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Arizona Cardinals rookie cornerback Christian Matthew knew he wanted to play in the NFLbut when it seemed impossible, he began to think about his future.
Matthew, who was drafted by the Cardinals with the No. 244 overall pick, told reporters after Friday’s rookie minicamp practice that he nearly walked away from a potential NFL career to accept a job at Walmart.
“Moving around, I kept the faith for sure, but I felt like (the dream) was dead when I got to Valdosta,” Matthew said of his college career, via the site. Team website. “I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to age a bit here, maybe I should get a job, maybe I should get on with my life.'”
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Christian Matthew of the Valdosta State Blazers against the Ferris State Bulldogs in the Division II Championship at McKinney ISD Stadium on December 18, 2021.
(C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
The 25-year-old cornerback began his college career at Georgia Southern before moving to Samford and eventually Valdosta State.
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Matthew said he was “very close” to accepting the job at Walmart, but his family stepped in to remind him that those jobs would still be there, playing in the NFL is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
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Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns wide receiver Keenan Barnes (21) shoots down a pass against Georgia Southern Eagles cornerback Christian Matthew (13) on November 10, 2016 at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Ga.
(Todd Bennett/Getty Images)
“I had to take a moment,” he said of his first day with the team. “It was surreal.”
Matthew joins a cornerback room with the Cardinals’ 2019 No. 2 draft pick, Byron Murphy.
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