Former Hawks football player CJ Wiggins receives invite to Colts rookie mini camp

The former Gila Ridge star gets his chance at the NFL after playing for West Los Angeles College and Missouri S&T after his Hawks career

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The road to earning even an NFL opportunity is long and hard for many, and for former Gila Ridge Hawk Cassell Wiggins Jr., or CJ, it was no different.

After spending the last two seasons at Division II school Missouri S&T, Wiggins received an invite to rookie mini-camp with the Indianapolis Colts.

"I think it just comes from having a love of the game, for sure," Wiggins said.

Wiggins got introduced to football at seven-years old, but his parents, Cassell Wiggins and Gladys Brown, say they knew he'd be an athlete even earlier.

"I would say probably around two, I knew that he was going to play something, and now I'm just being very logical and strategic, he just loved sports," Brown said.

Discipline was also instilled in Wiggins early on, partly thanks to his dad's military background, as Cassell served with the United States Marine Corps.

"It was a big part, because I felt like if you're not disciplined in life, then things can go astray, which wasn't hard for him or his brothers," Cassell said.

It was also his mother Gladys who helped his work ethic, as she says routines were important in CJ's upbringing.

"I think while he was on deployment, you know, it was really easy for me when you have structure," Brown said.

"A good schedule also keeps you in line because it's one thing to have motivation and go workout once once a week, but it's another thing to be able to be disciplined and continue to work out over the course of weeks, months and years," CJ said.

With Gila Ridge, Wiggins played both receiver and quarterback, with the latter becoming his main position in his senior year.

In a five-game COVID shortened season in 2020, Wiggins threw for nearly 1,300 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior.

Overall, his time with the Hawks was a period he believes was important personally.

"I definitely say I grew a lot, not only as a player, but a person as well," Wiggins said.

Despite his success under center, a jump to the next level would not come easy for him.

"I'm not exactly sure how many emails I sent, but just like any other kid trying to recruit, I probably sent at least 100 emails to just different colleges, (junior college) or four-year," Wiggins said.

Eventually one of those emails would find the coaching staff at West Los Angeles College, where Wiggins would play two seasons for the Wildcats.

Once again playing QB, Wiggins threw for just over 1,800 yards with 13 touchdowns in his sophomore season with the program.

His journey would then take him all the way to the Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he would finish out his collegiate career with the Miners.

However, Wiggins would become a wide receiver with S&T, saying it was the best chance at a future in the pros.

"I was still enjoying playing quarterback, but I also I saw something in me and just kind of started to miss playing receiver," Wiggins said.

The switch paid off, as he would total over 1,100 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches with the Miners.

"Playing receiver would take me further in terms of, pursuing football for as long as I could," Wiggins said.

His journey has now led him to the invite with the Colts, a chance the journey he's taken has helped to prepare him for.

"The biggest thing is that I just need to make sure that I stay in line and really make sure to stay relaxed and pick up as much as I can and stay open ears," Wiggins said.