

A: My degree is in Kinesiology.  Should I not get to continue football, not saying that I will not, I would work towards my Master’s Degree and be a college coach.  I have faith and I will keep speaking positivity towards my future.  

 

Q: What would your current/past teammates say about you and your qualities?

A: Believe or not my past/current teammates are always telling me that out of us all, I am going to be the one they see playing at the next level.  My position coach gave me my out brief for this semester and said the same thing.  They all say I have what it takes as a running back, because I am a north/south runner.

 

Q: What has been one of the most memorable plays of your career at any level?

A: My outbreak game where I rushed over 200 yards and recognized with an award by ESPN.

 

Q: What has been your biggest challenge and how do you manage it?

A: To show all those that never even gave me a thought, I WILL make it to the league.  I have faith that God will open the door for me that no man can close and close the doors that no man can open.  I remember when I was being sought after in my Junior year by several colleges/universities and when I was invited to play in the All American games, I had to get my high school coaches signature and my principal’s.  My coach as me, “how did you get picked for that?”  After I played in the games, all of the college coaches stopped.  I later was told by a college coach that my high coach told them they would not want ‘that kid’.  I still don’t know what he meant by that because he stopped talking to me from that point on.  Not to be mean or rude, I just want to show them what they could have had.

 

Q: If you could compare yourself to a pro athlete, who would that be and why?

A: I would compare myself to Mark Ingram.  We are about the same height/weight/size/build.  No, I didn’t get the opportunity to go to a DI and it’s not because of anything I did wrong nor was I recruited.  I look at his stats and compared them to mine.  With my size and speed, I know, if given a chance, I believe it can happen.

 

Q: What is your biggest strength that you bring to a professional team and why should pro scouts consider you?

A: As a running back, I have a very strong lower body and core. I am fast and I am definitely able to change directions very quickly.  I have the skills to do a lot of movements quickly from side to side before I finally running straight forward as fast as he can.  I believe pro scouts would be impressed with me.  I have the vision, strength, speed, agility and power to break through tacklers at the line of scrimmage.

 

Q: Are you involved in mentoring, a charity or do you “give back” or ”pay it forward” in your community?

A: This is a must for me and especially during these horrible times.  I serve as a Mentor in an organization here in Texas whenever I can.  I am an advocate of community service work.  While in college our coaches also have us doing community service works at the high schools.

 

Q: How are you preparing for the 2021 National Scouting Combine and what are your goals?

A: My mornings are Speed & Agility training and evenings are Strength & Conditioning – Monday thru Friday;

Saturdays are Running Back camp

Sundays are Treatment day

Cyro treatments as needed

 

Q: What would be your ultimate achievement?

A: I believe my ultimate achievement would be getting noticed and playing in my first pro game.  I know that playing in the NFL is every football athletes dream.  Not everyone makes it.  It’s a very small number that do.  I believe that I am different, because of the route I had to take to try and even be seen.

 

Q: What do you enjoy doing when not playing football?

A:  I enjoy playing my game online and working out.

To show all those that never even gave me a thought, I WILL make it to the league.  I have faith that God will open the door for me that no man can close and close the doors that no man can open.

~ Shannon Warren

 

Q: If you could make a positive impact on all of society what would it be and why?

A: I definitely want to contribute and/or start some kind of foundation for those overlooked athletes such as myself.  I will share my story with them letting them know that even though all of the big DI and DII schools were interested, it may not happen.  I played in the All American Games, but before playing I had to get my high school coach to sign the forms.  Once he did, I was asked how did I get that and from that point on, my recruiting looks had stopped.  I have never nor will I disrespect an adult and to this day, I still don’t know what happened.

 

Q: Who is or has been the most influential person in your life?

A:  •     My cousin Travis Dickerson…He was my role model and is the reason I continued playing football to this day.  He had so many college offers and I knew I wanted to be just like him.  Unfortunately, he was killed in an auto accident.  It was just a freak accident the summer of his senior year.  His mom had called him to come home so he could go and take his high school senior pictures.  That was the last time she ever talked to him.  He attended Allen High School in Allen, TX.  The high school even retired his jersey (#92) and mounted plexiglass over his football locker.  He was awesome student/athlete and I still miss him.  I want this for us.

 

Q: What is something unique about you that people would find interesting?

A:  Not only am I an awesome football player, I was a beast on the soccer and baseball field.  I chose football overall

 

Q: What is your dream job?

A:  My dream job after finishing my football playing days is to become a college coach and move on to become an a sports analyst.

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