RU STRONG

On this week’s RU Strong Podcast, host Jeff Durr sits down with Jenna Crisalli , a former Rutgers University gymnast who turned her relentless competitive drive into a thriving career in medical device sales. From Freehold, NJ to the Big Ten stage, Jenna’s story is one of resilience, courage, and betting on herself. She walked on to the Rutgers gymnastics team and ultimately earned a full scholarship by her junior year , a moment she calls one of the best of her life. In this episode, Jenna shares how the discipline, courage, and mindset it took to compete in gymnastics at the Big Ten level prepared her for success beyond the sport. Today, she works in the operating room selling advanced surgical and robotic equipment, and she’s also found a new competitive outlet in boxing. Her journey is a powerful reminder that thelessons we learn as athletes , discipline, courage, and resilience , prepare us to thrive in life after sports. Tune in now and be inspired by Jenna’s journey

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast!I’m your host, Jeff Durr, and today I’m fired up to introduce you to an incredible guest whose journey truly embodies strength on and off the field.

Joining me is Steven Davis Jr, a proud son of St. Louis, Missouri, and a 2008 graduate of the University of Minnesota, where he made his mark on the football field as a defensive force. His highlight reel tells the story, squaring off against powerhouses like Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Iowa, and even taking a scoop-and-score fumble to the end zone. Playing Big Ten football at the highest level, Steven built his foundation on competition, resilience, and teamwork.

But his story doesn’t stop at football. For thepast eight years, Steven has continued to rise at his alma mater, the University of Minnesota, moving from Director of Infinity Engagement to Associate Vice President, and now serving as Senior Director. His impact stretches beyond theuniversity, as he dedicates himself to helping athletes navigate life after sports.

He’s an athlete transition coach with Athlete Soul, a certified trainer and facilitator with the Positive CoachingAlliance, the founder of Strive Higher After Sports, and even the author of a powerful journal designed to guide athletesin their next chapter.

Today, we’ll dive into his story, his days under the lights in the Big Ten, his transition into leadership and mentorship, and his passion for empowering athletes to strive higher once their playing days are over.

Let’s get started, this is the RU Strong Podcast with my guest, Steven Davis.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast! I’m your host, Jeff Durr, and today I’m excited to sit down with an incredible guest whose story is all about resilience, reinvention,and passion.

He’s a former Rutgers University soccer player whose athletic career took an unexpected turn after a major injury. But instead of letting that setback define him, he used it as fuel, shifting his mindset and channeling hiscompetitive drive into the world of entrepreneurship.

Now, he’s building a successful business, creating content that’s as entertaining as it is inspiring, and showing others how to turn obstacles into opportunities. If you haven’t yet, do yourself a favor and check out his great video outtakes on LinkedIn, they’re a perfect example of the courage,creativity, and authenticity he brings to everything he does.

We’re going to dive deep into his journey, hisentrepreneurial mindset, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

Please join me in welcoming to the RU Strong Podcast, Kieran Williams!

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast. I’m your host, Jeff Durr, and today I have an absolutely phenomenal guest, someone whose list of accomplishments could fill a book on its own.

From the football field at Clemson University, where he was a two-time ACC Champion, First Team Freshman All American, Clemson Rookie of the Year, and All-ACC standout, to the classroom, where he earned his bachelor’s in marketing, professional sales certification, and not one but two master’s degrees, including an MBA in entrepreneurial and business operations, this young man has excelled atevery level.

He was recognized with the Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Award, an honor given to only 42 student-athletes out of over 100,000 across the ACC, highlighting his commitment not just to football, but to academic and personal excellence.

After Clemson and a journey into the NFL, Rashard transitioned into a career dedicated to building others. He’s served as an academic advisor at his alma mater,Director of Career and Professional Development, a member of the NFL Committee, and the founder of Scholar AthELITE,a platform dedicated to developing athletes into leaders. He’s also the author of “The Scholar Elite: How to Become anElite Athlete and Professional,” a must-read for athletes seeking to elevate both on and off the field.

Hailing proudly from St. Augustine, Florida, Rashard credits his hometown for shaping his values of servant leadership and resilience. Today, he’s a devoted husband, father of two, and someone who measures success not by accolades, butby how many people he can bless.

It’s an honor to welcome to the RU StrongPodcast, Rashard Hall.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast! I’m your host, Jeff Durr, and today we’ve got another incredible guest whose journey both on and off the field has been nothing short of inspiring.

He played his college football at Clemson University, earning All-ACC honors and making the ACC Academic Honor Roll, proving that success comes from both the classroom and the gridiron. With a degree in sociology and anthropology and a minor in athletic leadership, his foundation for leadership was set early.

He went on to fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL, signing with the Baltimore Ravens and spending about fiveyears in the league, a testament to his talent, discipline, andperseverance. But his story didn’t end there.

After his playing career, he transitioned into roles that made a real difference in athletes’ lives, from working as afootball consultant at Quest International, to serving as a University Counselor at Grand Canyon University, to stepping back into the NFL in Player Engagement. His passion for guiding athletes led him to leadership roles at the University of Tennessee and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as Director of Student-Athlete Development.

And a very special time at his alma mater, ClemsonUniversity, serving as the Director of Clemson Football Alumni Engagement, where for nearly four years he’sbeen building bridges and supporting the Tiger family.

Please join me in welcoming to the RU Strong Podcast, Clemson Tiger, former NFL player, and lifelong mentor,Antoine McClain.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast, hosted by Jeff Durr. Today, we highlight not only a remarkable athlete but also a dedicated student who’s entering the final stretch of her collegiate journey.

From Mountainside, New Jersey, she made her markearly at Governor Livingston High School, excelling as a four-year letter winner in basketball, track, and soccer. That competitive drive led her to Rutgers University, where she’s played on one of the most respected stages in women’s soccer, the Big Ten Conference.

Across 50 games, she’s contributed 5 goals and6 assists, but her story goes far beyond stats. She’s earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition, showing the discipline it takes to thrive both on the field and in the classroom. Now, as a senior, she’s stepping into her final season at Rutgers with focus, energy, and a determination to finish strong.

It’s an honor to welcome to the RU StrongPodcast, Rutgers Women’s Soccer player, AlliePost.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast, hosted by Jeff Durr. Today we’re diving into the journey of a determined young man who has taken his talents from the fields of New Jersey all the way up north to the University of Maine.

Our guest, Amir Byrd, started his football career at Rutgers University, earning his undergraduate degree before transferring to the University of Maine, where hecontinued to excel on the field while earning a master’s degree in Kinesiology.At just 23 years old, Amir is chasing the dream of every young athlete, to play at the highest level in the NFL.

In this episode, we’ll talk about his transition from Rutgers to Maine, the discipline it took to succeed bothacademically and athletically, and the mindset required to keep pushing forward in pursuit of the League. Amir’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and focus, the true definition of what it means to be RU Strong.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast! I’m your host, Jeff Durr, and today we’re joined by an incredible guest whose story defines perseverance, leadership, and impact.

Our guest, Gus “Big Dawg” Felder, hails from North Philadelphia and carved out a remarkable journey through the game of football and beyond. A four-year letterman and starter at Penn State University, Gus earned his degree in Kinesiology before going on to complete his Master’s in Educational Leadership and Health Education.On the field, he was a standout offensive lineman, earning All-Big Ten honors and even suiting up for the ClevelandBrowns in the NFL.

But his story didn’t stop there. After his playing career, Gus transitioned into coaching, first at the high school levelin Pennsylvania and Florida before taking on major collegiate roles. He rose through the ranks as Head of Strength andConditioning at Cheyney University, returned to Penn State as an assistant strength coach, and later served as Director of Strength and Conditioning and Offensive Line Coach atClark Atlanta University. His journey continued at powerhouse programs like the University of Georgia,the University of Miami, and now, he’s making his mark as the Director of Player Development, where he mentors and shapes the lives of young athletes.

Gus “Big Dawg” Felder’s story is about muchmore than football, it’s about resilience, faith, leadership, and leaving a lasting legacy for the next generation.

So, let’s dive in and hear from a man who embodies what it truly means to be RU Strong.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast, hosted by Jeff Durr. Today’s guest is someone whose journey through athletics and beyond truly embodies the spirit ofleadership, impact, and resilience.

Edward Jones is a former college football playerwho transitioned his passion for the game into a career shaping athletes far beyond the field. He began his path in Player Development at the University of Houston, carried his expertise to the University of Kansas, and then took on the same role at Baylor University, impacting athletes at some of the most competitive programs in the nation.

But Edward’s story doesn’t stop there. He is also the Program Director at RISE, a nonprofit dedicated to educating and empowering the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice, and improve racerelations. His work stands as a testament to the power of using sport as a platform for positive change.

From the locker room to leadership, Edward Jones has dedicated his life to helping athletes grow not just as players, but as people. Get ready for an incredible conversation filled with wisdom, purpose, and inspiration.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast. I’m your host, Jeff Durr, and today’s episode is truly a trifecta of strength,resilience, and inspiration.

Our guest, Riley Tejcek, has worn many uniforms in her remarkable journey. She’s a former standout college softball player at George Washington University, where her grit and determination on the diamond shaped the foundation of her competitive spirit. After graduation, she chose a new arena of service, enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, where she now serves as a Captain, leading recruiting efforts and inspiring the next generation of Marines. Her leadership and excellence earned her recognition as the 2021 Marine Female Athlete of the Year.

But Riley didn’t stop there. She was a pilot on the U.S. Women’s Bobsled Team and has also become an author of a children’s book titled “If You Can Dream It, Be It”. A story rooted in her own life journey, designed to inspire kids and adults alike to chase their dreams fearlessly.

From the softball field to the military, to the Bobsled track, Riley embodies what it means to be RU Strong, relentless,courageous, and always pushing past limits.

Let’s dive in with Riley Tejcek.