Durham surprises SE

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(Misty Watson/The Daily Citizen) Seattle wide receiver Kris Durham runs through a drill with Southeast Whitfield linebacker Michael Izaguirre on Monday. Durham, who is preparing for his second season in the NFL, spent nearly two hours with the Raiders.

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July 17, 2012

Durham surprises SE

Pro WR gives a few tips for his dad’s new home

By Chris Whitfield chriswhitfield@daltoncitizen.com The Dalton Daily Citizen Tue Jul 17, 2012, 11:24 PM EDT

Coming out of the University of Georgia after his senior season in 2010, former Calhoun standout Kris Durham was so overshadowed by teammate A.J. Green that Durham wasn’t even invited to the NFL’s Scouting Combine.

Instead, Durham had to work just a little bit harder to achieve his dream of a pro football career. So when UGA held its own Pro Day in the spring of 2011, Durham wowed the NFL scouts present with his speed, his agility and that little extra effort that has become Durham’s trademark. In the draft later that spring, Durham was selected in the fourth round by the Seattle Seahawks.

Giving that little bit extra was a main theme on Monday afternoon at Southeast Whitfield High as Durham went through a makeshift two-hour workout session with the Raiders and first-year coach Sean Gray. Durham showed the team a few individual drills they could use to work on their technique and fundamentals, and then had an impromptu question-and-answer session with the team.

“He told us he worked for everything he got and nothing was given to him, and that is a great lesson,” Southeast junior Abram Stanley said. “He gave us a lot of drills to help us get better, and I want to use that and work harder and hopefully earn a chance to play in college somewhere.”

Even though he is a Calhoun grad, Durham is part of the extended Southeast family since his father, Michael, was hired by the school this past spring as the girls basketball coach. A 6-foot, 5-inch 225-pound wide receiver for the Seahawks, Durham played in three games last year, but missed most of his rookie campaign on the West Coast with a torn labrum that placed him on the injured reserve.

Signed to a four-year, $2.5 million contract, Durham is expected to take on a much bigger role in Pete Carroll’s offense after the Seahawks released starting wide receiver Mike Williams last week.

He is in the area this week after participating in Georgia’s Seventh-Annual Countdown to Kickoff event, which is organized by former UGA players David Greene and Jon and Matt Stinchcomb. All of the proceeds from the weekend’s worth of activities went to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

In the spirit of giving back to the community, Durham spent time with the Raiders.

“I never had the opportunity to talk to someone in the NFL when I was in high school and hear about their experiences and learn from them, so it is good to give back a little,” Durham said. “I wanted to show the guys a thing or two and talk to them and just have a little fun.”

Sharing his experiences and what he has learned after four seasons with the Bulldogs and a year in the NFL is something that Durham wants to pass along.

“It has always been a big learning process for me each step of the way, so I like sharing that with the guys,” he said. “I was in my mother’s office earlier, and she had an article that was written about me in high school, and it just seemed like that was so long ago. I never expected to be where I am now. I dreamed about it, and a lot of hard work has gotten me here.”

Mainly, Durham’s message was one of hard work and taking advantage of opportunities.

“I was the guy who was running the stadium steps by myself and doing drills on my own. That was just the way my parents raised me and expected me to do things,” he said. “Then, when you get put in the right opportunities and the right spots, you can take advantage and it will work out.”

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Durham surprises SE

Pro WR gives a few tips for his dad’s new home

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