JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars rookie safety C.J. Reavis knows what it's like to lose a major opportunity. He has been forced to contemplate his football mortality a few times, despite being only 22 years old.
Reavis was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and he committed to Virginia Tech in 2014. After one season with the Hokies, Reavis was dismissed from the program for an unspecified student conduct violation, according to The Roanoke Times.
His football future was bleak but he kept his dream alive by transferring to East Mississippi Community College, where he was featured in the Netflix documentary series, "Last Chance U." After spending time on the JUCO level, Reavis was able to transfer to Marshall University, which fanned the flames of his NFL aspirations.
In two seasons at Marshall, Reavis produced 64 tackles (five for loss), five pass breakups and an interception. His output with the Thundering Herd led to an undrafted free-agent deal with the Jaguars in May.
Reavis has drawn motivation from his rollercoaster college career during the early portion of his rookie offseason. He understands what's at stake during organized team activities and he doesn't want his second chance to be wasted before his NFL career takes off.
"Knowing that [football] was taken away from me at one point and I got it back," Reavis said. regarding his biggest motivation.
Reavis has gained plenty of supporters through his reality series background. While that support has raised his profile, Reavis won't coast on his "Last Chance U" reputation in the NFL. He is starting over and the past has little impact on his current situation.
Despite the early adversity during his college career, Reavis rarely doubted his ability or his NFL future. While it would have been easy to just give up, Reavis put in the work to get to where he is now.
"I felt like once I got back in school [at Marshall], I knew I had to make [my NFL career] happen," Reavis said.
Reavis received a new lease on his football life at Marshall. His time at the school also taught him several life lessons.
"It taught me how to deal with different kinds of people," Reavis said. "It taught me how to make the most of my environment that I was in, going to a lower level Division I college. It just taught me how to fight through adversity. You can't give up, you've got to keep fighting."
Though he is mostly working with third-string players during OTAs, Reavis has already started to fight his way up the depth chart. Of the 14 undrafted rookies on the Jaguars' offseason roster, Reavis has been arguably the biggest standout.
Through eight OTA workouts, Reavis has produced two interceptions. His first pick came on Day 1 of the workouts.
"When I make a good play, [the coaches] say 'good play' but I'm still a rookie," Reavis said. "I've got a long way to go. I've still got to get all of my defense down and get everything down and do it perfectly. [The staff has] given me a little bit of love."
Reavis has been leaning on the veterans in the secondary for advice as he studies the Jaguars' defensive playbook. Safeties Tashaun Gipson and Jarrod Wilson and cornerbacks A.J. Bouye and Tyler Patmon have been mentoring the young defensive back.
Like Reavis, all four of his current mentors were undrafted free agents following their college careers. The four veterans started their respective NFL lives as contributors on special teams.
Reavis knows he will have to follow a similar path to begin his own NFL legacy.
"Being undrafted, you've got to play special teams," Reavis said. "Being a rookie in general, especially in my position, I've got to play special teams and I've got to play it well. I've got to be able to show [the coaches] my value and that I can help on special teams."
Follow Mike Kaye on Twitter at @Mike_E_Kaye.