TAMPA, Fla. – Soccer interested Jude Adjei-Barimah early in life. But in time, football became a passion that presented an unexpected career path.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound cornerback from Bowling Green was promoted from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad on Oct. 3. The undrafted rookie has 12 tackles and one pass defensed in five games, and he had a season-high six tackles in his first start against the New York Giants in Week 9.
Adjei-Barimah -- who was born in Pordenone, Italy, but moved to Columbus, Ohio, as a boy -- shared his inspirations and discoveries as part of our weekly Q&A with a member of the Bucs:
When did you know you wanted to play football?
Adjei-Barimah: I’m from outside the country. I was born in Italy, so I came over here at the age of 9, and I started playing organized football pretty much my freshman year of high school. I just started playing, because all the kids in the neighborhood weren’t playing soccer. So I started playing football.
When did you know football could become a profession?
Adjei-Barimah: When the Buccaneers called me in late July, because I wasn’t drafted. I wasn’t signed as a free agent after the draft or anything like that. So yeah, when the Buccaneers called me in late July for a workout, I realized that I could have a shot. It was a big relief for me, because it was one of the goals that I had set out, but I didn’t know if it was ever going to be possible or not. So I’m glad that that happened the way it did.
Who's your biggest inspiration in the game?
Adjei-Barimah: Honestly, I don’t have one. I don’t really have one. I guess I’m kind of my biggest inspiration in football, because I feel like I’ve got a unique background and a unique story about myself. So I’m trying to beat the odds myself. So that’s how I go about it. I never really even thought about it.
What has been your biggest challenge in the sport?
Adjei-Barimah: Probably day in and day out, play in and play out, just to focus on the details or the little things that you think don’t matter but actually make a huge difference. So I feel like that’s the biggest difference [from college].
What's the best advice you've received about being an NFL player?
Adjei-Barimah: I’ve gotten a lot of good advice, but I’d probably say the best piece is just to respect the game. Never take it for granted, because it could be taken from you at any point. So respecting the game probably is the best advice that I’ve gotten since I’ve been here.
