The Connection: Trent and I were teammates at Stanford during the 2016-2017 season. Prior to college, we had met at many Southern California training sessions and had competed against one another on the 7on7 circuit.
Quote of the Episode: "I didn't really know if I would ever get a shot again after being cut by Miami. You don't know what's coming. I got a tryout with the Giants, but then they just shipped me back to Cali. It was a dark time. I was walking my friend's dog for a little bit of money . . . And I didn't know if it was over. I've never worked a day in my life, so I don't even know what type of jobs I would get into."
Bet You Didn’t Know: When he wasn’t tearing up the Pop Warner field and subsequently setting state records at Hart High School, Trent was a child actor. Want proof? Watch him get blasted through a wall by a bowl of pasta in this 2010 Velveeta commercial.
In episode 6 of Under the Number, I caught up with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Trent Irwin. From his record-setting high school days to his winding path to NFL success, Trent takes us inside his remarkable football journey.
Growing up in Southern California, Trent and his high school quarterback Brady White formed a dynamic duo. "That's my dog, that's my best friend," Trent reflects. "We had a connection that was real special out there on the field." He credits their success to a tireless work ethic, attending every camp imaginable to hone their craft.
Trent also pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes world of college recruiting, discussing the challenge of choosing between ASU (where Brady had committed) and Stanford. "To this day, it's the toughest breakup in my life," he says of telling Brady he was committing to Stanford. "I cried. It was the toughest breakup to this day."
Undrafted out of college and quikly cut by the Miami Dolphins, he spent two years on the Bengals' practice squad before finally getting his shot. "Thursday was our game day," he explains. "That's when we got to show what we could do." It would not have been possible to stick it out without his deep love for the game. "In the end, you get to go out there, compete, and have fun," he affirms. "You do it exactly the way you want to, but make it work. That's really what matters."
Trent's passion shines through in every aspect of his preparation. "I take it down to every formation, every play we have," he explains. "So when I get in the huddle, I can almost finish the play call myself."
Tune in for an inspiring conversation with a true grinder both on and off the field. Like, subscribe, and catch every episode of Under the Number wherever you listen to podcasts!
