Running back Jaleel McLaughlin has never shied away from adversity.

The North Carolina native faced one challenge after another along his journey, but he never wavered from the belief that he would one day achieve his dream of playing in the NFL.

As the Broncos prepare to take the field to face McLaughlin’s hometown team in Week 8, The Charlotte Observer’s Mike Kaye took a closer look at McLaughlin’s trip to Denver — which began with a promise he made to himself during a “Fan “Celebration” of the Carolina Panthers. practice a few years ago.

“I said one day I’m going to be out there in the NFL playing right there on the field,” McLaughlin said. “It’s definitely great that we’re playing Carolina this week – like I kind of started this.”

McLaughlin, who faced poverty and homelessness during his high school years, often used sports as an escape. A three-sport athlete in high school, McLaughlin was committed to hard work and self-improvement despite external circumstances.

“I think adversity can take its toll on you, and I think that’s what made me who I am, honestly,” McLaughlin said. “When me and my family went through that in North Carolina, it just hit a nerve in me to want to work and not have to go through that (again). So I just put my head down and worked as hard as I could.”

Despite his strong work ethic, McLaughlin wasn’t a highly sought-after recruit coming out of high school. With the goal of reaching the next level, he ended up at Notre Dame College in Ohio, where he excelled in Division II. McLaughlin eventually moved to Division I Youngstown State and took on the challenge there too. He had 3,424 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns in three seasons.

Nevertheless, his talents were once again not fully appreciated after college and he signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in May 2023.

“He would have had to fight hard for a place in the squad, but he never hesitated to take the opportunity to prove his worth,” Kaye wrote. “It was a common challenge throughout his life and his sporting career.”

Now in his second season with the Broncos, McLaughlin has established himself as a consistent contributor to the Broncos offense. He recorded three touchdowns during his rookie season and has added two more this season.

As his work ethic and commitment to self-improvement continue to drive his success, he will remember a journey that began several years ago in North Carolina when he takes on the Panthers this weekend.

To learn more about McLaughlin’s journey, click here to read Kaye’s article.