Melvin Gordon, Trae Waynes, close friends who played together in Kenosha call NFL Draft "surreal," "dream come true"
KENOSHA (WITI) -- For most high school football players, their playing days end after high school. A few may play in college -- but only a very select few will hear their name called at the NFL Draft. Last Thursday night, April 30th in Chicago, Trae Waynes and Melvin Gordon, close friends and former teammates at Kenosha Bradford High School were among the chosen few.
Waynes, the swift, silky smooth cornerback from Michigan State went to the Minnesota Vikings with the 11th overall pick.
Melvin Gordon
Gordon, the mercurial, record-setting Badgers running back went to the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers traded up two spots to take him.
"It's been crazy -- just a whirlwind, you know? It seems like I was just in Wisconsin yesterday. It's going so fast. I don't know, man. But I'm just too excited. I've been waiting for this moment for so long. I went to sleep plenty of times thinking I got drafted, and it was just a dream. Now I can wake up the next morning and know that I'm part of an organization," Gordon said.
Trae Waynes
"Surreal. This is something I dreamed about as a kid. The fact that it's actually happening -- I don't even believe it yet. Once I got that call, I was like 'are they really calling me?' But you know, it's a dream come true, and I can't wait to start this new journey," Waynes said.
Waynes and Gordon are only the fifth pair of high school teammates drafted in the first round in the same year since 1990.
"It was just good to have him there as a friend -- as a guy who's going through this, as everything. He's been there for me. When I was getting off stage, he's right there waiting for me. It wouldn't have been no different if I went before him," Gordon said.
Trae Waynes and Melvin Gordon
"I'm so happy for him. I mean, that made my night right there. Just seeing his name be called, seeing him walk across the stage -- because he's a great kid. I was more happy for him than me, just because of the type of person he is," Waynes said.
Gordon and Waynes are two of the most grounded young men you'll ever meet. Filling many hours as kids playing sports -- especially football, helped keep them on the right path -- but there was more than that.
Trae Waynes and Melvin Gordon
"We kept our friends close. We got a group of friends that all wanted the same goal, and we knew that goal had a lot of twists and turns and we kept each other out of trouble," Waynes said.
God-given gifts have a lot to do with what Waynes and Gordon have accomplished. So does hard work.
"A lot of people don't know, but we would go after practice and our days off and just work. We'd go to Carthage, do some drills and just try to get better. And, you know, we're competitors. It doesn't matter if it's videogames, checkers on the field -- we all just compete, and that makes us better as a whole,"
Now Waynes and Gordon have to deal with the potential pitfalls that come with fame and fortune. Will it change them?
Trae Waynes and Melvin Gordon
"No Sir. I've heard too many stories and I'm definitely going to stay grounded. I'm cheap. It ain't going to be an issue. I'm a cheap dude -- I still ask my parents for money when I go home! Even gas money,"
That's one thing that might change for Waynes and Gordon -- two close friends from Kenosha Bradford who might just become NFL stars one day.