Former Roosevelt Player Signs with St. Louis Rams

Eleanor Roosevelt High School football star Travon Bellamy, who played defensive back at the University of Illinois following high school, signed his first professional contract Tuesday, inking a deal with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, subsequently signaling the start of his NFL career and fulfilling a lifelong dream of one day being an NFL player.

Despite going unselected in April’s NFL draft, Bellamy, who posted 70 tackles and six pass-breakups as a cornerback for Illinois last season, garnered interest from several NFL teams about signing as an undrafted free agent once the NFL lockout ended Monday, including the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers. But late Monday night, he heard from the Rams and decided, along with his agent, that they were the best for him.

“I’m very excited,” Bellamy told Greenbelt Patch in a phone interview. “It still hasn’t completely hit me yet, though. But, I know this is a business, and I’m just going to take things one day at a time and try to make the team. I’m just ready to play.”

Bellamy, a three-year starter at cornerback for Roosevelt from 2003-05, posted an eye-popping 33 interceptions during his final three high school seasons, including 14 as a sophomore and 11 as a senior. He also tallied eight his junior year even despite missing five games due to an injury. Also solid against the run, Bellamy recorded 135 tackles during his last two seasons with the Raiders.

At Illinois, however, the big plays didn’t come so easily.

Bellamy battled through numerous injuries, including two shoulder surgeries, less than ideal production and declining playing time before re-emerging as a senior in 2010 under first-year defensive coordinator Vic Koenning.

“Adversity builds character, and mine made me into a stronger person,” Bellamy said. “My college career was up and down, and I had to deal with a lot of adversity, but I’m thankful for all of it because I learned a lot and grew as both a person and a football player.”

He added, “Everything happens for a reason, and I’m just trying to use those experiences to grow as a person, grow as a football player and just continue to move forward.”

And, now, Bellamy will aim to move forward with the Rams, who opened training camp Saturday, and play their first preseason game Aug. 13, hosting the Indianapolis Colts.

Bellamy says at training camp, he is going to stay focused, live in the film room, study his playbook as much as possible and hopefully make enough of an impression during the preseason to earn a roster spot in St. Louis.

“My number one goal is just to make the team,” Bellamy said. “After that, I want to get on the field, whether it’s on special teams or on defense, and help the team win and get to the Super Bowl.”