Sal Cannella, a former tight end for Auburn University, discusses his football career and the reasons he keeps playing.
Sal Cannella, a former tight end for Auburn football, has never considered giving up. Cannella has persevered and pushed through to play football at every point in his career.
His professional career started at Scottsdale Community College, when he was hired as a video camera operator during his first year as a grayshirt (a deferred scholarship).
Cannella had a stellar season at Scottsdale Community College in 2017. He then transferred to the Plains, where he quickly established himself as a tight end in a receiver-like role. Cannella’s position coach, Kodi Burns, gave him high marks for his work ethic prior to his senior year.
Kodi Burns, Cannella’s position coach, said, “One thing about Sal is he fights,” according to Auburn Athletics. Sometimes he is reliable. He has occasionally acted inconsistently. I will say this about the child, though: he fights. Every practice, he gives it his all. He shows up for work every day, no matter how you treat him or how you feel about him. He never voiced complaints. He is not a sullen man. Sal brings it every single day, which is why I adore him.
After attending Auburn, Cannella played football for five years, but he has still not been signed by an NFL team. After his Auburn career, he was waived by the Bears and Dolphins, went undrafted, and played in spring league twice. He played in the XFL, signed with the Packers after spending a season in the USFL, and was most recently released by the Seahawks.
Cannella pushes himself and works hard despite being passed over, but what keeps him going after repeatedly being told no?
According to AL.com, Cannella stated, “It’s the thrill.” “The excitement of the match. The thrill of playing a single game each week, and the amount of preparation required. There are several factors involved. I love the game because it’s exciting, stressful, and thrilling, even though you only get 10 to 12 games during your three or four months of offseason training.
The UFL team the tight end plays for this season is the Arlington Renegades. The Renegades have only won one of their first eight games this season, but Cannella has hauled in 41 receptions for 375 yards and five touchdowns.
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