Former Rocky River DB proves himself in college, makes path to NFL Draft
A football player from Charlotte who was overlooked at first has since proven his talents on the field, and now he’s hoping to hear his name during this year’s NFL Draft. Channel 9 Sports Reporter DaShawn Brown met with former Rocky River High School standout Jevon McIver Jr about his years of hard work. “Everybody told me I was crazy for hopping in the transfer portal.
Coming out of Lenoir-Rhyne University, I didn’t even start,” McIver told Brown. It’s only crazy until it works, and McIver put in the work. “Since I was such a late bloomer, I always thought it was a talent thing, but it was more of a repetition thing, so I was like, ‘OK bet, I know what I can do.
’ That was really a confirmation,” McIver said. With zero college offers coming out of Rocky River High School and during the COVID-19 pandemic, McIver borrowed the money for tuition and walked on at Lenoir Rhyne. His freshman year, the defensive back didn’t play.
After his first full season, he transferred to Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. Then he led the conference and ranked 12th in the country. “You know, he had positive affirmations all over his room.
It was like gold, posters, and vision boards, and everything that was related to football,” said Dr. Lakertisha Slade McIver, Jevon’s mother. McIver says he planned to return to Austin Peay, but the coaching staff changed.