By Terra Simms
Reaching the NFL is a goal for many football players. For some, it’s their only goal.
However, there are other opportunities for athletes to play beyond the collegiate level besides a slot on an NFL team. For football players, there’s arena football, a modified game in which the twenty players on the field play both defense and offense.
But, the transition from college football to professional football, regardless of the level, can be difficult and disappointing, especially since there are only about 255 college players and free agents drafted into the NFL each year.
Bobby Leffew, who was a defensive lineman for the University of Louisville from 2001 to 2004, recently signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Rush arena football team. The transition for Bobby has been difficult due to injuries, but it has been far from disappointing.
“My loyalty is with Louisville,” said the 6-foot-4, 295-pounder. “I’m glad I didn’t go to UK.” Bobby signed with U of L after the University of Kentucky dropped him as a prospect due to a serious ankle injury his senior year at Boyle County High School.
At U of L, he had an impressive freshman season at defensive tackle, garnering an All American title from Sporting News and Conference USA. He was ranked third on the squad with five sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
Bobby’s sophomore season took a blow when he injured his ankle in the season opener against Kentucky, but he returned strong against East Carolina. He then suffered a career set back with a knee injury against Cincinnati.
“Coming out from high school I was like a star, and then people stop talking to you as much. Coaches can’t figure out why you keep getting injured,” Bobby said. “The last team [to recruit me] was the Chicago Bears. I got to practice with them, see the big-name players, but they couldn’t take the risk [signing me].”
Bobby ended his college football career with a 44-40 victory over Boise State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in 2004.
“Obviously they’re very good student athletes to be playing at this level,” Bryan Hicks, assistant athletic director for academics for football, said, “so what I do is turn around and try to find what other skills they have, what other things are important to them that they value.”
“[Bobby] is an extremely smart man,” he said. “Bobby brought a lot of skills to the table. If sports administration is still a pursuit of his I will always give him that ear.” Bobby graduated with a sports administration degree and, like his father, is a licensed electrician.
Then the Lexington Horsemen arena football team rode into town – it was his chance to continue playing football.
“It was 30 minutes from home,” Bobby said.
Bobby played five games for the Horsemen, allowing him to stay in shape and learn arena ball. Players only received $200 if they won and $180 if they lost.
After playing with the Horsemen Bobby came closer to the NFL by signing with the Rush club. Rush is owned by former Chicago Bear football player Mike Ditka.
“You can make a living,” Bobby said, “all the head coaches [of the Bears] come to their games.”
For Travis Leffew, Bobby’s younger brother and a senior offensive lineman for U of L, the road to the NFL is well paved while Bobby’s is still under construction.
Travis, an Associated Press All-American, marked his 50th straight starting game when U of L lost 35-24 to Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., last weekend.
Travis is highly recruited by the NFL, and draftdaddy.com predicts he will be drafted the first day. He is ranked 64th by sportsnutz.com.
Despite Travis’ success as he leaves the college field behind, the brothers and their family say there isn’t much rivalry between them.
“We talk on the phone and he’ll come up [to Danville],” Bobby said. “We’ll go out and play a little golf – even though we can’t, we’ll attempt to.”
“The biggest downfall of them all is not being able to play with him on the field,” Travis said.
“I coached them in little league football,” said William Leffew, the brother’s father. “I told them to go out there and hit hard then drug them out the mud. I’m real proud of them.”
Travis said arena football is an opportunity to play professionally and is proud of Bobby’s progress.
“He’s moved on to bigger and better things. It’s going to be nice to go up [to Chicago] and watch him play.”
Rush’s first home game is Feb. 3 against the New York Dragons.
Bobby’s injuries and career snubs haven’t deterred his quest for the NFL. He has prepared for a future without football.
“I want to go to the NFL, but if not I can always work with my dad as an electrician.” Bobby said.
For Travis, “after the season ends everything is going to be an option.”
