Yard work.
That's what Taco Charlton opted to do the day before the NFL draft.
He could've done a dozen different things, but Charlton helped his dad, Norm, in the yard with a big party planned the following day. After all, they weren't invited to attend the draft in person in Philadelphia so they had to do something on their own.
"I live right down the street and he's doing yard work with his dad the day before his whole life changed," said Jay Sharrett, Charlton's high school coach at Pickerington Central High School, near Columbus, Ohio. "His life changed, but he didn't. That's the same kid who grew up and went on to a great career at Michigan and now he's with the Cowboys."
What a party it became when the Dallas Cowboys used the 28th overall pick on Charlton. Charlton felt he could have gone in the top-15, but the wait was worth it.
This is a guy who grew up with a Dallas Cowboys locker and bed sheets in his room, and will wear No. 97 for America's Team for the first time during rookie minicamp this weekend.
"It was bubbly in your stomach. I had all (six) of my siblings there and ... just kind of waiting," said his mom, Tamara. "The later it got, I just had to cover my mouth and I just prayed on the couch."
Tamara typed a message in her phone, writing: "Lord, I need the Cowboys to ring the phone."
Five minutes later, owner Jerry Jones was on the other line talking to his newest addition that is expected to bolster what has been a lackluster pass rush in recent years.
"When I watched it on YouTube or Jerry talking, it's kind of like, I can still hear Taco, you could hear it in his chest," Tamara said. "It was just like, the whole room, we all wanted to cry."
Said Taco, "It feels great. I can't be happier. I'm really happy to play for a great owner like Jerry Jones. I couldn't be happier."
