Born in Alabama in 1990, T.J. Barnes started playing football in high school, and he was instantly marked as a great prospect. Things kept going well for him in college as well.
Barnes’s first professional team was the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played with them for four months in 2013 and then transferred to the New York Jets. After switching teams for several years, in 2020, he signed with the New York Guardians.
Emanuel Yarbrough – 6’8″, 600 lbs
Emanuel Yarbrough was nicknamed "Little" or "Tiny" and it was obviously ironic as we are talking about a man who was heavier than a family-sized fridge. Keep in mind that this wasn't even his peak weight – at his heaviest, this man reached the weight of 882 lbs! This man is a Guinness World Record holder for the world's heaviest athlete.
Before turning to sumo wrestling, Yarbrough played football and wrestled in college. He started his sumo training in 1992, became world-famous, and passed away in 2015.
Tarrell Brown – 6’10″, 190 lbs
Darrell Brown's football career started when he was a high school student at North Mesquite High School in Texas. His familiar path of college football, which should be leading to an NFL draft, had to take a little detour due to run-ins with the law.
He was finally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2007, with whom he played for 6 years. He only got to play for the New England Patriots for two months before suffering a foot injury, forcing him to retire.
Bryant McKinnie – 6’8″, 352 lbs
Bryant McKinnie started playing football in high school, and he was easily noticed thanks to his talent and enormous size. After a substantial college career, McKinnie was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2002.
McKinnie has also played for the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins before retiring in 2013. He is now involved in philanthropy, fitness, and music.
Phil Loadholt – 6’8″, 343 lbs
Honolulu born Phil Loadholt has played football since high school in Colorado. He was even named Colorado Springs Area Player of the Year in his senior year, which was a good sign he had a bright football future ahead.
Loadholt played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2009 to 2015. In 2015, he tore his Achilles Tendon, which led to his 2016 retirement.