Dear New York,

I used to surround myself constantly with the NFL growing up. From watching games, NFL Films and the NFL Network to playing Madden -- I wanted to learn as much as I could from those playing the sport. 

I used to love watching the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson, Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew shred defences. Running back is where my career started just like most young football players. I eventually transitioned to wide receiver and now a new challenge awaits me in being a tight end.

I’m willing to do whatever it takes.

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 of the NFL Draft came and went in late April. Honestly, I was just waiting for my name to be called in any situation.

Nothing.

I wasn't nervous or too anxious about it. I just had to let everything play it out for itself. 

I was surrounded by my family for most of the draft along with a couple of buddies. We were playing Uno and Monopoly, trying to pass the time until my phone rang.

As Roger Goodell called out the last name of the draft, I wasn’t too affected by not having my name called.

And then five minutes later, my phone rings. I had to put the Uno cards down for this one.

It’s Charles Tisch on the other line from the Giants. He said the club wants to sign me. 

I was pretty calm about it. I mean, in that moment, I expected something to happen. Just like a game situation, you expect things to happen if you prepared for the situation. When he made me an offer, I thought I was prepared the right way and saying the right things. I accepted the contract.

Everyone around me was freaking out, though. I’m sure you’ve seen the video by now. I had played the moment over in my head many times before and it was exactly like I expected it. I hugged everyone around me, called my mom -- who was at work – and enjoyed the moment.

I couldn’t enjoy it for too long as shortly after I got off the phone with Tisch, there was another call. This time it was Freddie Kitchens, New York’s tight ends coach.

We talked about expectations and what the team thought I could bring. It was really cool talking to him. In the moment, I was a bit star struck because he just came from Cleveland as a head coach and there was a lot of talent over there.

At six-foot-seven, I’m a big target on the field. Playing tight end will be a new experience for me and I'm good with it. If that makes me more of a weapon out there on the field, then so be it. I'm making the team that way.

We’ve been doing Zoom meetings as a group trying to get to know the other players and personnel while also learning the playbook for the last month. I’ve been texting some of the other tight end guys as well saying what’s up.

I used to watch what Jason Garrett did with the Cowboys and all their talent. He’s a creative coach and I want to be an important part of his offence.

I want to be a dominant player in the NFL. And the way I’m going to do it is by being prepared.

I’ve always had to be prepared for new challenges along the way in my career. One of the biggest ones came in my Grade 10 year where I started the season at six-foot-two.

My bones were growing at such a fast rate that I had to stop playing, I couldn’t move properly. I finished a workout and I was achy. I couldn’t make cuts. My body just wouldn’t co-operate. It was a lot of pain. There was a lot of stretching and physio visits to try and help. 

I know I could prevail through and came back at the end of the season to have some success. 

Looking back now, I have no regrets about the situation. It was all good. Grade 10 and 11 years are important for trying to attract D1 schools, but I knew I was growing up. I was still a raw athlete at the size I was at. It was just a process that I had to go through. It is what it is. 

Could I have had a D1 offer elsewhere? Maybe. But I just worked with what I had and the opportunities I had coming out of senior year. Sometimes in life that’s what it’s all about and you just have to go forward with it.

Luckily, SFU hit me up.

I lived with my parents during my college years to save money because the campus was so close to my house. My dad, Sherlan, used to play basketball at UBC and my mom played high-level fastpitch. 

I leaned on my dad for advice during my senior year and entering into the draft. He connected me with a lot of different people who have gone through similar experiences and it’s been really helpful. 

It’s my parents who helped instill in me to have a plan on where I want to go. With their athletic background, they gave me some pointers about how to be coachable and how to listen and pay attention. There’s going to be a lot of ups and downs throughout life. It’s all about being prepared and looking forward to the next step, the next day, just really prepare yourself for whatever comes next.

Being from Vancouver and representing Canada, I want to be someone kids look at for inspiration. And that’s all it is. When you get to play professional sports like this and you get a lot of attention, it’s just all inspiration for the kids out there. 

The way I’m going to do that is by being a sponge. I’m going to pick the guys’ brains in order to become a professional and elite tight end.

I want to be a weapon in that offence. 

The last month has been cool and surreal at the same time. You keep preparing for this moment and now it's just obviously more work ahead in this professional level. I'm just excited to do this.

So, I’m going to keep working and keep on studying on. There’s a reason I’ve been working out hard every week.

When the time comes for training camp, I’ll be ready.

See you soon,

Rysen John