Michael Sam, born on January 7, 1990, is from Hitchcock, Texas. He attended Hitchcock High School and played football. His mother didn’t approve of him playing, so Michael stayed with a classmate and their family. Ironically in high school, Sam earned attention at the national scale when he had a great performance against Michael Brockers, who at the time was committed to Louisiana State University. Now Brockers is a two- year starter for the St. Louis Rams. Rivals had Sam ranked as a two-star prospect out of high school. He had scholarship offers from Arizona State, Colorado State, and Houston, but Sam was holding out in hope he would receive an offer from Texas A&M University. Sam holding out gave the University of Missouri a chance to offer. The rest is history.
Sam redshirted his first year at Mizzou. During his freshman, sophomore, and junior years, he was a solid role player, but by no means a star. His senior year Sam had a breakout year. Sam recorded 11.5 quarterback sacks and 19 tackles for a loss. He led the SEC in both categories and tied Missouri’s single-season record for sacks. Also that year Sam was awarded SEC co-defensive player of the year which he shared with Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosely. His senior year he was awarded first-team all-SEC along with being selected as a first-team all-American. His career stats totaled 123 tackles, including 36 for loss, 21 sacks, six forced fumbles and two intercepted passes. He graduated from Missouri in December 2013.
Leading up to the draft, Sam was regarded as a third or fourth round draft pick. That’s when Sam came out as gay. He told reporters that all his teammates from Missouri knew and accepted him for who he was. Sam had a lackluster NFL combine and was considered too small to play defensive end at the next level. The one thing that Michael Sam can do well is rush the passer. That’s why defensive minded Jeff Fisher loved seeing Sam still on the draft boards in the seventh round. Fisher and the Rams selected Sam with the 249th overall pick in the draft.
Now Sam has to make the Rams roster that is loaded with talented young pass rushers. Sam’s jersey ranks as the second highest purchased by all rookies, so Sam will have many fans rooting for him all the way.