There aren't too many things that can ruin the moment an NFL prospect hears his name called at the NFL Draft, but a house fire almost put a huge damper on what was supposed to be a joyous day for former Clemson defensive lineman Grady Jarrett.
Jarrett had about 50 people over to his childhood home in Conyers, Georgia on Friday night, hopeful to hear his name called in the second round. It didn't happen, but that was the least of his problems. Suddenly, smoke began sifting through the house, and friends and family noticed that one of the walls in the family's game room was completely covered in flames. The group fled the house, but by the time fire trucks arrived the entirety of the left side of the house had suffered significant fire damage. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
"It was an unexplainable feeling," Jarrett told Fox Sports. "It was hopelessness. It was disbelief. At that point I wasn't thinking about the draft. There's no feeling that describes watching a house burn. The important thing was everyone got out safe. We lost some things that we can't get back, but for the most part it's just material things and as a family we're just happy to be safe."
The caravan traveled to Jarrett's cousins house 15 minutes away to watch Saturday as he was selected with the first pick of the fifth round by the Atlanta Falcons. It seemed to raise Jarrett's spirits.
"With Atlanta taking me today it's a blessing. It lifted my family's spirits so high. Everything that was lost can be replaced, man. It's a really special time for us."
