Justin Eboigbe Speaks on Unique Journey to Alabama at the NFL Scouting Combine

The former Crimson Tide defensive lineman is trying to trail blaze for his hometown, one that's far from an NFL factory like other areas in the United States.

INDIANAPOLIS — For many NFL prospects, their high school days were filled with joy and victory. Even for high school players that didn't end up playing professionally, Friday nights provided them some of the fondest memories of their adolescence. 

That's where former Alabama defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe differs — other than the fact that he's set to be drafted to the NFL. 

"Friday nights wasn't always the best," Eboigbe said. 

That's because his high school, Forest Park, was essentially the opposite of a football powerhouse. Since the 2004 season (a.k.a. the furthest back the MaxPreps website goes), Forest Park's record stands at 20-179. In Eboigbe's four years at Forest Park, the Panthers went 0-10, 1-9, 2-9 and 3-8, respectively.  

Not only that, Forest Park wasn't even competitive most of the time. In that 2015 season, for example, its average margin of defeat was 35.8 points. While that margin shrunk every year until 2020, the Panthers were still a far lesser program compared to their Georgia high school counterparts.

However, that didn't stop Eboigbe from gaining national attention as a high school prospect. He was rated as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports and was ranked in the top-10 of all players in the state of Georgia. By the end of his junior year, Eboigbe had offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami (FL), Notre Dame, Oklahoma and several other Power 5 schools. 

"Just trying to uphold being the guy that stayed true, stayed there, didn't transfer out," Eboigbe said regarding what he wanted his legacy to be. "Just showing that they can find you if you put the work in."

Funny enough, Eboigbe actually won't be the first Forest Park alum to be selected in the NFL Draft. In about two months, he'll be the second, following in the footsteps of none other than four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Hines Ward. 

In the future, however, Eboigbe hopes that he's not the last Forest Park Panther to play in the NFL. 

"They can look at me as somebody who made it out," Eboigbe said of aspiring football players from his hometown. "A lot of times, you want to have a blueprint and the same avenue that you're trying to go down. A lot of times, it's easier if you see who've done it as opposed to you trying to create a path. I'm just trying to create a path."

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