Central Methodist University defensive back Malcolm Elmore had been contacted by 28 different NFL teams throughout his senior season, which made him realize that his dream of becoming a professional football player was very much in the cards.
Still, Elmore knew that playing for a small school would hinder his draft value and that his route to the NFL likely ran through undrafted free agency. What he didn’t know is just how quickly things would culminate.
In the immediate aftermath of the draft, Elmore was contacted by several NFL teams, but ultimately ended up signing a deal with the New York Giants.
“To be honest, I’m still taking it all in,” Elmore told The Missourian. “I can’t wait to get out there and actually meet everybody in person. We have a new coach [Joe Judge] so I’m sure it’s new for everybody, but from what I’ve seen (this is) an organization that I’m super proud to be a part of.”
When Elmore can meet his new coach and teammates remains uncertain due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, so for the time being, he’s limited to virtual meetings through Zoom and whole lot of digital studying.
“Lot of hours a day on iPads,” Elmore said. “It’s just a lot of getting to know the people in the organization, people that I’ll be communicating with on a daily basis. (I) work out every day … condition in the morning, go lift about an hour later and then start any meetings I have for the day.”
Although the entire experience is somewhat abnormal, Elmore still looks at it as something to be “incredibly grateful and thankful for.”
When Elmore does finally arrive in East Rutherford, he will be thrust into a defensive back competition that features the likes of Darnay Holmes, Sam Beal, Corey Ballentine, Dravon Askew-Henry and Grant Haley.
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