Troy's Massaquoi comfortable with decision to enter NFL Draft

Jonathan Massaquoi weighed all his options, but when it came down to it, he decided it was time to chase a goal he had set before coming to Troy in 2009.

That’s why, last Friday, the Trojan defensive end entered the NFL Draft despite having a year of eligibility remaining.

Massaquoi, 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, graduated in December.

“I just had a good feeling,” Massaquoi said late Monday night. “Before I even went to junior college, this was a vision of mine, to play in the NFL, and once it became attainable I had to go with it.”

Massaquoi had his goal in mind early on. He redshirted in 2009 after getting 20.5 sacks in one season at Butler County (Kan.) Community College.

He became a starter in 2010, getting 13.5 sacks. That number dipped to 6.5 this year as Massaquoi battled various injuries, but he was an all-Sun Belt pick both years.

“This was something I had set for myself from when I first got to Troy,” Massaquoi said. “It was something I had told (strength) coach (Richard) Shaughnessy and close friends of mine around here that I wanted to play two years at Troy, get my degree and go to the NFL.”

The NFL Draft advisory grade for Massaquoi projected him to be taken anywhere from the fourth round to free agent. The player doesn’t feel like he’s taking a big risk by declaring a year early. He turns 24 in May, and he’s older than even most college seniors.

“I don’t feel like I’m taking a chance,” he said. “I feel like it’s my vision and I feel comfortable with what I’ve attained to this point, even with getting my degree. I’ve exceeded all the things that they asked of me as a student-athlete and I feel like it’s time to make this move in my life, not just for me but for the ones around me.”

“I spent a lot of prayer and meditation time over the holiday break thinking about this decision. I’m a hard-nosed guy. I know it’s not your first contract that makes you, it’s your second.”

Massaquoi became a playmaker on Troy’s defense right away. He’s got the same type of goals for a professional team.

“If I’m put into the right organization with other players who have the same mindset as me, I’m capable of being a playmaker,” Massaquoi said. “It was a flip of a coin, roll of the dice, but this is the path I’ve chosen to take.”

Massaquoi expressed gratitude to Troy coaches for signing him and allowing him to work towards the NFL and a degree. He hadn’t yet decided on his training regimen, and is hoping to get invited to the NFL Combine like teammate James Brown.

“As you know me, my goals are set very high,” he said. “I’m not an average player, as you’ve seen from my work and my enthusiasm on every play. The film speaks for itself and I know what I can bring to an organization. I have high hopes, and I’m willing to obtain them by any means.”