Julio Jones doesn't back away from challenges. As a ninth-grader at Foley (Alabama) High School, he was given the option of playing for the junior varsity football team or joining the varsity squad. He not only chose to play up but started each of his four seasons.
When trying to decide where to attend college as the nation's No. 1 wideout prospect, he selected an Alabama program coming off a .500 season because new coach Nick Saban -- unlike other recruiters -- promised him nothing more than an opportunity to compete for a starting job, adding: "I can win with you, and I can win without you.