When the Arizona Cardinals recently took on the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football, D1 Training Midlothian celebrated one of its athletes playing in the game with a virtual watch party.

Cardinals defensive back Kei'Trel Clark has been training with D1 Midlothian head coach William Hackney since Clark was in high school.

Hackney's seen Clark's rise from high school star to cornerback at Liberty and Louisville and now playing in the NFL for Arizona.

For Hackney, it's a culmination of all the work Clark put in, and the attitude he had along the way.

“Kei’Trel was a humble but highly self-aware student-athlete. From day one, he carried an elite mentality,” he said. “Once he locked in on his vision, everything else became inevitable. He has been overlooked for most of his career, but every single time he has been called on, he has risen to the occasion.”

Now, Hackney gets to see Clark on the field, accomplishing his dream they set together over the summer.

“When a flight of his got cancelled, he came by D1 to train. We had a conversation about how his approach to training has evolved, shifting from heavy powerlifting and explosiveness to bodyweight control, isometrics, range of motion, balance, and unilateral and lateral stability work,” Hackney said. “It is all focused on long-term health and performance. His mindset now is holistic, training for life, not just for football.”

And the hard work's paid off. Clark's already earned a game ball for his performance against the Carolina Panthers.

But even with the hard work, Hackney is more proud of the man Clark's become.

“The thing about Kei’Trel is that he does not listen to the noise. He does not get caught up in the praise or the criticism. He just keeps his head down and works,” Hackney said. “That is why no one who truly knows him is surprised by his success. He has always been different. Every young man has their own battles, but he has transcended his situation and that is what makes his journey remarkable.”

Franchise Focus

Some members from D1 Carmel participated in the Run The State 5k series

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D1 Daily is produced by Dom Bonvissuto & Ty Wellemeyer

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