Michael Wilhoite: The American Dream

wilhoiteMaking it to the NFL isn’t easy to say the least. A very small percentage of good athletes actually make it. Sometimes you have to be in the right place at the right time, sometimes you need to be patient and wait your turn, and sometimes you just catch a break to give you your opportunity. However, the most important thing is to never give up and take advantage when you get your chance. San Francisco 49ers starting ILB Michael Wilhoite, a former Safety, is an example of someone who has experienced of all of these things.

Michael Wilhoite was born in Manhattan, Kansas and went to Washburn College, where he played Division II football. Wilhoite made honorable mention All-MIAA as a senior and tried out for a few NFL teams before the 2011 NFL Draft, but still went undrafted. After the draft, Wilhoite decided to continue his football career by signing with the Omaha Nighthawks, a team from the UFL. He was on the team for all games of their short season, they finished 1-4 and at that point most people would think that Wilhoite’s career would be over.

Wilhoite began working at a “Finish Line” shoe store. He also was a personal trainer at “Maximus Fitness”, and interned at a local radio station when all of a sudden, his improbable dream of playing in the NFL took a drastic turn. The San Francisco 49ers signed Wilhoite to their practice squad in December of 2011. His job on the practice squad was to imitate other linebackers on upcoming opponents. He was so versitile, it allowed him to play MLB and OLB in a 4-3 as well as both the OLB an ILB in a 3-4.

At the start of the 2012 season, Wilhoite failed to make the final roster, but was later signed to the practice squad. After 12 weeks, he was finally promoted to the active roster and made key plays on special teams as the 49ers made it all the way to the Superbowl. His dream to play in the NFL had finally been realized, but he wasn’t done there. After the 49ers All-Pro LB Patrick Willis was injured with broken hand, Wilhoite started a preseason game against the Denver Broncos and led the team in tackles with 10 total, 7 solo.

Wilhoite has said that Patrick Willis working with him, showing him the ropes, letting him see the field through his eyes, was a big breakthrough for him. Willis and a bunch of film study greatly improved the awareness of Wilhoite. He always knew he had the athleticism, at 6 feet 200 pounds, Wilhoite ran a 4.71 forty with 37 inch vertical and a broad jump of 10′ 9, which helped him stay with or outperform almost all the other LBs that were in his draft class. The help from Willis to go with what he already knew he could do, catapulted his confidence.

With their other starting All-Pro ILB NaVorro Bowman getting hurt with a gruelsome injury to end the 2013-2014 season, the 49ers opened the ILB next to Patrick Willis up for competition. Michael Wilhoite had to square off against Chris Borland, a 3rd round pick out of Wisconsin. Both finished the preseason with 19 tackles and were very close in the preseason, but Wilhoite was named the starter due to his experience edge over Borland. Three years ago, Wilhoite was selling shoes and living at home clinging to hopes of being in the NFL, now he is a starting linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers.

The story of Michael Wilhoite can be an inspiration to everyone that is considering giving up on their dreams, not only in football, but in life overall. It is proof that if you continue working hard and don’t let setbacks stop you, then you’ll always be a winner in the end. The best quote to probably describe the Michael Wilhoite story would be, “You’re never a quitter, until you stop trying.”

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