One of the few free-agent additions the Los Angeles Rams made this past offseason was Ahkello Witherspoon, a cornerback whose career has been plagued by injuries. He played just 13 games combined in 2021 and 2022 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and while he performed relatively well when he was on the field, he just wasn’t available as much as he needed to be.
Witherspoon landed with the Rams this offseason and he’s played all 10 games up to this point, barely missing a snap on defense. during the spring, however, he wasn’t sure he’d even get another opportunity in the NFL.
Witherspoon told J.B. Long on the “Rams Revealed” podcast that he was “extremely concerned” about his future in the league after suffering a bad hamstring injury in 2022.
“I was extremely concerned, I have no problem saying it,” he said. “Just coming off the injury that I had last year, pretty bad hamstring. That was very stressful, just wondering if I could ever run again at the clip that I had. And will I have an opportunity to play the game I love? Definitely wasn’t sure where it would be and just thankful that it’s been this.”
Witherspoon has aspirations to go to med school after his playing days are over, and there was some legitimacy to the thought that he might pursue his career in medicine this year before signing with the Rams.
“Absolutely not,” he said when asked if his medicine career was far off earlier this year. “It was just comfortable wherever it went, knowing I always put my best foot forward.”
As for where his desire to go into medicine came from, it started in college when he got his biology degree. He’s always been interested in math and science, so he wants to put his education to use and go into medicine.
He’s just not sure what path he wants to go down, and will just go into the process with an open mind.
“Really wanted to do something that challenged me,” he said. “Aways been a math, science-type guy. Went to Colorado and got my biology degree. Obviously, I have aspirations to go to med school when I’m done with football. Just taking whatever the path was that I found fit to pursue those goals – really, regardless of what happened in the football world because at the time, you’re not sure if you’re going to go to the NFL, and shoot, even start when I was in college at one point. Just really doing my due diligence and taking ownership of my education.”
Witherspoon has had an up-and-down season in 2023, but one thing’s for sure: He’s still plenty talented enough to continue playing in the NFL and put his education on hold for a little while longer. After all, he’s just 28 years old.
This season in Los Angeles, he has two interceptions, six passes defensed and 25 tackles as one of the Rams’ starting cornerbacks.