Jerron Wishom does not know how to quit.
The former Louisiana Tech football star earned every second of his time with five National Football League teams, the Cologne Centurions of the now-defunct NFL Europe and the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Now 26, the cornerback's football career is temporarily on hold while he tackles a new challenge: being a mentor to underprivileged youth.
For almost two months, Wishom has served as a counselor at the St. James (La.) Youth Center, less than 20 miles from his hometown of Lutcher, La. His primary role is to give advice to anyone who seeks it.
"A lot of young men today are faced with all kinds of adversity and childhood problems," Wishom said. "I've faced a lot of adversity in my life. Youth come in all the time, and I tell them my story."
As a redshirt freshman at Louisiana Tech, Wishom's story got off to a disappointing start. He tore his ACL near the beginning of the season.
After working hard to get healthy again, Wishom intercepted three passes during his junior year, and was poised to make a major impact going into his senior season. But during the seventh game of his final season, he tore his other ACL, effectively ending his college football career.
"I got discouraged," Wishom said. "I didn't know if I was going to play football again."
In November 2004, Wishom received a letter inviting him to take part in the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine in February. He rehabbed his injuries in three months and was able to take part in all the drills, doing exceptionally well in some of them.
He signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent, was cut at the end of the preseason and then signed with the Green Bay Packers, who activated him to the roster midseason. He played on special teams and resumed his cornerback post as a reserve on defense.
"It was a great experience," Wishom said. "I got to line up against great players, and I got to play in front of my family and friends."
Over the course of the next two years, Wishom was a member of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and the CFL's Alouettes. In 2007, he started a full season as a member of the Centurions.
Now, Wishom uses his experiences from a whirlwind football career to make a difference among St. James youth. He works with high school cornerbacks on their techniques and skills, and he uses his status as an NFL-caliber player to speak to kids at schools and in poor neighborhoods.
"I can catch most guys' attention because I made it to the NFL," Wishom said. "I get a chance to talk to kids who are looking for advice. My goal is to mentor them and set them on the right foot and give them something to look forward to."
When youngsters come to talk, Wishom stresses the importance of discipline, effort and having a good attitude. He shares things he's learned from his coaches in many years of football. Todd Monken, currently the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers coach, gave Wishom advice when the two were at Louisiana Tech. That message guides Wishom's life.
"Whatever you do, do it to perfection and give it your all," Wishom said. "Put your heart into it."
While his first love remains football, Wishom gets great satisfaction out of helping the youth in his community. He's gotten to see people's lives change as a result of interacting with him, he said. Youngsters seeking knowledge, wisdom, help or even just a chat come to Wishom for his advice. Growing up in Lutcher, he knows the plight these underprivileged youth are facing.
"It's a blessing for me," Wishom said. "If I can change one person's life, then maybe that person can share their story with someone else. At this point in time, I'm doing what God wants me to do and I'm happy."
While he plans to work hard to return to the NFL and become an impact player, his dream is to open facilities for youth so he can improve their lives, no matter where he ends up.
But before his quest to return to playing football, Wishom will do what he can at the St. James Youth Center to improve the lives and conditions of anyone who asks for his help. He tells anyone chasing a dream to never give up, citing his extra workout regimen as a reason he was signed by so many teams.
"Don't quit," he said. "No matter what people tell you."