Being listed at 6-foot-6, 275-pounds with a clocked 40 yard dash time at 4.85 seconds, there is little that Gallaudet University defensive linemen Adham Talaat can’t overcome from a physical standpoint. While his strength and power is obvious upon first glance, there is more to this one-of-a-kind football player who is currently trying to prove to the NFL that he deserves to be a professional athlete.
Talaat has severe hearing loss. While it may hinder his ability to effectively hear sounds when he doesn’t have his hearing aids in, the Division III first team defensive player is nonetheless aware of the words his critics say. And he’s continually proving them wrong.
A new beginning
After receiving a scholarship to play Division I football at the University of Massachusetts, Talaat never felt comfortable and decided to leave college, a move that surprised his friends and family.
After leaving UMass, Talaat enrolled in community college in his hometown of Springfield, Virginia, where he also worked opening boxes and shipping packages at a local T.J.Maxx. It was there that he became aware of another east coast university that was dedicated to delivering a top-notch education for those living with hearing loss. Best of all, it also had an impressive football team.
Gallaudet University is the world’s leading colleges specifically designed for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. For 150 years, the university has been enlightening minds while opening doors for people with hearing loss. So it was a no-brainer that Talaat would take his talents to the Washington, D.C., campus.
Today, Talaat has completed a remarkable senior season with the Gallaudet Bison, a year which saw Talaat leading the way for the No. 12 ranked best defense in all of Division III football. Along the way he’s earned numerous awards such as first team all conference defense, a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy and being a member of the CoSIDA Football Academic All-American Division III First Team thanks in part to an overall GPA of 3.9. The team also posted an overall 9-2 winning record while reaching the playoffs.
A shot at the pros
Talaat has come a long way since working the stockroom, and his hard work and dedication has not only resulted in a tremendous collegiate career, but a potential professional one as well. Talaat was recently offered a chance to try out with the Seattle Seahawks. If he is able to impress scouts and coaches during the rookie training mini-camp, he could find himself a part of the same 53-man team roster as fullback Derrick Coleman, who made waves last year being the first deaf football player to play in the Super Bowl.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity from the best organization in the NFL, the Seattle Seahawks,” Talaat said according to a Gallaudet University press release. “I believe I belong at this level and I am very excited for the chance to prove it. I am ready to get to work and learn. I will not disappoint!”
His story should be an inspiration to all that no matter what your perceived limitations are, there is nothing standing in the way of providing yourself with an opportunity to achieve your dreams and goals.
