D1 is The Place For The Athlete, and an athlete is anyone with a goal. There are five athletes at D1 Midlothian in Virginia who are working hard toward achieving their ultimate goal: playing football professionally.
The five players are:
- Dorrian Moultrie (Wide receiver, Hampton U.)
- Romon Copeland (Wide receiver, Austin Peay)
- Randy Jordan (Defensive back, Hampton U.)
- Rayquan Smith (Running back, Virginia State)
- Chris Houston (Wide receiver, Chattanooga)
This quintet is part of D1 Midlothian's Draft Prep Program. Running the show is coach William Hackney, a business development strategist and pro liason for D1 Midlothian.
William Hackney (Photo credit: Grant Plitt/For D1 Training)
While none of these athletes received the coveted invitations to the NFL Scouting Combine in February, all five were invited to participate in Pro Days at various colleges, a major step in their development as pro prospects.
Hackney took some time out of his busy schedule -- he also works full-time as an accountant -- to answer a few questions about his experience running the Draft Prep Program at D1 Midlothian.
How often do you train this group? Do any of them see you one-on-one?
They train in an eight-week, two-a-day format that includes personalized meal plans and post-workout protein shakes after an allergy waiver is signed. In addition to on-field and strength training, the program features film review, media training, and networking opportunities with NFLPA and CFLPA agents. Some of the athletes also do one-on-one sessions with me to refine specific aspects of their game.
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Romon Copeland (Photo credit: Grant Plitt/For D1 Training)
How did this group originally find you/D1? Did you work with them before?
Most of these athletes were referred to me by their agents, while others connected through word of mouth, social media, and previous training experiences. Some I’ve worked with since their high school or college careers, while others joined after seeing the success of athletes I’ve trained.
What is your background in sports, and as a trainer/coach?
I played quarterback and ran track at Manchester (Va.) High School before earning recruiting interest from multiple Division I programs. I continued my academic career in the School of Business and my football career playing both quarterback and wide receiver at Liberty University. Since then, I’ve trained over 100 collegiate and NFL athletes, coached at Elite 11, collaborated with legends like Michael Vick and Chad Henne, and have been involved in high-level athlete development programs.
Dorrian Moultrie (Photo credit: Grant Plitt/For D1 Training)
What are your hopes/expectations for these athletes?
My goal is to ensure these athletes are physically and mentally prepared to compete at the highest level. I expect them to maximize every opportunity, showcase their talent, and transition smoothly into professional football, whether in the NFL or UFL. Beyond that, I emphasize their physical well-being and mental preparedness, ensuring they perform at a level on par with world-class athletes. Mental performance precedes physical performance, and my goal is to equip them with the mindset and skills to excel.
Randy Jordan (Photo credit: Grant Plitt/For D1 Training)