There's going to be times when you don't think you're going to make it. At the end, it's going to be best thing that's ever happened to you. Undrafted, not invited to the combine to now you're getting a team that's competing for a Super Bowl championship. They're wanting everything. They're wanting to go for it. The vibe from them is always wanting more.
We look back at the Carson Steel story. What do you hope people say about you in 40 years? From South Bin to Evansville and everywhere in between, this is Get In, the show focused on the Hoosier State and the incredible stories happening here today. I'm Nate Spangle, founder of Get Indiana, and I will be your host for today's conversation. Mark your calendar. We're headed down to Brown County on July 26th for Hard Truth Bourbon and Barbecue Festival.
Get ready for a smoky, savory, and spirited weekend at Hard Truth in Brown County. Join me at Hard Truth Distilling Cove. The weekend of July 25th and 26th for an unforgettable celebration of bourbon, barbecue, and good times. We've got live music rocking from 9 until noon with four different acts, bourbon and barbecue tastings and pairings, bourbon blending and cocktail crafting classes, as well as a VIP bourbon and cigar lounge. They also have interactive competitions and outdoor activities, bourbon barrel roll races, barbecue toss and cornhole tournaments, $10 entry for a $300 prize. If you're a good cornhole player, hit me up.
Let's join up. And they have axe throwing as well. Me and my team are going to be down there and I will be releasing a full weekend itinerary for Nashville/ Brown County that is guaranteed to be a great time. Tickets for the Hart Truth Bourbon and Barbecue Fest start at $10 for general admission that gets you entered in the festival, the live music, and pay as you go food and drink. For $35, you can get the barbecue sampler pass, tastings from all the barbecue competitors. Or for $75, you can get the VIP ticket where you get VIP lounge access, premium bourbon tastings, and a guided distillery tour by master distiller Brian Smith, previous guest of the show.
I will see y'all in Brown County the weekend of July 25th and 26th. Now, let's get into the episode. Today is a special guest. I'm joined by Carson Steel, homegrown powerhouse from Center Grove, Indiana. And he led the Trojans to a state championship where he stacked up 6,300 total yards, 85 touchdowns, and earned the distinguished title of Mr. Football in 2020.
After that, he made some waves at Ball State in UCLA, and then wound up on the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL. baby. You might have seen him all over social media. Was it Thursday Night Football? Oh my gosh. Everywhere.
Uh this guy is a true Hoosier doing incredible things in the NFL. I'm excited to learn about his story, the journey from the south side of Indianapolis to Muny to Los Angeles, winding up in Kansas City, and hear about all the great stuff coming down the pipeline. Carson, welcome to Get In. Appreciate it. Thank you, dude. I am pumped.
This is like uh maybe six months in the making. I mean, from the moment I saw you, I think that first game, Thursday Night Football, I don't remember what the game was, but they serve this guy from Indiana with a a crocodile alligator. Crocodile with an alligator on national television like, "Yeah, he's from Center Grove High School." I was like, "Holy, I know that guy. I've seen that guy." So, uh I'm I'm uh super pumped to have you here, man.
Uh growing up, you went to Center Grove High School, had that incredible senior year, man. Uh like 6,300 total yards. Like, that's nuts. talk to us through that season and like when did you realize that football was the thing that you wanted to go pursue? Yeah, man. Even, you know, coming out of middle school and stuff like that, I was um always a big football guy, you know, I was big into track, stuff like that.
I kind of dipped my toes into baseball a little bit, but um you know, coming into that freshman year, I was like 6'1, 200 lb, you know, bigger dude. And um ever since then, I kind of, you know, took off and ran with her. 61 as a freshman, 200 lb. Like, were you just like plugged right in like, "Yep, you're right. You're starting on the football team as a freshman." Uh yeah, basically.
But uh at a 6A school, like getting time as a freshman, that's like that's nuts. That's almost like unheard of. Like how many other or freshman were there getting time with the varsity? Um I would say there's probably one or two, but not like truly starting. And it it kind of took about a few games in until I truly started. And then you got and and then from there on it was just off to the races, right?
I feel like was it did you get injured junior year? Yeah, my junior year. Okay. So then had to have some resilience but then came back in insane senior year. Uh well, were you guys undefeated that year? Yeah, that year.
Uh especially coming like with co and everything too. It was kind of crazy for us. Oh, cuz that would have been right after it was like March is the pandemic football season that year and you're just like, "Hey." And at that point, were schools calling you like before your senior year after the injury? Yeah, they were a little bit um they were calling me before the injury and then it kind of slowed down a little bit after the injury. So, like who was calling you early on and where you realized like, oh, like this is legit?
Yeah, I was talking to some big schools like um like LSU, Kentucky, Clemson, like bigger bigger school, you know, and and then you get hurt and you know, you it's a weird, you know, it's a process kind of like a business thing, but um you know, they kind of slowed down a little bit, especially once COVID hit, too. Nobody was talking to anybody at that point. Yeah. Well, then you have this incredible season, right? And when I don't know where in the process did you decide he ends up at Ball State, where in the process did you decide did you kind of like know that going in or was that like after the season you were going to see out your options? Yeah.
Um that was kind of like my last, you know, last second deal. Um I wanted to like really look out all my options at first, kind of pick everything out, but you know, Ball State took a chance on me, gave him like my only like true big offer. So really, how did you feel? Like, you know, you're you're Mr. Football. You're you're 6A state champions that year.
I mean, 8 like these are insane. These are Madden stats. Like I I play on rookie mode. That's what I'm rolling with. And like no calls from Bloomington, like no or no offer, like no full ride to Bloomington, no full ride to West Lafayette? No, I had um some walk-ons and they also wanted me to switch over to linebacker and I hadn't played linebacker since middle school.
So really, what was the what was the feedback that you were getting on that side? Um you know, a lot of people just being, you know, the type of bodybuild I had and saying, "Hey, you know, you're not going to play running back in the next level." That's kind of what everybody was telling me. A lot of the Big 10 schools told me that. Iowa, IU, Purdue, they're like, "Hey, we like love to play you linebacker, stuff like that." And that's just something I didn't want to do.
Yeah. And I mean like you and you you're showing again this is high school, but still like to have incredible numbers at the biggest division in Indiana do all the stuff. It's like internally were you like, "Man, I know I can do this, man." Yeah, I was I was going through a hard time at that point, especially coming off that injury, too. you know, coming in senior year co you didn't know what was happening with everything and and it's almost like you start to like hey I'm proven that I'm I'm worth this thing and then you're still getting now we want you on the other side of the ball. Yeah 100%.
You know I came back off everything was running feeling great and then you know I still getting that hey we'd love to you know play on defense and stuff like that. So So Ball State's where you end up going. What was like like was there a moment where like I could either go play running back at Ball State or like what was there another option of like hey I'm thinking maybe that is the right option like and who's guiding you through this whole thing? That was the thing you know my parents my mom and dad were real big into that also coach Moore uh for my high school. He was kind of helping me through that and so we were thinking basically anything out there. Jo routes you know trying to walk on to programs.
Yeah. Stuff like that cuz I knew you know when it came down to it I wanted to play running back. That was like my big goal. And when did the deal get sealed with with Ball State? Gosh, I would say after the season, like it came like down to Were they always interested or was it like, hey, this all came together at the last second? They were always always like into it.
So that's really why, you know, they've stuck out with me. Even through the injury, they were still, you know, kind of pursuing. Oh, so they got on you like sophomore, junior year. Okay, that's pretty cool. Yeah. So, you know, they stuck it out with me and I was like, you know what, if they're going to take a chance on me, then, you know, was it Coach Lynch there at that time?
Yeah. And now he's a Butler now. Um, Coach Johnson was on the staff. Uh, and he was who recruited me to play at Depal. I never actually ended up playing. I was on the football team.
Okay. But I never like like I never got a snap. So, I became the social media guy by my senior year and here's where we are, right? Um, so no, those are those are good dudes. So, you end up in Muny. What's your mindset going into that?
Like going into you show up for camp uh day one as a freshman. Yeah. How how are you feeling? I kind of put everything, you know, past me about the whole walk-on and stuff and I was like, you know what? I'm going to give this school everything I have. you know, they took a chance on me and so, you know, I'm here and ready to show up and, you know, after that first day at camp, I really, you know, wanted to put out every, you know, opportunity I had to be like, hey, this is who I am and, you know, this is what I'm going to give you guys.
Was the feedback, maybe not feedback, but like the culture of the upper classman, like, hey, you're a freshman. Wait your turn. Like, how how's that vibe go? 100%. You know how that always works. Um, especially coming into like a college offense.
Um, it was crazy for me, but you know, I had a lot of help from some of the older guys. Will Jones was one of the big running backs there at the time. You know, he's fifth year, sixth year senior guy. And so he always That's a man. Yeah. Oh yeah.
And uh so he took me under his wing. Uh really helped me out with everything. And that's kind of how like I progressed from there. Yeah. And so how'd that first year go? It went awesome.
Um ended up going for right at about a thousand yards and I think like now as a true freshman like and was there the thought like were the coaches saying like hey we might red shirt you like figure when do you have to figure that out? Um there was a little bit we went into team camp though and I was started getting reps with everybody so I knew that probably wasn't going to be a possibility. You know we always thought about it just to be you know to get more developed but you know as soon as we went into camp we had a couple running backs also that went down too. So it was kind of like really me and Will going back and forth at it. Yeah. And you I mean you scored 14 times as a freshman, right?
Um I think it was was that sophomore year? That was sophomore year. Yeah. Okay. But you make an immediate impact there, right? things are rolling in Muny.
This is not groundbreaking news. Historically, like Ball State's football program is still figuring it out, you know, like at that time, what was the program like? Yeah. Um, it was a lot of older dudes, you know, they came off of, you know, the MAC championship and was that with Drew Plit? Uh, yeah. He he and I run together.
He's a good dude, too. Yeah, he's awesome, dude. I'm actually in the process of bidding on one of his rookie cards on eBay right now, you know. So, just like you were saying, those dudes are sixth year guys, fifthe year guys, and you know, having a rookie come in and trying to, you know, get into that process after they're wanting to go, you know, win another, you know, championship. It was hard for me at first, you know, especially because they'd all been working with each other for so long. So, they, you know, knew the timing and everything, how to get down to it.
Oh, yeah. I guess. So, what what year this is 2021 that first year? How' the season end up? I think we got one game away from going to the MAC or something or the t the MAC title. Yeah.
Yeah. So, like, you know, playing decent football there. Year wraps up, you're getting time, come back for sophomore year. And and like, what's your mindset there? I basically told myself, I was like, let's do everything you can to, you know, try to be the best you can. And in the back of your mind, like again, you're obviously loyal to your team.
You're giving them everything you have, but it's like this is going to be a stepping stone. Like, I'm going to find myself at a big program. Yeah. I mean, I never I always had it in the back of my head, but I was always like, I'm a big loyal guy. That's my number one thing. And so I was going to try to stick it out with a team that, you know, really cared for me.
And um, you know, I knew that year that I had to really, you know, I could prove myself that I could play college football, but I just wanted to, you know, kind of take it over to the top. So, how's that year end? I mean, obviously the stats there are pretty pretty solid, right? That was right. I said it's uh what,500 right around 1500 yards, 14 touchdowns. Like you got to be feeling good.
The sophomore is making some waves. 100%. Yeah. Um, I end up finishing like top 10 rushing that year. So in the country. Mhm.
Yeah. Were there moments where you like on Sports Center like a clip of you running a ghost fire? Like were there moments that were like, "Oh man, like I'm figuring this out." 100%. Yeah. Especially with like you were saying earlier, Maxction, you know, those Tuesday, Thursday night games.
It's 20° outside. Yeah. Like Big Cat and PFT like live streaming that like putting hammers down on like is Carson still going to score a touchdown at 9:00 p. m. on a Tuesday. Those were good days.
Uh I think because that started maybe in the late 2010s maybe somewhere in there. I remember I was at Depal and we'd like get home from wherever and turn on some late night Tuesday night the only thing going on. Yeah. But like I mean the environment though it's like I mean I don't know Center Grove is a football school. Like were there times where the environment on a Tuesday night in the middle of northern Illinois or wherever where it's not that exciting of an environment? 100%.
You know it's freezing cold. it's, you know, 900 p. m. like you were saying, you have to get it on a bus at 4:00 a. m. in the morning and go back and get to school the next day.
But, um, just like you were saying, coming from a big power program like that and then seeing some of those on a Tuesday, Thursday night, you know, it wasn't the best thing, but at the end of the day, you know, you're putting the pads on, you know, you're getting out with your boys and going back at it. It's an opportunity, right? And I and I think I thus far, I like the mindset that you're bringing into this where it's like through adversity, whatever thing is, you're going to take the opportunity that's ahead of you and you make the most of it. And I mean you did clearly the numbers the numbers don't lie there. Where did taking the next step from Muny uh start to become a reality. Um it kind of stepped in after my right after my sophomore year.
Um you know it wasn't my first option but um you know I kind of dipped in and was looking around at some things. Well what does that mean when you say dipped in? Yeah. You can't really like I'm not saying like going out and contacting schools, you know, that's not what I was doing. But I kind of was looking around and seeing like, hey, what what bigger schools needed a running back, you know? Yeah.
Was was the transfer portal like is I think that some people like think it's a concept, but it's like legitimately a website, right? 100%. Now it's gotten to the point where, you know, people are just going in to just see how much money they can get and stuff like that. Uh did you see right after Purdue lost within 12 hours Brian from Caramel is like in the it's like dang like maybe give it 24 you know like but it's just kids trying to go out and you know do something and get more and get some and get some playing time or get the right compensation like it has become especially over the years now like even from when you were in college it's a business you know and people have to make business decisions there and so you start to feel out and and figure out okay it does taking a step from where did you finish in rushing your sophomore year. Top 10. Yeah, top 10.
So, it's like, okay, top 10 running back. Like, where in your head, where are you thinking you're going to end up? Um, honestly, I was thinking, you know, Midwest, Big 10 school. Um, and that was the big thing coming out of my sophomore year. Um, forgot to say that in there, but I was, everybody was like, well, he can't play at bigger competition. And that was the one thing that people kept, you know, nagging at me.
And like you're see like where are you see who's nagging at you? All over Twitter like you know, you have Oh, yeah. uh probably not the best thing, but like if you're It depends on what kind of person you are. Like if you're the kind of person that that like that can't spiral you. It's got to motivate you. And so you're like Yeah.
You Carson Steel, you can search your name, you're going to pop up on there and people are talking Oh yeah. And that's a big thing like people you'll have 20 of the greatest comments ever about you and then somebody will write one negative and that's the one you you know point out and pick out. So yeah. And it's like I mean same thing same old story, right? you're you get injured as a junior. You're hearing this from coaches like you can only make it at this or now and then you're only succeeding because of XYZ thing like that's out that's not just you being a good football player.
you get to my like, "Oh yeah, he's good on in Tuesday nights in Northern Illinois, but like he can't do that on the biggest stage and you just it's just the little Yeah, it's the little stuff just like you were saying, you know, he can't play running back at the next level and then you know, you go to Ball State and play and they're like, well, he can't play a bigger competition, you know, just like they keep nagging on little things, you know, just trying to find any way." Why did uh UCLA end up being the right option for you? Everybody was dipping into the NIL at this point, but it was kind of one of those things where it was like, "Hey, we don't know about it. We kind of do." And um you know for honestly for me like obviously it wasn't totally about the money. You know obvious it doesn't you know it's always nice to get a little bit there but we're not like but you're not you're not a nonprofit football player.
Yeah it doesn't hurt you but um um for me it was more of like the development side. Um and UCLA you know they had a big running back. Um Zack Charbanet I think is how you say his last name. Yeah he went to the Seahawks and big- time dude. Um Coach Foster he's you know he's 10 years he's a vet in the league. you know, he had like last four four years had four running backs go in the draft and then so you see that and you're like, "Hey, this this guy knows how to get running backs in the NFL to the NFL."
Like, and I think that's interesting, too. Like, I think thinking about the next step, when did the NFL was that always the goal or like when did it become like a a reality? Because there's not that many NFL players uh coming from Ball State. 100%. Right. So, when did your your reality and your goal realistically become like I want to make it in the NFL?
Um, you know, ever since I was a little kid, I was like, man, that's, you know, it's every little kid's dream playing in the NFL. But once I started getting to that high school slash, you know, running for, you know, a good amount of yards at Ball State, that's really when it, you know, kicked to me because Kareem Hunt, you know, his teammate later on, you know, he was Toledo and, you know, a third rounder, you know, so had a great career so far and so this kind of always stuck to me, but it really started to stick like once I was like a senior high school going into my college years. When you're doing big stuff and it's like this is a reality%. I mean, I had that dream. I quickly I quickly realized that it was not going to come to fruition the day I I showed up the first day at camp and got like toasted in a one-on-one and I was like, "Yeah, coach, this is not going to work." Right.
Uh, I'll be behind the camera. It'll be sick. Uh, so you show up and you're out in LA. I mean, you've been in Midwest, you've been Indiana your entire life. Uh, what's like like day one like sunny Los Angeles? What what's the feeling?
And that was the funny part about it is the first like two weeks I got there was nothing but rain and so it was raining freezing cold and I was like man everybody talks so good about it and but uh after that I don't think it rained the rest of the year by the only two weeks of rain. So it was definitely a culture shock for me but you know I knew I had to do it. You know it was just amazing opportunity to be able to go out there you know meet new people and also you know I learned immensely you know new type of like ways to you know running back drills stuff like that ways to carry the ball and that's kind of how like how really helped me progress. Yeah. I I mean there was always just like the big west coast versus east coast versus the middle of the country right? Were there parts that you loved about LA and parts that you missed about home?
like talk to me about like those comparisons just like every day like just living there. 100%. You know, just like you were saying, Muny, Indiana to, you know, Westwood and Los Angeles is a little different, but um just being able to like, you know, go 20 minutes and you're at Santa Monica Pier hanging out on the beach with your friend. There's like so many more opportunities that you can do. And I'm I'm not hating on Indiana, don't worry. So, but just like it's one of those things where you could drive four hours and go skiing or drive another four hours and go surf on the beach.
Like one of those things. So, it was just like I was saying, being a 22-y old kid to, you know, be out there and, you know, it had responsibilities, but it was also, you know, amazing opportunity. I always say, it's like there's a special piece to Indiana. It's not mountains or beaches, right? And it's like if you're the heartland, like the people kind of person like I I don't know. I've I've spent time out in like not living.
I've lived in Indiana forever, but like going out there, I do think the speed and the people that you find in Indiana are for me it's like quickly I'm 28 now. It's like making an impact. I always say this like Indiana is a place to make an impact. But you know, like if if what really jazzes you up is the beach, then like you got to go chase that, right? And being a college kid in LA, like not a bad time to spend, right? Yeah.
Like I was saying, I wouldn't live out there. That's not what you know, but being out there for a little while, you know, it wasn't bad. Yeah. Okay. So, you're enjoying your time out there with somewhere like LA where there is a lot of like glamour, fashion, like all like distractions like there's not the chug is the only distraction in Muny, right? Like like was that hard for maybe not for you or maybe for you or any of your teammates where it's you get caught up in the Hollywood the LA.
Yeah, just like you were saying that was one big thing people told me is like you can't get caught up in that stuff cuz it's will you know derail your career so fast. It does. So many people like you were saying, you know, the fashion, the cool cars, and everything. It's all right there. And, you know, so you have to be really careful about, you know, who you're partying with, where you're partying at, what you're doing, when are you doing it, you know, stuff like that. Countless stories where it's like notch by notch that you just, it's a culture, it's a lifestyle, and it's uh when your main thing is, I want to be an NFL running back.
I can't imagine trying to balance all the like the the different opportunities, we'll call them. How does that that season at UCLA go? Um, it goes good. Um, I went for I think it was right at about 1,000 yards, I think. And, uh, I was splitting time with another running back, too. I was dealing with a little bit of an injury and so, but I mean, it was awesome.
I got more exposure, you know, got to see, you know, what, you know, real composition was like, as everybody said, you know, so, and what what what were the what were the new what the haters shift to? What was the mod? Oh, man. It was everything. You know, he's too slow, can't play in running back at the NFL. you know, they kept, you know, nagging on.
When you see some of that stuff, was there someone on the other side like who was building you up? Family and especially, you know, a lot of the people around Center Grove really helped me out. Um, my my high school coach was helping me out through all that, which is so cool. Like, I mean, one, it's obviously cool to have one of your players make it like to the biggest level of college football. It's he's not obligated to do like he's got 95 or whatever whatever the roster is of current athletes and probably other college kids. like the fact that you can like this is like your fourth time mentioning him in this podcast.
Like he clearly made a huge impact in your life. Yeah. Just like you were saying, I mentioned him all the time and you don't realize it, but you know, he's one of those guys where, you know, like you were saying, he's got a 100k roster, but you'll see him on, you know, Saturdays and Sundays at the little kids field, you know, working with kids, helping him out, and just any way he can do anything. And he's done that since I was a kid. So, were there any moments as you're continuing your football career? Like we're we're to the point now where you're at UCLA, you're a junior.
Coming home, you felt like, man, I'm the man around here. Like 100%. Yeah. You know, you'd walk into places and people would, you know, come up on the south side of India. Yeah. But like you you go to Caramel.
Does anyone know at that point when you're playing at UCLA? Anyone know who Carson Steel is? No. I don't think I've respected in Caramel too much. Yeah. Probably not the You walk into Zansville, right?
And it's like But they're like they don't know who this guy is. Not at all. And then that that all starts to change, right? that junior season ends and take me through your thought process of like now you have to start making real life decisions of like do I play more in college? Do I go to the NFL? Do I like get a degree and sell insurance?
Like there's a lot of different options that you have there. Take me through your thought process. It was definitely a process, you know, going into it, like you were saying, junior year, um, you're having draft grades, you don't have draft grades, and then also our our head coach, you know, they didn't really know what was going on, what he wanted to do, where he was, you know, leaving, staying, and so it was kind of all little chaotic. And so I kind of, you know, going through there. And so Randy helped me, you know, get through that, started talking about everything. And that's kind of, you know, how I made the jump to, hey, I'm, you know, going to really start and do this thing.
Yeah. And and go for it. Uhhuh. And so traditionally, not starts, but a big culmination of that is at the NFL combine and you go to the combine and like that's what you know that's the next great like that wasn't quite your experience, right? Yeah. And this is another one of those moments where like I and I didn't even know that the combine was invite only like so how does that process work out?
It was hard you know like I was saying I kind of got back to that vibe you know junior senior year. Um, you know, I was really hurting. You know, didn't know why. You know, I had high school coaches tell me, NFL coaches tell me, agents, other coaches like, "Hey, you're going to get an invite 100%." You know, and then you don't get one and everybody's And how does that is like an email? Is that like a thing comes in the mail?
So, you have buddies at UCLA that got the invite. Oh, yeah. Uh, buddies at UCLA where I was training at. And it was like almost like a shell shock because, you know, you're getting these dudes that are getting invited that you know, you had better years then, for sure. And so, it was just weird to me. I was like, "How's that process even more?"
Like, and then I wonder if it comes off like, "Oh, they're looking at like transferable stuff or like like again, it's all this paperwork stuff of like people underestimating you." 100%. Getting drafted in the NFL without showing up to the combine like and not getting invited to the combine very challenging. Um, it goes from another, you know, level percentages of, you know, decreasing to see if you're actually going to get drafted. But, you know, at the end of the day, I really thought about it and I was I was like, "This is going to be my story." Yeah.
So, is there like a pro day at UCLA or like are you still like how are you getting in front of coaches besides the tape you already have? Yeah, there was a pro day at UCLA and uh even when I was training I had a little, you know, bumpage on my knee and so I was, you know, kind of working with that too as well. But, you know, it's honestly kind of a blessing. I had the pro day at UCLA because we had Lu, you know, he's with the Colts now. So, I could, yeah, I think every team there was actually in presence at UCLA. So, that really kind of kind of gave me a little bit more exposure.
At this point, I don't know what the rules are. When do you start? Do do you talk to NFL coaches? When are you like, are you getting interest from anyone? Like, how are you feeling like this is going to become a reality? I think it was fill out surveys and talk to people every once in a while.
It was kind of weird how the rules worked and you were allowed to take so many visits per thing. And then you were also allowed to have uh like local pro days of any teams that you like the state you lived in. So, I went to the Colts pro day and then also like surrounding teams. So, I went to the Chargers pro day and I also went to the Raiders pro day as well. So, like Colts proday, what does that look like? Um, you know, dudes you've basically grown up with because anybody from, you know, Indiana area that grew up there, you know, they kind of could go and work out.
So, like you're coming from UCLA, like is this like the the Ball States, the the local local guys that like maybe haven't played like in the the Pack 12? Like I don't know. I'm just thinking like the mindset you have to have to be like no I can really do this like I'm not just like an open try out guy like I'm going to make something. Uh that has to be hard. No man it was so hard especially going through all that not getting the invite like you were saying to the combine you know is it just kind of you know I really had to show myself. So so what was the feedback then as you start going to prodays talking to teams?
What's the feedback you're getting from them? Does it seem that they're interested or is it like even the Colts I talked to them a lot you know I thought they were going to you know try to make a move or anything and you know I came in the next couple days after we had the pro day and so you know I was kind of thinking man hometown guy I get to come back in Indie but you know everything worked out for a reason but well yeah and and so you end up draft day happens how'd you celebrate draft day um had all the family at the house um at my aunt's house and yeah we were all sitting there waiting for a phone call and top end where' you like believe and like where do you talk to people where it's realistic to go? Um I had anywhere from like low end of the fifth round to seventh round anywhere between there. So that final uh what the final call comes and it's not for you and you go undrafted emotionally like I mean you've given so much to football at this point.
The easy route is to pack it in and say you know what we had a good or or go can you go back to college if you declare for the draft? How does that work? Um I don't think so. No. No. All right.
So you're like that should have been sale. So like this is the option. Holy. That's at the time. How old are you? Like 21.
21 at the time. Yeah. You're 21. Yeah. First you had to make a decision like this is what I'm going if you go back to college it's like just to be a student. Oh yeah.
Like you just got to go get a degree and like you know I'm going to be an engineer or something. Yeah. You invest all this money to train and stuff. So you don't get the call immediately. Like who's your first caller? Who's the first person you talk to?
Um, well, all my family was there and it was actually Randy was helping me out, my agent, so everybody doesn't know. Ry's here. So, um, and honestly, we were on phone calls right before you know, it even ended and we were figuring out some stuff and so that's how, you know, he really helped me through that process. Did you get a call from like a coach or like in that period where you're like, "Hey, we might go with you here." Like a few texts, but other than that, wow. Yeah.
So, then it's like back to square one. Like again, this reoccurring theme of, okay, there's adversity put in front of me. What are we going to do now? Where in the are you in Indiana? Yeah, I'm in Indiana. So, like we're done in LA.
We're in Indiana. We have to now figure out how to get on an NFL roster. Uh yeah, I had about uh two weeks of not really off time, but kind of like settling down, working out, still in Indie, and that's, you know, waiting till draft day. How long do you just like sit and embrace this and like think through or is it like right back to work next day? Man, it was it was tough. Um, but I I ended up getting a call from coach uh coach Porter uh from the Chiefs I would say right not even before I left the house, you know, talking about Hey.
Oh, that day. Uh, yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, I mean, yeah, the roller coaster. Uh, yeah.
So, I mean, it was it was one of those things like, you know, as a kid, you always dreamed of getting drafted, but you were like, you know what, I have an opportunity. And And so, what's that call? Like, what does that mean? Um, basically, they call you and they pick you up as a free agent. And so, kind of that's how everything works. Do you just have to say, "Yep, I'm in."
Right on the phone. Yeah, basically. Uh, yeah. And there's a few teams that you can like talk to and see if they'll pick you up as a free agent by, you know, talking. Yeah. So, the first guy and you're like, "Yeah, I'm and like this is that loyalty piece, right, they're they're taking a chance now."
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com. Now, let's get back into the episode. How quickly did you have to get out to Kansas City? Week and a half and then we had a rookie mini camp. And and not all the listeners are going to be like die hard sports people like watch hard knocks and understand this. So, Oh, an NFL roster is 53.
Okay. Well, how many people are starting in the beginning there? I would say 90. Yeah, 90 roughly. You know, 50%. A little under 50% 40% are going to are not going to be there when the season comes around.
Like this is intense. It's cutthroat and it's business, but like you got to like have it all put together for how long of a period of time? Um, so we had a rookie mini camp for three days. you know, dudes coming from other teams is trying out, too. So, I could Yeah, there was probably So, are there cuts at the end of that? There's probably like 115 guys there.
You got three days to make the best impression possible. Uh, yeah. And then, so they made a cut there and then Yeah, all the undrafted free agent guys waited until rookie or until team camp and then that's when we went on in July. Okay. So July comes, you're in this this group, and this is if anyone's watched Hard Knocks, like this is the whole stick, right? Where you fall in love with the like undrafted dude and then like he throws a pick in preseason game two, gets axed, and you're like, damn.
And now he's selling insurance, right? So like, you know, like what this is pressure. Is it more pressure than you've ever felt in your entire life? Oh, 100%. Yeah. I feel like culture-wise, are you trying to make friends?
Yeah. But it's also like, hey, I can't be too good of because if for me to get my dream, like you have to not get yours. Uhuh. Yeah. And that's the hard thing about this, you know, this process. And it's a job at the end of the day.
You know, people think about it. It's a game you played and you've loved, but at the end of the day, you know, you're trying to take another grown man's job. Take us through the process of camp like where do they you're in a hotel, you're in a new city, like what does this look like? You can ask my buddy Booker. You know, they're in a nice place. They're staying at their facilities.
is all these a lot of these other teams stay at, you know, nicer places or facilities, but the Chiefs um we train at a little college in St. Joseph, Missouri, and he's Coach Reed's real old school. We're in dorm rooms, everybody. That was like the Colts camp used to be at in Anderson, I think. Like you're Anderson. I like the old school grit laying on that bed that feels like plywood.
Yeah. Like like 4 in. It's like we weren't going to sleep anyway, right? Likehuh. Okay. So, you're at what is it?
St. Joseph's College. Um, it's Missouri Western. I think you're at Missouri Western. St. Joseph, Missouri.
Yep. And you're fighting for your career and you're fighting for your dream. How often are they making cuts? You went all the way through camp basically until they made like the legit cuts. So, is it camp and then preseason starts? Uhhuh.
And there's still cuts during that, right? Yep. Okay. So, what number? We're going throughout camp. We're going from what number to what number?
Um I think it goes down to 60 maybe somewhere around in there and then right down all the way to the 53. Okay. So you know they're shaving another like 30% of the roster off during mini camp put everything and then it's just like one day like the last day of camp you just have to like walk like you just walk into a room and they're like welcome or not welcome kind of you get a phone call here and there. Um but it's after preseason really is when they kind of make their final adjustments of everything. So throughout it, were there any moments like where you were like, it's over. Like not really.
Uh I was always thinking, you know, it's my dream. This is what I want to do. I'm going, you know, fight my hardest I can and then, you know, if something goes wrong, we're going to figure out. Was there anyone within the organization that really took you under their wing? Um yeah, Coach Pink and also Coach Porter, both the running back coaches, man. They helped me out a lot.
And um I would also say our special uh teams coordinator guy. He's really cuz I never really played special teams too much in college and even in high school. So kind. Yeah. And I mean that's like the thing, right? It's like you you you don't just get to run the ball like like you got to go cuz there's 53 guys and they all got to be utilized.
So like you go from like tackling people when you're on kickoff like what all special teams were you playing? Um I was playing you know the four. Uhhuh. Yeah. At one point. Yeah.
And then I started switching up to like two and three. Like are you going through like I got to learn form tackling as quick as I can. Uh yeah. like punt punt block. I haven't done that little what are the the the like shuffle steps or whatever. Yeah.
Working your hands and stuff. So that is that's like a nuts where it's like I know when was the last time you had to like tackle someone full-blown? Seventh grade probably eighth grade maybe. Yeah. And let alone like full-blown NFL players, dude. That's wild.
Okay. So throughout that you're getting some positive reinforcement from your coach. Are there any players that you just like and it's like I don't know if you're already an established NFL player you kind of know that it's a revolving door like do they like wait to make relationships with the rookies? Honestly, not really. Uh the running back room really helped me out especially cuz I was getting a few reps at first but they were, you know, really testing out their, you know, obviously the bigger time guys, you know, seeing where they were at and doing stuff, but you know, they always took me under their wing, really helped me out. PCO, you know, he really, you know, kind of taught me the ropes how to do things and, you know, so that's how I really went from there.
Okay. So, now we we get into, you make it through camp, you're playing in the preseason. Like I remember vividly watching you. It was like on the goal line maybe like week two or three. Like what's that feeling you get like in your first NFL game? Man, it's I mean I just like you can't even really explain it, you know, especially, you know, at the Chiefs, you know, stadium.
uh you know the fans which is like somehow engineered to be louder right that's what they say it's I mean it's hardcore and so you know just being able to do that and see the crowd you know your reaction stuff like that it's just you know just a blessing and opportunity dude I get like just chills so you get out there dude and it's like and you start to get car I mean you carry the ball you're like doing stuff and like was there a point in the preseason when you're like I might really make this team like like this is going to be a reality you know that was always the goal is just make the make the team, you know, really pounding it in my head. But, you know, I knew to myself, I was like, "Hey, I got to show these coaches why they can't, you know, take me off of this roster." And so, that was kind of like my big thought going through the process and, you know, really what stuck out with me.
And was there a moment like a a play or a specific practice or anything that like solidifi not solidified, but like sealed the deal of like, "Yep, that's our guy." There never really was, but I knew that, you know, I was, you know, really, you know, having them think about stuff because they kept moving me all around. you know, they were like, "Well, try to play fullback. Try to play running back. Let's see if you can block at tight end." You know, trying to fit me into spots, you know, where I could be.
And that's kind of what I told him is I wanted to be like a little Swiss Army knife. You know, wherever you want to put me, that's what I'm going to do. Yeah. And and especially with like as creative as Coach Reed is goodness. Yeah. You like there's Okay.
You mean you can be playing wide receiver at one minute. Yeah. I mean, it's nuts. And I mean, so so as the story goes, I just remember watching you, dude, and it's like like watching you run during the preseason. He's like a dude who's like fighting for his job and he's just like running like he's pissed off at the grass. Like dude, you got to go.
Exactly. So preseason wraps up and you make the 53 man. Was that a face to face meeting? It was kind of a thing. I had to wait and figure out you know you weren't really supposed to know yet and you know so I didn't know what was going on what was going on here and there and then I finally figured out um it wasn't a face to face. I got a phone call and so yeah after that I told my family they were all there actually because they were there on the weekend after one of the games and so you know we all broke down into tears and um you know it was just at that point do you kind of realize I'm good like how long are you good for by making the 53 man?
Um honestly it just depends you know it's it's one of those things where you're thinking you're okay and then you got to wait and kind of figure things out. the like anxiet the pressure of like every week, every day you're fighting for your job. Like if I make a mistake here, I can edit it out and like no one's going to like I'm not going to be toasted. But like, you know, like every and it's like you're human. Like people are going to make mistakes, you know? And it's like the balance of like, hey, I made that mistake, but I'm better than that.
I I'll show you that I'm better than that. Like that just has to be like emotionally. How did you feel going through that process? It's hard. Um, it's super hard, but I always try to tell people like if you make a mistake doing it at 100%, they're they're going to be mad, but they're not going to get upset. You know, when you're making mistakes and, you know, half going through things, halfassing it, that's when something's going to, you know, need to change.
And at some point, you probably see that with with guys in the NFL, it's like the pressure that everything just beating down, beat, and everyone's like, "Well, you're getting paid a ton of money, you're doing stuff." Like, it's still a lot of like pressure to carry as just a human being, man. Wow. Yeah. Especially cuz you know you're playing you know a game you've always played but you know obviously bigger and faster but you're also getting you know the people chirping from social media all these reporters and stuff like that. So it is it's a lot of pressure.
Was where was the moment within your NFL career thus far where you felt the most pressure? It was in September is my sister's wedding actually. I think it was the 18th or 19th. Um you know Pacheco went down unfortunately with an injury. um one of our other running backs had an injury and I had to start you know week three of the NFL and so we were playing the Atlanta Falcons had a great defense and so that's yeah that was probably the most pressure because you were at the game and not your sister's wedding and they like showed the wedding they were watching the game and it's like how that did you have like call your sister be like hey I hope you understand oh yeah well she uh everybody was kind of giving her crap on on social media and stuff about it but she thought I was going to stay another year at UCLA and so the wedding was planned on Sunday and I could fly back Yeah, but it was a Sunday game, so Oh, so she's like getting like a What kind of sister is playing?
People were dogging her, so I was like, don't take it out on her. Oh, come on. Like, take. It's okay. And then you're starting, you line up in the back field. Patrick Mahomes is right there.
Kelsey's on the right side. I guess was I mean, obviously the play call's going through your head, but like you you getting this opportunity, I just can't imagine like it's it's crazy. It was crazy. Especially like you were saying being an undrafted guy, free agent, you know, not going to the combine. But then, you know, you got to realize like, hey, these dudes put on the pads the same way you do, you know, lace up the cleats, you know, just like you were since we were a kid. So, that's kind of what helped me, you know, calm down, kind of soothes me out a little bit.
But yeah, like probably the quicker you can get to comfortable Oh, yeah. the better you're going to perform. 100%. And like don't get caught in the the limelight and all the stuff there. And it's like you're in Kansas City, which is I mean LA, like you're like I don't know. I don't know if there's a lot of luxury and lavish besides when Taylor Swift comes to town, but it's like or did you start making bonds?
Like you make the 53 man, you get some starting time. Did you start to make bonds with guys within the team? Oh yeah, 100%. Just like you were saying, Kansas, you know, it kind of reminded me of home a little bit. So it was a little easier kind of process to, you know, be able to get there and stay in. But yeah, definitely made, you know, great bonds with some of the teammates and all the running backs too as well.
when it comes to Kansas City as a whole, right? Like they have an incredible you guys have an incredible football team that they you like you're you're part of this team, right? What's the secret? Like what has just consistently made the Kansas City Chiefs so good? Coach Reed's um obviously his playbook, you know, that's the obvious, but his like old school nature and it really reminds me of Center Grove. We don't go to any fancy places to have team camp.
You know, we're in a little dorm room at a college. you know, a lot of teams don't even put full pads on during, you know, team camp, uh, in the summer and we're hitting it out every couple days, you know, so just the little stuff. Um, always being disciplined and detailed. Even the older guys, you know what I'm saying? Like a lot of them, you know, they'll take off, you know, practices every couple days, you know, for other teams. But, you know, Coach Reed's always very consistent like, hey, if you're taking off this practice, like then you're going to be in the gym working out.
Like, it's not there's no taking off or taking break days just because you're a veteran. So yeah, was there a moment throughout the season where like where Patrick Mahomes said like complimented you or gave you some critical feedback and you're like how did that process go? Just cuz like I mean where where was he at? He's been in league for a while. Like were you a high school kid when he got drafted? Uh uh yeah, I was seven or eight years.
You grow up watching some of these guys like in your formative years and all of a sudden like now you're peers, your co-workers. Like how does that dynamic work? It's crazy. There's been a few times he's got on me a little bit, but uh I remember one time he uh he said a play and I ran it and made like thought I'd messed up and he he took the blame for one time. Yeah. Yes.
One time. One time. Of course. Yeah. He was like, "That's on me." Yeah.
So, one time though, that's like Okay, that's fair. Uh have you like become buddies with guys in the locker room or like like and it's like, "Okay, NFL players in Kansas City, like are you all hanging out on the weekend?" Like, how does that look like playing? It's it's different cuz you know you always think like for me personally you're like a younger guy you want to go hang out with your you know but they got wives and kids and so you know they want to go hang out with their families which obviously you understand you know but um yeah every once in a while the running backs like go out to lunch you know you'll see them out every once in a while. So is it like wild for you like you go out to lunch in a random place in Kansas City and people like come over like oh my god this is crazy. Oh yeah.
It's I mean if we go out with Pat or something, you know, you got to close down the place. But isn't that nuts? That's so That's so cool. Yeah, it's awesome. And it's like then you come home. Where was the moment when you started to come home and you're not just southside famous?
Probably during the by-week when we're coming home from the Chiefs. Um that was kind of the big opportunity for Where did you go? What What's like your bye-week looked like you come home. Is there like a spot you had I had to go check out the Center Grove or what? Yeah, I was uh obviously Center Grove and everything, you know, people recognize you, but going like downtown and stuff, you know, people are coming up to you. That's, you know, it's just really cool to me to see that that many people from India are watching and, you know, kind of even, you know, not many people like the Chiefs that much, but they're still watching, you know, kind of cheering me on.
Last season was a spectacular season for the Chiefs, right? You make it to the Super Bowl. I mean, talk to us about that preparation. like you go from undrafted, not invited to the combine to now you're getting to be on a team that's competing for a Super Bowl championship. Every kid's dream in America for a Super Bowl, you know, I'll get it out of the way. We didn't come up with the win, you know, is a hard thing, but just having that experience, you know, your rookie year, especially with those guys, too, as well.
It really, you know, kind of humbled me, kind of learned like, hey, you know, this is what it takes. This is what we have to do to be here. Um, but on, you know, on the family side of it, I had all my family down in New Orleans. Uh, they had to go to the game. Uh, yeah, they got to go. How many tickets does a does a player get?
Does a rookie player get for the Super Bowl? I think you get one or two compensated, but after that, you got to pay for all of them. So, one or two, go on. All right. So, you obviously you got to bring the family. You're playing for the Yeah.
Got Oh my gosh. Okay. So, fam's all down in New Orleans. Does preparation look any different? Like like is it a different feel or is it just business as usual? you know, you try to keep it as usual as you can, but you know, with the parades going on and you're there for a week, you know, instead of a regular game, you're there for two days.
So, you really got to focus in kind of lock in like, hey, this is another game we got to prep for. Kind of get through that. And so, that's kind of what I was kind of going through the mind process of it. I I appreciate what you said is like, hey, I'll get out of the way like we didn't win the game. Like that's it's like you have to go from just happy to be there and a fan to like man we're playing for championships with all the success they've had the Chiefs you know it's not you came into that locker room even like my first couple days like it was like this is a team talking like they just went 0 and 15 last year like they're wanting they're wanting everything anything everything like they're wanting to go for it and so you know obviously you come up a little bit short but you know I just feel that the vibe from them is always wanting more wanting more. Yeah.
I mean, if you want to continue to be great and build a longlasting dynasty, you have to have that. 100%. Let's go last season. As you think through the last year of your life, the up I mean, the draft, at the time we're recording this, the draft's coming up. So, like 365 days since that moment where you didn't get the call. What's been the greatest single moment?
Like what what's made you the most proud over the last year overall this last football season? you know, especially with everything going on, like you were saying, the undrafted, the injuries in high school, not getting any college time, you know, or any, you know, bigger offers out of high school, I would always like put in the back of my mind, even I was working out, running, when I didn't want to do something, I was like, "This is going to be my story. This is going to be my story." And so, I always kind of put that in my process, even when something would go wrong, I'd be like, "Look, I'm just going to tell people this is how it was." And, you know, this is what happened. And, you know, like I was saying, it's going to be my story.
And so when little kids across the state of Indiana and beyond look at your story and see that like what what's the message you hope they get out of that? Um you know even when something's wrong, don't pack down. Uh that's always what I've told everybody. Um you know things aren't going to go right. I'm just going to tell you now. There's going to be times when you don't think you're going to make it.
There's going to be times when you want to quit. Um don't do it because at the end it's going to be the you know best thing that's ever happened to you. That's so sick. As we kind of getting to the end of the show and wrapping up here, is there a moment, let's say, outside of like an actual play, maybe it could be a play, but just a moment playing with the Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift's up in the box, like is there a moment that you look back on like that was just plain fun? Being in the locker room with those guys, man, they're hilarious. Just shooting the doing their thing, you know?
It's just like a high school locker room. They talk about the same stuff. They just they got a lot more money. Um, you talk about the same stuff, dude. Yeah, like the video of I just like imagining like the conversation's like locker room guy and then you walk out, you get into your convertible and Taylor Swift, you're just like cruising down Kansas City. One thing you got to make sure you're pulling out real real slow in the parking lot of the Kansas cuz there's Lamborghinis, Corvettes, you know.
What are you driving to the I was driving a Honda, but now I'm I bumped it up a little bit. I'm driving a Range Rover. There we go. Yeah. Yeah, it's like you got your Honda Civic and there's like someone's Lamborghini over there. Pull out.
Uh, who is the most like unsuspecting best dude? I would say probably Pacheco. You know, you'd always kind of think like, hey, you know, he's not going to take a chance on a rookie running back that's coming in, you know, stuff like that. But, I mean, he's always, you know, kind of told me everything, kind of told his techniques, how he does things, you know, and he just wants to be successful. And so, that's a really cool thing for me, dude. That's awesome.
And getting to spend time with I mean we're living in a a Chiefs dynasty right now, you know, like they're going to look back at this time period, however long it extends for, and be like, man, they knew how to play. Like Coach Reed knows the thing about What What about Coach Reed? Is it like what's the special sauce for him? And that's the that's a crazy thing. He's not one of those guys that'll, you know, scream at you, yell at you when you do something wrong, but he he'll let you know when you do something wrong. But it's it's the little details.
You know, you he's always on Pat, too, as well. You know, it's even the even the star like the the legacy quarterback, he's still on him about the detail. Oh, yeah. Uh-huh. You know, he's always I couldn't tell you how many times he's getting on Travis for things and, you know, all the other guys. But so, do you have I have to ask, is there like a good like Travis being funny?
Like, is he legitimately that funny? Oh, yeah. He's hilarious. Yeah, man. He's he's always yelling at me because we have this thing every I think it's Friday before we go out because like it's a feelood Friday and we'll put up of like things not to do and so like we'll put up videos of people messing up and he's always commentating it out. He could be a commentator 100%.
I feel it's almost like he hosts a podcast or something. Oh yeah. Yeah. 100%. You know, dude, I love it. This is great.
I have a couple fun wrap-up uh questions for us here as we come to the end of our time. First one, this question is brought to you by our friends at OR Fellowship. They're a great organization here in Indiana helping develop young business leaders across the state. Carson, what advice would you give to your 22-year-old self? Kind of brought this up a little earlier, but I would just say don't give up, you know, especially like right now in the world and it's it's really hard to get, you know, like I'm, you know, growing, keep going. Um, especially with everything going on, you know.
So, that was my big thing. Just don't give up. Uh, keep going and uh, you know, it's all going to work out in the end. Yeah. Like 21-year-old you was not invited to the combine, undrafted, going through an injury. Yeah.
A bad time. It's like I the percentage. You know how like ESPN has that like percentage they're going to win? I wonder what how low the percentage got to of like how that you wind up on. It's already like 1% of 1%, you know? So, it's man, it's incredible.
I appreciate you coming in and just being like a I mean, just a just a good just a hooer. Hoosier through and through. Um, as we I have a few more ones. Uh, you have to talk about Cracky Jay. Tell me the whole the whole deal or the whole spiel there. I was probably second grade.
Um, and we were at my nana's house. We do a big thing for Christmas every year about a couple days before and uh, all the family's there. My dad's there and he's at his coworker there. And, you know, we get a knock on the door and it's a UPS guy. It's snowing outside and he's like, "Hey, like I'm not trying to be weird, but can I see what's in this package? Like it's a big box and it says live reptile on it."
And you can see my dad kind of, you know, giggling and his co-workers. Wait, the UPS guy asked to see what you he was like, I've had to incubate it for two weeks. Yeah. So, at UPS. So, uh, and so they were like, "We have to do that with live red tie." I was like, "I want to see."
And I was thinking like, I asked for like a turtle or lizard or something for Christmas. And um, man, I open that box and it's the styrofoam peanuts and it's in a burlap sack. And I see it moving around. And I knew it looked like a snake at first. And I knew it wasn't a snake cuz my mom was like, "No snakes. He could get whatever he wants, but no snakes."
And my dad was like, "Okay." And so, um, I opened it up and it shot down the hallway and he was probably like 6 in, like a little baby gator. Mhm. And my nana about fell over with because we were at her house. So, it's 6 in alligator just runs across. Everybody thought it was a lizard at first, but a little baby and you like go like drag it down.
And so, how old name? Crocky J. Yeah, he's an alligator, but I named him when I was that old. So, I second grade. Cracky J. How old's Cracky J?
I would say probably 13, 12, 12, 13 years old. This is an old an older alligator. Uh, and became like a an icon, a national icon overnight. Yeah. I mean, second, third grade, I took him in for show and tell. Uhhuh.
Like I would think every classroom in that school came in and come see him. So that is the crazy. I don't know where your dad bought a alligator online, but like that's pretty sick. Burlap sack with a 6-in alligator in it. When people found out about this, is like that what everyone wanted to talk about? Oh yeah, they were going crazy.
Um I mean it blew up. The NFL posted it. The Chiefs posted it. So I mean it was awesome. Yeah. It's like I remember seeing it and it just like yep that's Indiana baby.
Come on. That's what everybody said. They were like if it was a kid in Indiana with long blonde hair it be Carson that owns an alligator. Yeah. Pregame ritual. What's what's the pregame ritual for Carson Steel?
Always got to double tap my cleats twice for some reason when I go out everywhere. I got to do that and then I have to have a uh like a thin like piece of tape wrapped around my shoelaces because when I was younger I had one time where I tripped over a shoelace and after that I was the opposite. Yeah. After that you can't have that. No. Um throughout all the football that you've played what's been the most memorable moment for you?
I would say obviously this year, you know, going to the Super Bowl obvious like that, but I would say probably my senior year too as well just because, you know, it's co like we didn't even like get to do track that after year cuz they canceled it. So, it was just a blessing that we got to have that year. You know, you're with all your boys that you grew up with since you were kids. And um what do they say to you? Your high school buddies. Oh, they give me crap all the time.
They don't they don't care. You know, they're proud of me. Yeah. The high school group chat doesn't care if you're in the NFL or not. They're still going to talk smack. Yeah.
So, um, but no, they're always supportive. Uh, even some of my closer guys like Lucas Hoffman, Braden Sturm, was my closer friends. Um, Clayton, he didn't play football, but you know, like those guys are always supporting me, you know, seeing, you know, through Do you bring him out to any of the games? Oh, yeah. They've been out there. And so, we uh there's actually little fun places down in Kansas, so they're always loving that and people are coming up.
I uh we went and saw Zack Bryan out in Witchah. Oh, yeah. But we stayed uh two nights in Kansas City, the Power and Light District there. Awesome. Sick spot. Yeah.
You walk in and there's like 10 little bars in there, dude. The ice house something or other and PBR. I love the PBR in Kansas City. Freaking mechanical bull. That that place is awesome. Uh I was a And I was like, dang.
Cuz it's like this outdoor kind of thing, but then there's a big awning over it. And it was so cool. I love that. I like we need one of those. Like so whoever whoever needs to put this together, what's something the world needs to know about Indiana? Just the people here.
You know, it's been one to none. Like I was saying before, you know, you don't have to root for the Chiefs. You don't have to root for your hometown kid. Uh especially like Southside, you know, that Center Grove type of family. just, you know, the love and the support like, you know, like I was saying before, like I'll go into coffee shops and see little Crocky J, you know, knitted things and it's like just people just always caring for me. People I've never met too, always on Facebook and stuff.
So, just overall just the people that you get to meet here and, you know, all the things you can learn from that. Amen. The people, hooers, baby. This is a chance to to shed some light, give some love to something. What is a hidden gem in Indiana down in Indie? Uh on 135 is House of Tokyo.
It's Habachi's place. House of Tokyo. It's Habachi Place. Yeah. This place about to have a line outside the door. Be front row, too.
So, uh Oh, heck yeah. All right. A little Habachi spot in Greenwood. And it's weird cuz their times are like they're only open from like 1 to 4 and then like 5 to 9. Oh my gosh. Yeah.
So, they're open like a like a Thursday. 11 to 2:30 and then 4:30 to 9. Something weird. Don't go at 3:00. Duh. I love it.
House of Tokyo. Final question. This is where you get to share the love with someone who's out there doing big things. Uh who's a Hooer that we need to keep on our radar? Um I would say my guy Austin Booker. You know, he's with the Bears right now.
Um another guy Kaden Curry, Russ East, all the guys. Uh Russ right now, he went to Center Grove. He's at the Texans. And so Kaden just won national championship at Ohio State. And Booker's doing great things with the Bears right now. So where' where did Booker go to high school?
Oh, he was with me. He was in my class, too. Yeah, my senior. There's four. How many Center Grove players are in the NFL right now? I would say four or There's going to be four probably, but you Yeah, that's crazy.
All within a few years of each other, too. That's wild, dude. Talk about dynasty, legacy, the whole thing. Final question. This is the last piece of the day. When we look back at the Carson Steel story, what do you what do you hope people say about you in 40 years?
You know, people, you know, kind of think of me as that guy where like, hey, that was the kid, you know, never really gave up on his dreams. and um you know even through you know adversity anything like that like I want people to be able to look at my story and be like hey you know if this kid went through all this stuff like I can do it too and so that's always been my big thing like I want people to look up to me not just because I had you know the the fashion the NFL player all that type of stuff is more of like a hey like this kid went through all this type of stuff and still you know pursued his dreams. Amen. I love it. I've I've really enjoyed getting to hang out with you for an hour here dude. I can't say that I'll root for all the Chiefs all the time, but I can say that I'll root for one Chief all the time.
That's you, Buster. Uh, appreciate you coming in. Thanks for for just being an amazing Hoosier that's doing really big stuff on an international stage. A national, but intern like people around the world watch you on Sundays. Oh, yeah. And to see Indiana represented in such an awesome guy, I it just pumps me up, man.
Appreciate you coming in. Thank you, man. Appreciate it. Thank you for listening to this episode of Get In. If you liked what you heard, make sure you leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. This show is made possible by our friends up at Sweetwater.
Whether you're looking to start a podcast or take your content to the next level, click the link in the description to see all my gear recommendations at sweetwater. com. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at everything we're doing across the state, make sure you follow me on Instagram and Tik Tok, Nate Spangle. Thank you so much for listening and being part of what makes the Hoosier State great. We'll see you next time here on Get
