Among the 26 undrafted free agents the Rams signed this year was Mike McAllister, a center from Youngstown State. But he’s more than just an offensive lineman. He’s also a volunteer firefighter and has been for several years.
McAllister has been a Turtle Creek firefighter since he was 16 years old in addition to playing football at Woodland Hills High School in Pennsylvania. He’ll have to take a break from fighting fires this summer, but it’s for a good reason as he pursues his dream of playing in the NFL – something he’s believed was possible since he was 9 years old.
“It’s like a second home, a second family. I joined when I was 16 and have been here ever since,” he told CBS News in Pittsburgh.
McAllister spent five years at Youngstown State, redshirting his freshman year in 2017 before eventually becoming a full-time starter and earning second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 2022. At 6-foot-3 and 308 pounds, he’s not the biggest center by any means, but he’s determined to not only make the Rams’ final roster, but become a Hall of Famer one day.
“It’s great that I’m on the roster. My goal isn’t just to make the team, my goal is to make the team, be a contributor, become a starter and God willing, be a Hall of Fame player and ultimately win the big game,” he said.
