Trey Kiser had always dreamed of playing professional football.
From the praise as a player in youth football, to the dominance in high school at Sulphur, followed by a very successful college career at South Alabama, he always rose to the occasion.
And he’s done it again. Kiser was recently signed to a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, officially making his dream come true.
Kiser was an all-conference selection at South Alabama, starting for three years after a successful stay at NEO in his first two seasons.
Kiser started all 13 games for the USA Jaguars in 2023, totaling 68 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Oklahoma native played in 38 games over three seasons at South Alabama after transferring from junior college.
In high school, the former Bulldog finished with a school-record 5,760 rushing yards for his career and had 85 total touchdowns on offense. He also finished with over 320 tackles on defense.
He was also named to 2nd team all-state by The Oklahoman and The Tulsa World and was the District 3A-4 MVP.
He was also a three-time state qualifier in wrestling and a state placer in track. He was the 20182019 OCA Athlete of the Year.
Recently, I sat down with Kiser to talk about his signing, his future and his faith as he prepares for the next step in life.
WHITT CARTER: What did it mean to make an NFL roster?
TREY KISER: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.” Psalm 8:1. That’s what comes to mind when I think about the Lord allowing me to be a part of an NFL roster. He has allowed me to have this once in a lifetime opportunity and experience, so He should rightfully have all the praise and glory. It makes me joyful that He would choose me to be a part of an NFL team roster, something that I have dreamed of since I started playing football in 4th grade. His holiness is far above anything that we can humanly imagine, yet He gives me a glimpse of that when He allows me to be in the position I am in.
WC: What was that moment like when you got the call from the Jaguars?
TK: The way the draft went for me was definitely eventful to say the least. I had about 50 family and friends who came to support me on that Saturday. The friends that have supported me since SKA days are still the same friends that are supporting me now. I love each and every one of them because they genuinely care for me. So during the draft, you probably see the first round picks get their name called and then they walk across the stage or you see the camera and they are in a living room with their friends and family around them. That is not how it went for me. I got a phone call from the Jaguars about midway through the sixth round of the draft telling me that they wanted me but had to make sure that they didn’t pick a LB in the last round. So I couldn’t make the announcement because it wasn’t 100% guaranteed at this point. If you’ve never understood the draft, think of it as the biggest game of roulette ever. Every pick of every round affects every other NFL team. So I was anxious about them choosing another LB or running out of roster space if they picked another position. The draft ended around 7 p.m. and I finally got a call from my agent around 9:30 p.m. that we got the contract from the Jaguars. The moment he told me that we have the contract, I had the biggest smile on my face and I went and gave my mom the biggest hug. I think she was more excited than I was to be honest.
WC: What did all of the years of hard work represent when you realized you achieved your ultimate goal?
TK: Just being able to stay healthy throughout my career has been a huge blessing in disguise. All the countless times in the weight room or on the field or in the meeting room has helped me form relationships that I will forever cherish until the day when I die. I have truly met my lifelong friends because of football. They have pushed me when I didn’t feel like being pushed. This isn’t my dream to live alone - it’s everyone’s dream that God put into my life - Sulphur, NEO, and especially at South Alabama. Above everything else that has happened in my life, there is only one that will stand out for the rest of my life and that is I accepted Christ at South Alabama. And for the first time ever, I started following the Lord. The two people who led me to Christ will forever have an impact on my eternity. Ever since I gave my life to Christ, it has pushed me to work harder, but I know my salvation isn’t in some game and in the wins and losses, it’s in Christ Jesus Our Lord. We’re saved by grace through faith.
WC: Now that you are in the mix, what do you hope to accomplish in the near future?
TK: My biggest goal in the future is to use my platform to spread the Gospel and not let the worldliness of the NFL into my life. At the end of the day, every single human will die, and you will spend eternity in either two places, Heaven or Hell. The only thing that can fill your soul and satisfy it is God. Nothing else will, no amount of money, success, power, idols - absolutely nothing besides the One who Created you. WC: What do you think will help you do that?
TK: Just being rooted and grounded in my faith will sustain me no matter what is thrown my way. Be in the world not of the world. Just always praying that the Lord will keep me from stumbling and make my path known for His will and not mine. And all the prayers that countless people pray for me. That is the best gift you can ever give someone - prayer. I ask that you continue to pray for me that I stay grounded in the Lord and for me to use football as a platform for His Word.
WC: What do you hope to improve on as you try to make the team?
TK: I just want to improve on becoming a better selfless person. I want to put someone else’s needs above my own, and in this profession that is very hard to do. I want to be the guy who offers help and not calls for it. I want to love people well because it’s in my heart, not because of what it looks like on the outside to others. I hope to build more relationships that last for eternity. I want people to love the message (Christ) and not the messenger (me).
WC: Unfortunately, while all of this was happening, your hometown of Sulphur suffered a devastating tornado. What was going through your mind during this exciting time for you, but such a heartbreaking time for the people you love in Sulphur?
TK: Definitely not the way I wanted to remember the draft, but I will never forget that Saturday night when not just my life was changed but so many lives were changed as well and not for the better. I wanted nothing more than to post on social media that I signed with an NFL team, but the Lord (as He always does) showed me true humility. I thought of how selfish it would be for me to take away from Sulphur when it just got hit by the worst tornado in town history. How could I have the spotlight when so many other people were impacted and lost everything - I couldn’t. I still want Sulphur to continue to shine bright because I know the people in that town are as tough as nails. Those who live in Sulphur and surrounding areas know how to pull together when a disaster hits. They might get knocked down but you better believe they’re going to get right back up and punch back harder than you could ever imagine. I want the people of Murray county to know that they will be in my prayers, and I will always be a Murray county boy through and through. If I had any words of encouragement it would be, Love God and Love People. “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39.
