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Inside Hokie Sports
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“I just think it’s courage and making sure you’re focused,” Stroman said of the skills needed
to be a good punt returner. “If you’re not focused, the ball can definitely go through your hands
or anything like that. You’ve got to have focus and courage and decision-making—decision-
making is one of the biggest parts of that. Coach [James] Shibest [Tech’s special teams
coordinator] always harps on wanting me to be aggressive, always be aggressive and take the
aggressive side. I think all of those are important things.”
Stroman hopes his future in football continues. Like most players, he dreams of playing at
the professional level, and specifically in the NFL. With his 6-foot height, long arms and top-
end speed, he certainly makes for an intriguing prospect. Plus, his return abilities figure to
make him even more valuable in the eyes of NFL personnel evaluators.
If a future in the NFL doesn’t work out, though, he has put himself in position for other
options. He graduated in mid-December—in 3.5 years—with a degree in consumer studies,
and a future helping other athletes to grow in a similar manner as him sounds appealing
to him.
“I have a couple of different plans in my head, but I think I want to have my own training
facility,” Stroman said. “I want to train high school kids, middle school kids—kids that want
to get better at their sport and eventually make that grow. I would probably start around my
hometown with that.”
The possibilities are numerous for Stroman, which seems only fitting. His future may well be
reminiscent of being a punt returner—fielding an opportunity and going where only he wants
to go without being caught.