The first AFL draft occurred before the league’s 1960 season. Ron Mix, whose last season at USC was in 1959, therefore became the first elite USC football player to face the choice between the AFL and NFL drafts. No one before him did. Mix shared what today’s NFL draft prospects need to do to be ready for life in the pros:
“Anybody that has the prospect of being drafted or being picked up as a free agent, should have an agent. Should be one with a good reputation. An agent that does as much for you pre-draft as possible and post-draft as possible,” Mix said, adding that prospects should take advantage of all they have to offer. Mix said a prospect should be able to see whether they will get access to the playbook early and start studying as much as they could.
“Really just get ready when you’re drafted, see how quickly they’ll give you the playbook so you can learn your plays. You don’t want to mess up in camp, mess up plays because of indecision. You don’t quite know what to do so you’re a second or even a nanosecond behind,” Mix told Fox News Digital. “When you participate in these voluntary team workouts, you just got to do it. You’ve got to be noticed. In training camp, you’re not there to make friends. Don’t try to be one of the boys and go out for drinks. Give attention to what you’re doing. Take it up a notch and go above what’s expected. You’ve got to be noticed. If they say this drill is half-speed, you go three-quarters speed. Don’t worry about whether somebody’s angry with you. Don’t worry about if it leads to a fight. You’re fighting for a job for you and your family.”
Ron Mix lived the life of a pro athlete. He competed at the highest level and won the 1963 AFL championship with the Chargers. He earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. If anyone’s advice can and should be taken seriously, Ron Mix isn’t a bad place to start — or, for that matter, to finish.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football legend Ron Mix offers advice to NFL draft prospects
Reporting by Matt Zemek, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
