Todd Gurley, April Ross talk being a rookie and going to the Olympics
Some of the biggest names in both professional and high school sports came together Tuesday night at Gatorade's Player of the Year Awards, and AOL Sports was there to catch all the action.
From NFL star Cam Newton to Olympian April Ross, the room was filled with players paying it forward to the high school nominees. Winning this year's Female Athlete of the Year award is Sydney McLaughlin, the 16-year-old from New Jersey who on Sunday became the youngest track Olympian since 1972. Jayson Tatum took the hardware for Male Athlete of the Year with a promising future as the basketball star heads to Duke University in the fall.
"They are doing a lot better than I was when I was in high school," laughed Todd Gurley.
But the one piece of advice the running back gave to the high school athletes?
"Surround yourself with good people and just step it up when you get to college."
SEE ALSO: Todd Gurley chops it up on GoPro during training camp practice
Surrounding himself with good people and staying humble are just some of the things Gurley learned his rookie year.
Gatorade athlete of the year awards!
A post shared by Todd Gurley (@tg4hunnid) on Jul 12, 2016 at 9:52pm PDT
"I remember everyone saying how great I was and going into those four games [at the beginning of the season] and doing 100 and then after that it was like, 'okay back to 50,' that'll humble you real quick."
But at the end of the day he claims, it's "just football" and tells the guys it's a sport they've been playing their whole lives except that now it's their job -- advice he's shared with rookie quarterback Jared Goff.
"Everything is not going to go right," said Gurley. But, "he'll do fine, I keep telling him to keep doing what he's been doing."
RELATED: See images of Rio preparing for the Olympics
Olympian April Ross also shared what it was like to partner up with former competitor Kerri Walsh-Jennings for this year's Rio Olympics. Ross and then-partner Jennifer Kessy lost to Wash and Misty May-Treanor in the finals in London.
A post shared by April Ross (@aprilrossbeach) on Jul 9, 2016 at 11:40pm PDT
"It's not intimidating and I don't get defensive," said Ross. "I learn from the way that she is. To see all that she's achieved, how she balances her life and her family with the sport, I'm learning from all that."
We can't wait to cheer them on in Rio.
By Magdalena Guillen
