From NFL Stardom to Serving Veterans with Drayton Florence

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Determined Society with Shawn French Episode: From NFL Stardom to Serving Veterans with Drayton Florence Release Date: September 30, 2024

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Introduction

In the September 30, 2024 episode of The Determined Society with Shawn French, host Shawn French sits down with Drayton Florence, an 11-year NFL veteran, to explore his remarkable journey from professional football stardom to dedicating his life to serving military veterans. This episode delves deep into themes of determination, resilience, leadership, and the impactful transition from sports to community service.

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Overcoming Adversity and Embracing Determination

The conversation opens with Drayton Florence sharing his experiences of being underestimated and overlooked, highlighting the pivotal role of internal determination in overcoming external doubts.

Drayton Florence [00:00]: "Being told you're too small, you can't do this, you can't do that. Just being able to find within yourself that determination factor."

Shawn echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the strategic role of detractors in fueling one's drive.

Shawn French [00:21]: "The haters fulfill a certain purpose in your life. They're there strategically to give you fuel and to give you energy."

Drayton underscores how negativity from others can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and achievement.

Drayton Florence [00:13]: "Where you can just go conquer and do everything. And the haters that are along the way just help fuel the fire."

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NFL Career: Defying the Odds

Drayton Florence's journey in the NFL is a testament to defying expectations. Drafted in the second round (46th pick) from Tuskegee University—a Division 2 school—Drayton navigated the challenges of transitioning between colleges and proving his worth in a highly competitive environment.

Drayton Florence [03:03]: "My whole career was, you know, defying the odds, always being the guy that they had a question mark besides."

He shares a memorable moment from the Senior Bowl, where he chose to keep his Division 2 helmet emblem, symbolizing his determination to prove himself amidst skepticism.

Drayton Florence [05:33]: "I'm here on business. Everybody here socializing and networking. Like, I'm the guy that's here that all the scouts are saying, does this guy belong?"

Drayton credits his ability to outwork others and maintain unwavering focus as key factors that contributed to his 11-year tenure in the NFL without significant injuries.

Drayton Florence [03:51]: "I kind of took that as motivation and fuel, and that's one of the reasons why I ended up lasting so long playing this game for 11 years."

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Transitioning Beyond the NFL: Serving Veterans

Upon retiring from professional football, Drayton faced the daunting task of transitioning to a life beyond sports—a challenge many athletes encounter. Unlike others who struggled without a roadmap, Drayton leveraged his discipline and leadership skills to pave a smoother transition.

Drayton Florence [08:22]: "You just gotta follow the path that God's got set for you and just, you know, continue to move forward."

He co-founded an international company with his father, dedicated to assisting military veterans with disability and compensation claims, as well as aiding their transition to civilian life. This venture not only supports veterans but also their families, addressing critical needs such as mental health support for PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Drayton Florence [09:10]: "We help veterans with a disability and compensation claims. We also help them transition from military to the civilian world."

Drayton emphasizes the importance of recognizing the transferable skills veterans possess, akin to those of professional athletes, which can facilitate their success in the civilian workforce.

Drayton Florence [09:52]: "Being able to process decisions, decision making on a dime. Those kind of skills are very transferable to the real world."

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Coaching and Mentorship: Giving Back to the Youth

In addition to his business endeavors, Drayton has embraced coaching high school football at Bowles High School in Jacksonville. This role allows him to mentor young athletes, imparting not only athletic skills but also instilling values of discipline, preparation, and strategic thinking.

Drayton Florence [15:34]: "I'm coaching over at Bowles High School. I'm excited for the upcoming season."

Drayton shares his coaching philosophy, focusing on helping players slow down the game mentally, leveraging their understanding of strategies akin to his experience in the NFL.

Drayton Florence [16:13]: "I want those guys to slow the game down. And what I mean by that is when they're processing the game mentally, the game slows down."

This approach mirrors his own journey of preparation and mental fortitude, encouraging players to think strategically rather than relying solely on physical prowess.

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Leadership Lessons and Legacy

Throughout the episode, Drayton attributes much of his success to the leadership qualities he observed and embodied during his NFL career. Highlighting coaches like Marty Schottenheimer, he discusses the profound impact of humble, detail-oriented leadership.

Drayton Florence [14:24]: "He's a great leader, a humble leader, very detailed. And those are some of the characteristics that I carry over from him to help me run the job and the business that I do on a day to day basis."

Drayton also touches on the significance of assistant coaches in shaping players, emphasizing that leadership extends beyond head coaches to those who offer personal mentorship and guidance.

Drayton Florence [15:19]: "Those positional coaches are the ones that are going to put their arm around you and treat you more like the man that you are."

By integrating these leadership lessons into his business and coaching practices, Drayton fosters environments that prioritize collective growth, mutual respect, and strategic excellence.

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Facing the Challenges of Transition

Drayton candidly discusses the emotional and psychological challenges that come with retiring from professional sports. Unlike many who feel lost without their athletic identity, his proactive planning and focus on helping others provided a sense of purpose and direction.

Drayton Florence [12:57]: "I was a little different because I played so long. I was able to plan my transition where other guys play two or three years, and then the doors closed."

He acknowledges the absence of a formal roadmap for such transitions, highlighting the importance of mental health resources and support systems for athletes moving into new phases of life.

Drayton Florence [12:24]: "It's hard to deal with. So just being aware of mental health, things that it can do for you, how you can get help."

Drayton's journey underscores the value of self-awareness, continuous learning, and community support in navigating life's significant transitions.

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Conclusion: A Life of Purpose and Impact

The episode concludes with Drayton reflecting on his legacy and the profound fulfillment derived from his current endeavors. By dedicating his life to serving veterans and mentoring young athletes, he embodies the essence of leadership and purposeful living.

Drayton Florence [16:29]: "I just help people all day."

Shawn French praises Drayton's unwavering commitment to making a difference, recognizing him as a true hero and leader.

Shawn French [19:45]: "You're making a big difference. The biggest difference you're making is with the vets and these children that you're working with, man, you're a real hero."

Drayton Florence's story, as shared in this episode, serves as an inspiring blueprint for overcoming adversity, embracing leadership, and dedicating oneself to the betterment of others.

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Notable Quotes:

• Drayton Florence [00:00]: "Being told you're too small, you can't do this, you can't do that. Just being able to find within yourself that determination factor."

• Shawn French [00:21]: "The haters fulfill a certain purpose in your life. They're there strategically to give you fuel and to give you energy."

• Drayton Florence [03:03]: "My whole career was, you know, defying the odds, always being the guy that they had a question mark besides."

• Drayton Florence [09:10]: "We help veterans with a disability and compensation claims. We also help them transition from military to the civilian world."

• Drayton Florence [14:24]: "He's a great leader, a humble leader, very detailed. And those are some of the characteristics that I carry over from him to help me run the job and the business that I do on a day to day basis."

• Drayton Florence [16:29]: "I just help people all day."

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This episode of The Determined Society not only highlights Drayton Florence's impressive athletic career but also his impactful work beyond the field, offering listeners valuable insights into leadership, resilience, and purposeful living.

Transcript

[Drayton Florence]

Stories like that are the things that make you and I on the same wavelength, man. Being told you're too small, you can't do this, you can't do that. Just being able to find within yourself that determination factor.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, man.

[Drayton Florence]

Where you can just go, conquer and do everything. And the haters that are along the way just help fuel the fire. So I enjoyed it, man.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Do you know the haters, right? The people that are there telling you you can't do something? I feel like they, they fulfill a certain purpose in your life. They're there strategically to give you fuel and to give you energy. Right.

[Unknown Announcer]

You know what if you spent your whole life playing football, got drafted, went into the NFL and had an illustrious career, a very successful one and an impactful one. And then when you were done, you decided to give more back for military vets and you created a company that could help them with their disability benefits after they are unenlisted or leave the service for the United States of America and then also go coach high school football to impact the youth. Well, this next story is a very good one and I want you to come with me and hear and see the amazingness of Drayton Florence.

[Drayton Florence]

Come on, Sharp.

[Sean French]

French, what up? This one, luckily, let the pain inspire me. I put my all in. Everything I'm doing up until it's done, I mean for the entirety, I put it in overtime. I be working. Just know I'm a go for mine. Cause I earned it. They watch and I know it's time I confirmed it. The whole society determined determine.

[Unknown Host]

What'S up, everybody. We are back at Lynch's Irish Pub with my boy Drayton Florence, an 11 year NFL vet. He's doing some amazing things for military veterans getting their disability benefits. So welcome to the show, man. Good to see you, man.

[Drayton Florence]

Thanks for having me on, man. I'm excited to have this conversation.

[Unknown Host]

Absolutely, man, it's good to see you here. You've been in Jacksonville ever since you stopped playing, man. What about Jacksonville made you want to stay here and kind of, you know, hold up camp?

[Drayton Florence]

Well, I lived in San Diego, I lived in Buffalo, and I didn't like the state taxes way too high. So when I moved to Florida, I was all in on no state taxes. But you know, Jacksonville, you can't beat it. I mean, you got the beach right here. Yeah, I play golf almost every day, so I got the best golf courses in the country. And you know, it's just close to home where I grew up, down from Ocala, Florida.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

So it was an easy transition, man, and been here for over 12 years now.

[Unknown Host]

That's awesome, man. That's awesome. So after the NFL, I mean, let's talk about your career in the NFL. How was that? You played college football at Tennessee Chattanooga. There was one more stop, too, wasn't there?

[Drayton Florence]

Tuskegee University.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

That's where I got drafted.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Second. Second round, 46.

[Drayton Florence]

Bit 46.

[Unknown Host]

That's awesome, man. That's awesome. What was that experience like for you?

[Drayton Florence]

It was unbelievable, man. I mean, those four years went by so fast, and, you know, transitioning from one college to another, midway. You know, after my sophomore year, I went to Tuskegee University, and I was fortunate enough to get drafted in the second round from the Division 2 school. So, you know, my whole career was, you know, defying the odds, always being the guy that they had a question mark besides. So, you know, I kind of took that as motivation and fuel, and, you know, that's one of the reasons why I ended up lasting so long playing this game for 11 years. Obviously, I was blessed with no injuries, but, you know, just being in that position, being able to play the game that long, and now I'm coaching at Bowles High School here in Jacksonville.

[Unknown Host]

Dude, that's awesome.

[Drayton Florence]

So I'm giving that knowledge back to the next generation and watching these guys develop and become successful on and off the field.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, man, I want to touch on that, but first, I want to go back to the underdog. Right? You said you were overlooked. Man, I grew up my whole life kind of the same thing, and even getting into the podcast space, I feel like I've been stepped on, overlooked, and it really does provide that internal drive, so. But, you know, it doesn't always look the way people think it looks like, right? Like people think it looks like all this gritty thing, but sometimes it's just getting up and doing the dang work, man, putting one foot in front of the other. How. How did you. In those moments where you felt you were being undervalued under, look, how did you stay determined to keep fighting forward?

[Drayton Florence]

Well, I put all my eggs in one basket. I know we tell people not to do that, but I bet on myself. You know, I was determined, number one, to outwork anybody that I ever met, and that's teammates, coaches, no matter what. And I knew when I made that transition from D1AA to Division 2 ball, you know, that question mark was going to be there.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

So I'll tell you a quick story. I'm out down at the Senior Bowl. I'm the only Division 2 player there, but Rasheen Mathis is also there. Local guy from Jacksonville.

[Unknown Host]

Right.

[Drayton Florence]

So he went to Bethune Cookman, but that's a D1AA. So I'm a D2 guy. They throw us in the room together. We're sitting there at night, we're just talking. You know, we're the only two black college HBCU guys here. What are we going to do? So there's a tradition at the Senior bowl where you take your helmet emblem and you pass it around to y'all the other guys.

[Unknown Host]

Right, Right.

[Drayton Florence]

And I was like, screw that. Like, you know, I'm keeping my D2 helmet the way it is.

[Unknown Host]

Yes.

[Drayton Florence]

Like, I'm here on business. Everybody here socializing and networking. Like, I'm the guy that's here that all the scouts are saying, does this guy belong? So I had something to prove that week down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. So that was. You know, stories like that are the things that make you and I on the same wavelength, man. Being told, you're too small, you can't do this, you can't do that. Just being able to find within yourself that determination factor.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, man.

[Drayton Florence]

Where you can just go conquer and do everything. And the haters that are along the way just help fuel the fire. So I enjoyed it, man.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. You know, the haters, right? The people that are there telling you you can't do something. I feel like they. They fulfill a certain purpose in your life. They're there strategically to give you fuel and to give you energy. Right. And then you take that and you internalize it. As long as you don't let it eat you up, it can be the most valuable energy, man. And that's what I found. It's like, okay, well, you don't believe me? Bet. Hold my beer, watch me do this. Right.

[Drayton Florence]

Exactly. I mean, everywhere you go, at every stop, whether it's business, whether it's sports, there's always going to be those negative nasties in the room. Let's identify them, and let's use that as an example for everybody else. That's not how we want to be. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

And, you know, that's just not your people. Right. You're there for a reason. Okay, fine. I see you. Thank you. Good. We move on. It's important to not let it break us, though, right? Because, man, it happened to me in baseball. You know, I was not strong enough, not fast enough, and I went. Played in the sec, played at lsu, you know, So, I mean, once I got there, I got injured and it's like, you're never coming back from this. You're never playing here. You'll never wear a uniform. And then I played. I got healthy, and then I played my senior year in a backup role. But, man, I was told I would never see the field, and I did it. And a lot of it was, you know, because I wanted to prove somebody wrong. But now I've grown so much, it's like, I'm just here to prove myself right now.

[Drayton Florence]

There you go.

[Unknown Host]

You know what I mean? I would imagine probably about when you transition to your NFL career, now you're there, it's like, okay, I'm proving myself, right?

[Drayton Florence]

Yeah, it was a lot of that. Like, you just detailed. A lot of it was proving myself right. And then a lot of it was, what can I get out of this opportunity? And I saw more than just sports. So I actually went back to college while I was playing ball, Got my degree, got my master's degree, and I opened up a business while I was still playing. So I wanted to use that access that I had to different opportunities to. To maximize and do my own transition my entire life. So, I mean, I had a blast, man. I met so many different people, so many amazing people. I'm on a podcast with you.

[Unknown Host]

Thanks, man.

[Drayton Florence]

In 2024, I never thought I would be doing this, but, you know, you just got to follow the path that God's got set for you and just, you know, continue to move forward.

[Unknown Host]

Dude, that's it, man. We don't know the end game, but our job is to be here now and do follow the assignment. Right?

[Drayton Florence]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

Do what we do, and then the end game shows up. And a lot of times, it's never what we look like, Right. It's never what we imagined. Like, I never imagined I would be sitting here on a show, right. Talking to high level athletes, former athletes, and amazing entrepreneurs like yourself. It's like, dude, but my life led me here. And again, I had to walk through that door and I had to hone my craft. I had to get better and get better and to a point where now we're here, man. So now it's like trusting the process. We just keep working, man. You know, so. So now, you know, fast forward to now. You own a. You own a company that helps vets. You know, how is that. That's rewarding work, man. Talk to me about that.

[Drayton Florence]

Yeah. So you got, you know, all these politicians that they offer the vets. They want to help vets.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

When it's time to make sure. That the legislation protects them. You know, they turn their back. So me and my dad started a company about 13 years ago, international company, because we have clients all over the world and, you know, we help veterans with a disability and compensation claims. We also help them transition from military to the civilian world. Whether that's with job interview skills, being able to present themselves and show that their skills transition into the world.

[Unknown Host]

That's a big one, man. That's a massive one.

[Drayton Florence]

Same thing with athletes.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

Being able to process decisions, decision making on a dime. Those kind of skills are very transferable to the real world.

[Unknown Host]

But what blows me away is like, to your point, like the, the resumes and these vets, right. Go out in the world, it's like, oh, you don't have experience. Like, I just fought for your country, man.

[Drayton Florence]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

It's like what the.

[Drayton Florence]

Right, like, exactly.

[Unknown Host]

Like that is massive, man. You help with the mental health aspect too?

[Drayton Florence]

Yes, definitely. So we help with the mental health, ptsd, depression, anxiety, man, you know, it's so rewarding working with the people that serve and protect our country on a day to day basis. And not only helping the veterans, but helping their families as well.

[Unknown Host]

So it's amazing.

[Drayton Florence]

Very rewarding, man. And, you know, we got a big Navy presence here in Jacksonville and you know, just to be out in the community, coming into different events, meeting the guys that serve the country and women. Because I come from a military background. My grandfather served in the career Korean War.

[Unknown Host]

Wow.

[Drayton Florence]

My father served 20 years in the United States Army. All my uncles served and my sister just retired after 29 years in the United States Army.

[Unknown Host]

So you got that passion.

[Drayton Florence]

I got that passion, man. I was born on a military base. I was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

[Unknown Host]

Wow. Really, man?

[Drayton Florence]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Kentucky, huh?

[Drayton Florence]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

See, that's amazing because when you can take your passion of something you believe in so much, right. And turn it into a career of business to where you can actually go and help people, man. You have a purpose filled life every day.

[Drayton Florence]

Yeah. So I tell my friends, I don't work, I just help people all day.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, man. Some people may not understand that though, right? Like, what do you mean? You have this company, you're. You're doing all this, it's work. But like, when you love it, like, I'm working right now. This ain't work, bro. This. This isn't work. Like, I get to do this. This shit's fine, you know. So, man, like, how was that? How has that fulfilled your life, like, as far as like, you know, filling that fulfillment because after the NFL, I would have to assume when you're that transition from NFL player to regular dude. That's a tough one, man.

[Drayton Florence]

Oh, yeah, it's very tough. And a lot of guys struggle with that because there is no roadmap or guide to tell you how to deal with what you've done your whole life. All of a sudden, you can't do it anymore. So a lot of teammates that I've had and myself, a lot of guys go through different phases. Luckily for me, I was able to transition a little bit more smoothly than others. But just knowing the resources that are available to us, tapping into our mental health, tapping into different opportunities and resources that can assist us, because, you know, we all got that ego, like, just.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

And it's hard to deal with. So just being aware of mental health, things that it can do for you, how you can get help. And I think the NFL does a pretty good job of kind of helping guide guys through. But like I said, there's no blueprint.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

So we all go through our ups and downs. Luckily, me being focused on helping other people has kind of helped me, you know, maneuver that a little bit smoother than others.

[Unknown Host]

At the very beginning of that transition out was there those moments where you felt lost? Because, I mean, dude, I only played college baseball, and I was like, dude, I don't know who the heck I am.

[Drayton Florence]

Yeah, no doubt. I mean, I'd be lying to if I told you I did it. I mean, yeah, I think I played football from 1988 to 2014.

[Unknown Host]

That's crazy.

[Drayton Florence]

So it was a part of. It's like waking up, brushing your teeth.

[Unknown Host]

Every DNA, man.

[Drayton Florence]

It's what I do. It's who I am. But, you know, I was a little different because I played so long. I was able to plan my transition where other guys play two or three years, and then the doors closed.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

So I was a little bit more fortunate. And I also mentor guys that are still playing, the younger guys, showing them the way through. And Brandon's doing a great job of that. Brandon Silent.

[Unknown Host]

He's awesome, man.

[Drayton Florence]

He's actually the guy that got me here tonight, so I want to give praise to him while.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, big shout out.

[Drayton Florence]

He's doing great things in the community as well, with military veterans and NFL veterans also.

[Unknown Host]

It's crazy. I think the one thing that I respect most is when high profile, high performers, when they are done with their career, they focus on others. Right, Right, man. Because, like, the world could be a selfish place, man. You know? So how does that help you sleep at night, man? Because that's, that's special.

[Drayton Florence]

Well, that's what we call leadership, right?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

You know, leaders always want to help and get everybody on the same page. So, you know, I've been around a lot of great leaders, leaders in my life. I've been blessed. And me and Brandon actually play for, I think, one of the best coaches in the NFL, Marty Schottenheimer.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, dude. Yes.

[Drayton Florence]

He's a great leader, a humble leader, very detailed. And those are some of the characteristics that I carry over from him to help me run the job and the business that I do on a day to day basis. So, you know, being that, being the guy that accepts leadership role roles and tries to get everybody on board, those are the qualities that you look for in a guy that's, you know, absolutely. Like a guy you want to bring in on board, you want to maybe hire him into your company or do business with him.

[Unknown Host]

Was Marty the best leader you ever played for?

[Drayton Florence]

I wouldn't say he was the best leader I've ever played for because I played for so many great leaders of men.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

But on the NFL stage, I mean, he's right up there. We got a. We also had a lot of position coaches and defensive coordinators that were just as good and they could lead men, but they just didn't get the credit as the head coach.

[Unknown Host]

Bro. Those assistant coaches are the ones that make the impact.

[Drayton Florence]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

Because the head coach is there making the call, doing the hard stuff. And those positional coaches are the ones that are going to put their arm around you.

[Drayton Florence]

Right.

[Unknown Host]

And treat you more like the man that you are. I always loved when I was an assistant coach because like, then I can be that guy.

[Drayton Florence]

Right.

[Unknown Host]

When you're the head guy, you gotta make the lineup, you gotta, you gotta do all that stuff, man. It's, it's difficult getting on a personal level with everybody. Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

So I'm learning that in coaching now, man. Like I said, I'm coaching over at Bowles High School. I'm excited for the upcoming season. We got a lot of great players, top recruited players. We got five star guys on our roster.

[Unknown Host]

It's a great school, man.

[Drayton Florence]

It's a great school. Not only athletics, but academic wise. So, you know, I'm excited about the season that's coming up. Looking forward to it, man.

[Unknown Host]

How many years you been coaching there, man?

[Drayton Florence]

It's my first year.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, congratulations.

[Drayton Florence]

Yeah, so like I just, we just went through spring and now we're in summer.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, dude, that's Exciting.

[Drayton Florence]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

What are you most excited about?

[Drayton Florence]

Just watching the kids develop. And, you know, a lot of mistakes that we have were making in the spring, we've corrected those, so we aren't making those mistakes. So now we're actually. I want those guys to slow the game down. And what I mean by that is when they're processing the game mentally, the game slows down. You know, as a former athlete, you know when it's 02 or 03, you know what pitch is coming two steps ahead of the pitcher. So it makes the game feel a little bit slower. So I'm interested to see how those guys can transition slow the game down by thinking the game instead of just using the athletic ability.

[Unknown Host]

And that all comes from leadership too, man. Right. Because like how you lead as the head guy and how your coaches also assist you in leading the preparation is the thing. Right. Because if they're not prepared and they don't understand the playbook, they don't understand assignments, they can't read a defense, then it's really hard. It is really hard to slow the game down.

[Drayton Florence]

Yeah. Because you're guessing at that point.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, it's guesswork, man.

[Drayton Florence]

You're guessing. It's just like a test. If you haven't studied for that test, you're cooked, bro.

[Unknown Host]

You're cooked.

[Drayton Florence]

Nothing more. The best feeling I can say for me in sports is being overly prepared. So I know exactly where the offensive coordinator on the other team is thinking on third down before he makes the call.

[Unknown Host]

And that's by studying, right?

[Drayton Florence]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

It's by watching trends, watching film and understanding the game, X's and O's wise, but also the tendencies in the mindset of that opposing coach. That's a tough one, bro.

[Drayton Florence]

Well, that's the part of the game that I missed the most.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

When people always ask me, well, what do you miss? Blah, blah, blah. It was the mind games.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

Studying that offensive coordinator and knowing what he's going to do on third and two or third and three, and you see him bringing that personnel in. So. And then you see the formation.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

And then you see the motion and you're like, okay, yeah, it's coming. So, you know, being able to think the game out and then letting the athletic ability just do what it do is.

[Unknown Host]

That's the high level part of it, man. Because if your mind is free and you know what's going on, your body just moves with it. It's almost like, dude, I see everything before it happens. Right, Exactly. It's just like that year that Joe Burrow had at lsu. Like, he knew everything.

[Drayton Florence]

He couldn't miss.

[Unknown Host]

He just. He couldn't.

[Drayton Florence]

He couldn't miss.

[Unknown Host]

He couldn't, bro.

[Drayton Florence]

He was prepared.

[Unknown Host]

He was prepared. He was a coach's son.

[Drayton Florence]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

He's a coach's son, man. So when you can do that, it's just. It. It's everything. Yeah, but that's the part people want to skip.

[Drayton Florence]

That's the part people don't see.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, right. Because that's the iceberg underneath, Right?

[Drayton Florence]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

We've got the success up here. We got the touchdown passes, we got the interceptions, the super bowl rings, the national championships, but nobody sees down here.

[Drayton Florence]

How long has he been in the film room?

[Unknown Host]

Oh, man.

[Drayton Florence]

Is he breaking down coverages with his receivers?

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Drayton Florence]

He got his own line line in there. Going over protections, like all of that stuff. Now, I will say the hard knocks, they're doing a pretty good job of giving us a behind the scenes.

[Unknown Host]

They are.

[Drayton Florence]

On how they prepare, how teams prepare.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Drayton Florence]

I like to see more of that on a college level as well.

[Unknown Host]

I would love that. I would love that.

[Drayton Florence]

A good thing that maybe we should put that together.

[Unknown Host]

What's that?

[Drayton Florence]

We should probably put that together.

[Unknown Host]

You want to. That's a good idea. I mean.

[Drayton Florence]

And we can start with uf.

[Unknown Host]

There we go, dude. Hard Knocks. Ncaa. Why not we call it something different.

[Drayton Florence]

Let's start talking about it.

[Unknown Host]

I stopped talking about someone's got to take it trademark.

[Drayton Florence]

But, man, we got to cut that out.

[Unknown Host]

Cut that part out. But thank you so much, brother, for coming on.

[Drayton Florence]

No problem.

[Unknown Host]

And sharing your story and talking about what you do. You're making a big difference. The biggest difference you're making is with the vets and these children that you're working with, man, you're a real hero. You're a real leader. Thank you so much, man.

[Drayton Florence]

I appreciate you having me on.

[Unknown Host]

Absolutely, bro.

[Drayton Florence]

Let's do it again. Absolutely.

[Unknown Host]

We can do it anytime. What I've always found is all the flavors you can taste artificial flavoring in them. With raw. It's exactly that.

[Unknown Announcer]

I don't taste that. It's a clean protein source, tastes great.

[Unknown Host]

And I'm not putting a lot of things in my body that aren't good for you. The biggest thing that I will say.

[Unknown Announcer]

That I love about raw nutrition and.

[Unknown Host]

Bum energy is they're all natural ingredients in the third party tested. So what that means is an actual lab test is to make sure what's.

[Unknown Announcer]

In the product is actually what is.

[Unknown Host]

Stated on the label. And then you'll see on the website.

[Unknown Announcer]

Of raw nutrition that it is signed off on.

[Unknown Host]

So there's no banned substances in these products. Athletes can use them safely and not get tested and popped for a failed.

[Unknown Announcer]

Drug test for performance enhancing, you know, ingredients.

[Unknown Host]

It's completely safe, guilt free, baby.

[Unknown Announcer]

George Garcia, my man.

[Unknown Host]

Hey, thanks so much, dude.

[Unknown Announcer]

Your local guy from Jacksonville beach, the beaches.

[Unknown Host]

This is a community.

[Unknown Announcer]

How does it feel for you to create something and grow something that can help this community out and for you to just see it get better, man?

[George Garcia]

You know, first, beaches insurance is so important to me, but more important to me is the beaches community. My family's been in this area for over 100 years. It's. It's who we are. We care about the people, we care about the businesses. We just love seeing this place prosper.

[Unknown Announcer]

That's amazing, dude.

[Unknown Host]

And just thank you so much for.

[Unknown Announcer]

Being here today, supporting this event. 10 year anniversary of the adaptive and helping to determine society. You know, just in everything that we're doing here, you're truly, truly outwardly focused. And I had no idea. Your family's been here for over 100 years. That's a legacy, man. Talk to me about that because that's big.

[George Garcia]

Yeah. So it's kind of funny. People always say, how are you a Garcia? It was just a guy that came over on a boat in Cuba in 1875 and we ended up in Jacksonville, Florida and been at the beach ever since. It's just a place we love.

[Unknown Announcer]

This is beautiful. I tell you. I'm a big fan. I'm so happy to meet you. I love what you do with the Trevor Lawrence wig.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Announcer]

You really dive into the creative part of this whole business and in the.

[Unknown Host]

Outreach to the community.

[Unknown Announcer]

I just think it's great to see and I wish more people were doing that. How'd you figure?

[Unknown Host]

How did you come up with that?

[George Garcia]

So the wig idea was actually, it was a gift for my son who was 4 years old, but he wouldn't wear it. And so I started wearing it. And I mean, I'm Duval till I die for sure. We're jaguars all the way. So the wig, everyone loves it. Everyone loves Trevor, you know, so that's just something we do to try to keep it light. It's just insurance, you know.

[Unknown Announcer]

Right, right. Well, you gotta liven it up a little bit, right? You know, Trevor, you guys lock him.

[Unknown Host]

Down for some more.

[Unknown Announcer]

He's staying. That's a big deal. Big deal for the community.

[George Garcia]

Big for my content too.

[Unknown Host]

Absolutely. Because, dude, what if you had to.

[Unknown Announcer]

Get like a short race.

[George Garcia]

I know, I know. We can't do that again.

[Unknown Host]

Your whole brand would be off.

[George Garcia]

Exactly. So? So we got him locked in for seven years. That's seven more years of content. We're ready to go.

[Unknown Host]

Beautiful, man.

[Unknown Announcer]

Well, listen, dude, I appreciate you, George.

[Unknown Host]

Thank you so much. FBI, first speeches. Insurance, right here in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

[Drayton Florence]

Peace.

[George Garcia]

See.

[Sean French]

Sean French. What up? This one, luck. I let the pain inspire me? I put my all in? Everything I'm doing up until it's done. I mean, for the entirety. I put it in overtime? I be working? Just know I'm a go for mine? Cause I earned it? They watch and I know it's time? I confirmed it? The whole society determined determin.