National Scouting Combine Spotlight: Poppy Livers

Quick Stats

Name: Poppy Livers
College: Villanova University
Years: 2011-2015
Major: Liberal Arts
Highlight Links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtRM6iMywzM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA4KSNVRVeI

https://www.facebook.com/VUFootball/posts/640173652764118

http://articles.philly.com/2014-08-20/sports/52988618_1_poppy-livers-villanova-quarterback-john-robertson-villanova-coach-andy-talley

http://www.bennettrank.com/collegefootball/villanovas-poppy-livers-towering-aversity/#

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/10/14/wr-poppy-livers-an-all-purpose-threat-for-villanova/

http://www.delcotimes.com/sports/20131010/livers-took-long-way-to-the-field-at-villanova

About Poppy

What was the most important thing you learned during your career?

  1. The most important thing I would have to say that I have learned is that hard work truly does pay off. One of the toughest things for me to do is be patient and being a walk on athlete at an elite college has taught me to be patient and with hard work and dedication comes a reward!

What qualities do you possess that makes you a candidate for a professional contract?

  1. I feel that I have great characteristics to help lead a team, which I have accomplished my senior year of college, coming in as a walk on athlete and being a captain my senior year, and leading my team to having one of the most successful seasons in Villanova history.

What motivates you on and off the field?

  1. Growing up watching my mom be the only one working in the household, taking care of my little sister and I has really inspired me to be self-motivated and always want to be at my best so that she has one less thing to stress about. Also, not being gifted with size has really made me the underdog my whole life and that has made me always want to work harder to prove that sized does not matter.

What was your major and why did you choose to study that field?

  1. I chose to stick with the Liberal Arts major because I honestly have no idea of what field I want to work in after my football career is over. With that being said, I was able to take different courses such as communication, criminology, sociology, and has the opportunity to expand my options of what really caught my interest. I believe that this world is built through networking and connections and with the Liberal Arts major, I feel that it shows the employees that I am capable of doing anything, you just need to teach me and I will put the same effort I did in football with working hard, earning a scholarship, and being named captain my senior season.

What is your routine like as you pursue a professional opportunity?

  1. Make sure that I am taking care of my body and staying in a routine with my trainer.

What is or are some challenges you faced in your career and how did you overcome them?

  1. One of the biggest challenges throughout my career was leaving my mother at the age of 14 and going away to high school for a better education and opportunity to play sports in college. Although my high school was an hour away, my mom could not take me and my sister to school and make it to work. Therefore, I stayed with my quarterback’s family and was a little discouraged when he went away for college and I had no offers to play football. I was then faced with the challenge of going to Valley Forge Military Academy where I lead the team to an undefeated season and still had no scholarship offers after that season. I then decided to be patient and believe that God had a plan for me and that was to walk on at Villanova and have a story to share with others who are ever discouraged.

What or who is your inspiration. How did you come to that conclusion?

  1. I have been inspired by watching Steve Smith of the Baltimore Ravens. The passion and hard edge he brings to the game is priceless and shows me that size does not stop him from being one of the best receivers to play the game. I am also inspired by the loyal family, friends, and fans that have followed me throughout my journey thus far and being able to make them happy by just playing the game of football. It has inspired me to continue to follow my dreams and make it to the top.

What are some of the contributions you made to your previous program? What about the local community?

  1. We run the Andy Talley Bone Marrow drive that I have worked all four years that I have attended Villanova University and it is a drive that allows people to become donors to those in need of a bone marrow transplant. It is an amazing experience watching one of our fellow teammates save one’s life and gives me the opportunity to possibly save a life as well. i have also helped out each year with homeless shelters and been a volunteer at the special Olympics each year.
What is your best asset as an athlete and why will it make you successful at the next level?
  1. Route Running, short area quickness, ball skills, motor, and most importantly I am coachable!

What are your plans for a post football career?

  1. I would like to connect with people within the Villanova family and find different jobs that I may be interested in. I have been told I could be a good coach, so that could be a possibility. I am really big on fitness and wouldn’t mind looking into being a trainer.

What is your fondest memory playing football?

  1. First game of my senior season playing in the carrier dome for the first time and I return a punt for 67 yards and make sports center top ten #2. Although we lost that game by one point, my teammates gave it their all and I will never forget that game! Also, my sophomore year returning a punt for a touchdown in the Georgia Dome is very memorable because it pretty much sealed the deal for my scholarship the follow year and no other player has returned a punt for a touchdown in my coaches 32 years of coaching.

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National Scouting Combine Posts

“I would like to start this message by thanking you and everyone involved who made this opportunity possible. I am truly grateful for the experience and atmosphere you’ve cultivated through the National Scouting Combine. My journey has not been an easy one by any means. Losing my mother in 2017 to cancer, losing the house my brothers and I called home before attending this very event in 2018, and completely bombing the event left me completely shot mentally. This event that just took place gave me the motivation and hope for better days. That is exactly what has been provided to me. Opportunities I never considered have presented themselves to me with each passing day. WWE contract offers, Rugby offers, and NFL scout inquiries about what kind of man Jarrod Cann is, are just the first of many opportunities that were made real through my participation in your event! Thank you for allowing me to tell my story on such a platform and allowing me to save lives with my story.”
Jarrod Cann
Jarrod CannRB, Central Connecticut State
“The National Scouting Combine was a great opportunity for me to get official test numbers and get my information out to teams and scouts to gain necessary exposure. It is always a big challenge for athletes to get official verified numbers but the National Scouting Combine gave me this opportunity. The entire staff works with the players to put them into the best position to succeed. They give players opportunities to promote themselves on and off the field. They have a setup to do all combine tests and to perform official position drills. The event also allows for players to gain useful contacts with teams and National Scouting Combine staff members to further promote themselves. The National Scouting Combine provided me with a chance to showcase my abilities as a free agent and put myself in a good position to have success in my pursuit to play professional football. I want thank the National Scouting Combine staff for giving players this unique chance to demonstrate their skills.”
Chris Bury
Chris BuryTE, Notre Dame
“I had a great experience at the combine. The whole staff was extremely positive and really wanted the best for all of the players that attended. Being that I was a free agent and a season removed from NFL camps it was crucial for me to get new numbers to show I was still working hard. My only opportunity so far came from a scout who attended the combine. As players that’s why we attend these events, to be seen by the pro levels. I’m very greatful for the opportunity that was came from the combine. I’ll be recommending it to every player possible in the future who’s looking to go pro.”
Dillon Salva
Dillon SalvaTE, Merrimack
My experience at the National Scouting Combine was an extremely positive one. Coming from a small school (Bryant University – Division I AA), opportunities to showcase my athleticism and measurables to pro scouts were scarce. However, Jimmy and his team gave me that opportunity when they put together a first-class event, in an outstanding venue and invited hundreds of players that had been overlooked or just wanted the opportunity to showcase their abilities. The connections, advice and coaching I received at the 2018 National Scouting Combine were priceless, as many pro scouts and coaches began to get in contact with me during and immediately after the combine. Jimmy and his team did an outstanding job of incorporating new, cutting edge technologies into the combine, while inviting well-respected coaches, scouts and former professional players to run the drills and provide coaching. Jimmy provided me with a platform to chase my dream of playing professional football that I would not otherwise have had, and in turn is part of the reason why many CFL teams took interest in me, why I was invited to Rookie Minicamps with the Jets and Texans and why I have now signed with the Orlando Apollo’s of the new Alliance of American Football League. The invitation to the 2018 National Scouting Combine was a blessing to me and my career and I would recommend any and all small school or overlooked college football player to attend and take advantage of this combine that, with Jimmy leading it, will continue to get better every single year.
Matt Sewell
Matt SewellWR, Bryant University
“My testimonial would be because of COVID-19, it has hindered my ability to showcase my talents at pro days, workouts, and tryouts. But, because of the NSC I can still send official numbers and video to each team, while also gaining the opportunity to meet scouts in face and build a relationship with them. Lastly, the NSC is second only to the NFL combine which helps me have something else to hang my hat on as one of the top performers!”
Jamal Ware
Jamal WareLB, Maryville College
“Thank you for the support and helping with promoting me for the next level. I am most definitely interested and my experience at the national scouting combine was incredible. It was my first official opportunity and it was a professional combine. All verified, legitimate laser times and numbers are vital to have especially in the times we are facing today. All of the coaches and personnel involved were professional in every aspect. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to be apart of the national scouting combine and I can’t be more grateful to have verified numbers.”
Kyle Haines
Kyle HainesWR, Shippensburg
“First and foremost I would like to thank the NSC staff for giving me the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of scouts and allow myself to get relevant combine numbers. This combine is by far the best Combine I have been to. The rooms were great and the food that was provided by NSC was great as well. You can feel that they had a passion for helping those who may not have had an NFL Combine invite and others who are just chasing that opportunity. They were extremely supportive and willing to market the players in every way possible. I was beyond impressed with the testing once we got going. Everything was very organized and professional just as it should be. When it came to the testing they had both hand time and laser time which makes your test times that much more official. The number of scouts that attended the Scouting Combine was even better. This staff truly knows how to put together a legit A+ combine experience and was by far the best combine experience I have been a part of.”
Nolan Saraceni
Nolan SaraceniRB, Montana Tech
“I was fortunate enough to be a participant in the 2020 BSN Scouting Combine as it was an experience that I will surely never forget. Not only did it open opportunities for me to play football at the professional level, but it also shed light on my path to a football dream as an underdog. Not many athletes get this sort of opportunity and I am just blessed to have been apart of it.”
Tyler Anderson
Tyler AndersonRB, Thomas More University
Pursuing a career in professional football from a small school is a lonely path. A prospect may have the support of his peers, family, and teammates, but the process can be overwhelming and very confusing. Often times small school prospects don’t have access to the resources provided to prospects at football powerhouses. “How can I get myself in front of scouts? How can I prove to them that I can play at the next level?” These are only a few of the many questions that race through a potential prospects mind on a daily basis. The Beyond Sports Network National Combine helped simplify this process for many of the players that attended, including myself. Despite the combine being held for a few days, the information and services provided by the combine, as well as the sense of community between the staff members and prospects stood out to me. Every test that would be performed at the NFL combine was covered, every coach and staff member supported each prospect to an unbelievable extent, and the amount of scouts and agents in attendance and how interactive they were was impressive. The Beyond Sports Network National Scouting Combine was a critical step in attempting to take my talents to the next level. If you are a small school prospect with no clear path to the next level, the National Scouting Combine will certainly clear up the path for you.
Schnayder Termidor
Schnayder TermidorLB, Ithaca College
BSN gave me the platform I needed to be respected as a athlete. I came to there first Combine in 2010. I was pulled by every NFL, CFL scout. At that time there were a couple really good WRs including a SEC top WR who NFL scouts were coming to see. Once I put up good #s in my Testing Drills, we did one on ones. I showed my great covering skills to the point all the scouts herd the WRs talking and asking who was this guy. Then BSN promoted me and my numbers and I received workouts on all levels. I became a name in the business. Having legit numbers and respectable organization backing you is what you need. Everyone can say they can play and perform but coaches and scouts don’t believe you. BSN gives you the stage to perform and prove them wrong and get the opportunity you deserve. Because of BSN I was able to create a long professional career and when needed comeback to prove I could still play at a high level.
Cedeno Patrick
Cedeno PatrickLB, Delaware State
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