Graham Pocic impetuously piled his football belongings in his parents' room, a childhood fit that now makes the Illinois offensive lineman smile.

Gary and Kim Pocic wanted their son to wait to play organized football until high school to preserve his body and pushed him toward soccer, basketball and baseball. Graham, in third or fourth grade, said he would give up football altogether if they didn't allow him to join a team.

"I was definitely begging my parents to play," said Pocic, though his quiet nature prevented his mother from realizing his passion until much later.