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Watching New Orleans Saints training camp, it would be impossible to know that rookie wide receiver Keith Kirkwood is relatively new to the game of football.

The 6-foot-3 Kirkwood looked like a natural catching passes during the first week of practice, and when other receivers like Cameron Meredith, Austin Carr and Tommylee Lewis missed time dealing with injuries, Kirkwood received opportunities with the first-team offense.

But, in Kirkwood's first interview of camp on Monday, he explained that he didn't begin playing football until his senior year of high school in New Jersey.



"My whole story is just amazing, and I wouldn't change anything about it," he said.

Kirkwood grew up playing basketball and had dreams of playing in the NBA, but after his high school's football coach, Mark Ciccotelli, saw him on the hardwood, the coach suggested he try football.

He joined the football team for his final year of high school in 2012, and he impressed before even putting the pads on, showing out in a 7-on-7 practice.

"After I had two touchdowns, (Ciccotelli) told me, 'Kid, you could potentially be in the NFL one day,'" Kirkwood said. "I believed him and stuck with what he had to offer."

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jeanpierre

Previous years, Keith Kirkwood makes this roster easily on talent alone, but this roster has come together with such incredible depth, it'll be uphill...

Keith played one year of HS Prep ball, then on to Temple which isn't a powerhouse of developing NFL talent, especially the nuances of wide receiver...

He has plus-hands, plus-catch radius, and prototypical NFL WR size; he's behind others, needing OTJ remedial course in route running, blocking...

Competition for roster breaks down to three WR positions of WR-X (Thomas & Floyd/Kirkwood), WR-Y (Ginn & Smith/Lewis), and WR-Z (Meredith & Tate/Carr)...

With questionable reliability at the top at Tight End (i.e. Watson's age, 2016 achilles injury), we're going big at receiver to solve 3rd downs, red zone issues...

But this thing isn't over so long as Floyd is "heavy" and Kirkwood progresses, Kirkwood has a legitimate path to making this roster...

While I like Floyd for the immediate future of this team, I've never liked mortgaging the future (Davenport - two first rounders) and prefer Kirkwood...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

SmashMouth

WR Thomas, Smith, Ginn, Lee, Meredith, Carr, Kirkwood, Tate.

Floyd does not make it. Maybe Kirkwood on the PS.

jeanpierre

I'd be more than happy to geaux into battle with those guys...

K Major

Still have Keith book marked @ camp.

I like his size & speed. At worst, he's definitely a PS candidate.

SaintGup

What are you talking about!!! The Temple Owls was where Bill Cosb...oh..wait...

CheramieIII

You're right JP we have hella depth this year. I hope he makes it. Our practice squad would start for most teams.

Rugby Saint II

He's either going to make the final 53 or he's going to IR somehow. I don't believe that he would make it through waivers on the way to the practice squad.

jeanpierre

No, he's not gonna make it through waivers...

vpheughan

Temple which isn't a powerhouse of developing NFL talent

"TEMPLE HAS PUT 111 IN THE NFL AS OPPOSED TO THE 22 FROM HOFSTRA, REMEMBER #12?"

TIME FOR A COACH CLICHE LINE "IT'S NOT THE SIZE OF THE DOG IN THE FIGHT IT'S THE SIZE OF THE FIGHT IN THE DOG"