This was a fun one. When a guy from your hometown gets drafted to play football at the highest level and then you get a chance to shoot a promo with him, you don't walk, you run to get your equipment. lol.
I had such a good time putting this together for the fellas over at The Performance Lab. Austin Curtis and his team are doing great things with the young athletes in our community, and this video is a brief snapshot that showcases what they are doing.
This video highlights a pop up football training session hosted by the Washington Commanders Defensive Tackle, John Ridgeway lll; a Bloomington native who was drafted to the NFL in 2022 by the Dallas Cowboys. He has since found his home with the Washington Commanders and can be found any given Sunday dropping runners on their heads and being an absolute problem for any offensive unit. I'ver personally watched John throw Ezekiel Elliott around like a rag doll; as a lifelong Cowboys fan it definitely caused some mixed emotions. I love seeing John in his element, dominating the offense, but it hurts a little bit to see your beloved running back get smashed to the turf like a bug in the dirt. lol Keep doing great things John, aka the Vanilla Gorilla; and thanks for stopping by to give back to the community. I know it meant a lot to those kids, as well as the parents and even the video guy who got a chance to capture the action. Thanks again.
From elementary school athletes to college players who are looking to take their training and skillset to the next level, The Performance Lab is Central Illinois premier training facility. From group classes to one on one mentorship Austin and his team can help you or the young athlete in your life reach new levels of excellence. Thanks again for having us out to capture your pop up camp, it's always a pleasure to work with such a fine group of professionals.
The Performance Lab, Bloomington Illinois. "The Performance Lab's mission is to train, mentor, and empower leaders. Our coaches strive to pull the full athletic potential out of every athlete that walks in the door regardless of age or skill level."
John Robert Ridgeway III (born May 7, 1999) is an American football defensive tackle for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois State and Arkansas. Ridgeway was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but was released prior to his first game and signed with the Commanders.