Michael Anthony Ferguson, Jr. has the look of a pro-athlete
and the skills to match. You would never guess at first glance that this
25-year-old from Pocotaligo, South Carolina started pursuing the game of
football as a career only a little over one year ago.
“I wanted to start playing professionally, because I always
loved playing the game. I just never got a shot at it.”
The first time that Ferguson ever played football was at his
middle school in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. His position was Wide
Receiver. He kept the same position throughout middle school. During his
freshman year of high school he did not make the cut for the football team when
he and his family relocated to Bluffton, SC. He held off on his pursuit of the
sport to play basketball. He played basketball his entire high school career.
Ferguson attempted to play football his senior year of high school, but got cut
again.
As an adult Ferguson moved to Atlanta, GA, eventually making
Marietta, GA his home. While living in Marietta, Ferguson was on the roster for
the semi-pro team, Georgia Canes. However, he was the new kid on the block and
failed to ever see any playing time.
“The coaches and everybody saw potential in me, but they never gave me a
chance, never gave me a shot.” Ferguson said that they had their favorite veteran
players to always receive play time, so he was never given his time to shine.
He describes his playing style as a streaky wide out. He
likes to jump for the ball, doesn’t like short routes, he likes deep routes. He
says that there is no other way to describe it.
His short-term goal is to play in the NFL in the next year.
He would like to get his shot to let people know that there are athletes that
can play at a certain level and people that can still play no matter their age.
His long-term goal is to be retired at age 40 and open his own gym facility for
mentally disabled senior citizens and athletes in rehabilitation for injuries.
Ferguson is the youngest of four with three older sisters.
He is the first of his siblings to go to college. He plays Wide Receiver and
would like to get a defensive shot at playing a Safety or a Corner. He wants
his positions to be flexible when playing on the field.
Ferguson credits several people as his most important
influences to him as a player. On his mentor Aaron Bush, “We talk about
football, we talk about life and we pray over the phone. He is always
encouraging me to be better and better in life.” Ferguson also notes his
mother, Gloria McPherson, as another influence, saying that she has never
steered him wrong. He says that she has influenced him by telling him to be a
Godly man and to be better than her.
Ferguson says that the people who support his journey are
his true family and friends. He includes his true family and friends as his
mother and sisters: NaQuandra, Ny’kea, Nondrea, fiancé Caitlin Hunt, mentor
Aaron Bush and best friend Brian Gadson. He says that his very small circle of
people keep him focused and push him to be the best.
He considers his strengths on the field to be his speed and
agility, hand-eye coordination; he knows how to run routes and is an all-around
good team player. He says that he can improve on his footwork and adjusting to
the defense.
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Ferguson trains at least three to four times a week lifting,
reviewing films, working on footwork and hand drills. He is constantly building
himself to create gains and be better both physically and mentally. He gives a
lot of credit to his trainer Alan Strong of Next Level Combines for helping
him to physically transform into a beast."After two months of training, Ferguson packed on 25 pound of muscles while maintaining his speed and agility"
He says that he is ready to start playing and is ready to
show the world that what he is doing can be done. He says that once you are the
underdog and you are starving it makes you that much more hungry to compete in the
game.
By, Caitlin Hunt
