AT 14 YEARS OLD, Eastside’s André Goodman had hardly touched a football.
Goodman, in fact, didn’t dabble much into competitive sports at all until early high school — when he decided to play basketball and run track for his Eastside Eagles.
But Eastside football HC John Carlisle saw something in the young Goodman. Potential on the gridiron, in a sport he’d hardly touched.
“He had the ability, and especially the speed,” said Carlisle. “I told him he might like football. And that it might open up some doors for him.”
Goodman made the choice to join Eastside’s football team. And did it ever open doors. Doors far beyond his wildest dreams.
He immediately excelled as a wide receiver and defensive back for the Eagles, earning All-State honors at the positions. Goodman found so much success, in fact, that he was given a full-ride scholarship to play football at the University of South Carolina.
“I think my proudest football moment was receiving a full-ride scholarship [from USC] the morning after my final game at Eastside,” said Goodman.
Goodman would excel with the Gamecocks, too, parlaying a great college tenure into a 3rd round selection in the 2002 NFL Draft — and a successful 10-year NFL career after that.
After finishing his pro career, Goodman took a position as the Director of Player Development for his Alma mater, USC.
He now works as a mental health consultant, a career path forged from a desire to uplift those in difficult/new patches of life.
Goodman uses his NFL career and his own post-football mental health battles as a testimony for clients, walking beside them and showing them they aren’t alone in their battles.
Before he ever fell in love with a football, Goodman’s main goal was simply to attend and graduate college. Football became his outlet and his anchor into worlds he never believed he could explore.
Now, 14 years after his final NFL season, Goodman’s turned his football career into a pathway — a pathway to helping others fight their battles and find their own callings.
14 days until high school football is back.
