When Travis Rudolph’s name scrolls across your TV during the NFL draft, stop what you’re doing and think of what he’s been through.
Why it’s impossible not to root for NFL prospect Travis Rudolph
We should all be pulling for him to succeed.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
As he realizes his NFL dreams, the moment will be bittersweet because of the tragic and reportedly accidental death of Rudolph’s father, Darryl.
A coworker was in an adjacent room moving a firearm off a shelf. The gun discharged and fired a bullet through a wall and into Rudolph’s neck/back area. He was rushed to St. Mary’s Medical Center where he died.
An initial investigation deemed the shooting accidental. The sheriff’s office stressed the investigation is active and ongoing. It is unclear who owned the gun or whether anyone will face charges in the shooting.
The man who shot him has since been arrested and charged with manslaughter.
And the younger Rudolph made national headlines for a simple, poignant gesture a few months earlier.
He was spotted eating lunch with an autistic child named Bo at a Tallahassee school.
Rudolph and Bo ended up appearing on Good Morning America, and the middle schooler got a special day at FSU practice.
The former FSU wideout was a surprise early entry into the NFL draft. But he did finish a three-year career with the Noles top 10 in school history in receptions and yards.
In the wake of his father’s death, well wishes poured in from across the Florida State community, including Bo’s mother.
“Our hearts are broken,” Leah Paske, Bo’s mother, posted to Linda Rudolph’s Facebook Page. “We love you beyond measure.”
Rudolph is a guy you can’t help but root for, and here’s hoping he has a long and prosperous pro career.
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