Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert made an effort on Friday to offer valuable tips to students from his alma mater on how to succeed in life.
Mostert hosted a business summit at New Smyrna Beach High School that included a variety of business professionals to show other paths to success besides being an athlete.
“They don’t necessarily have to be an athlete to be successful,” Mostert said. “I think that’s the biggest thing I wanted to emphasize. You don’t have to be a celebrity to be successful.”
Mostert’s summit was the latest effort from the foundation he and his wife began last year. His appearance was an outgrowth of a request for him to offer words of inspiration to the school’s graduating seniors.
The 31-year-old Mostert, who left the school more than 10 years ago, explained why he chose to accept the school principal’s offer and expand beyond the scope of the original request.
“I wanted to be able to just give back to the kids and also give them information and tools and techniques from other professionals, not only myself, that are in different fields that are very successful,” Mostert said. “I wanted to come out and just help.”
Mostert and other professionals spoke to the school’s junior class. After the assembly had concluded, some students spoke with Mostert’s guests.
The path to the NFL was not a smooth one for Mostert, who went undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft. While he managed to beat the odds and make an NFL roster, he spent his first two seasons playing for five different teams.
Those early struggles included a brief stint with the Dolphins during his rookie year in 2015. Then, during the latter half of the 2016 campaign, he was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers and began to develop into a productive running back.
Mostert’s best season with the 49ers came in 2019, when he rushed for 772 yards and eight touchdowns. However, that was followed by two straight injury-plagued seasons.
In March of last year, the Purdue University product was signed as a free agent by the Dolphins and ended up as the team’s leading rusher last season.
His 891 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns were supplemented by 31 receptions for 202 yards and two scores, numbers that played big roles in the Dolphins reaching the postseason.
Despite that success, Mostert’s continued status as the Dolphins’ top running back is not guaranteed. In last month’s 2023 NFL Draft, the team used its third-round pick on Texas A&M University running back De’Von Achane after closely following him in recent months.
In addition, rumors have surfaced on multiple occasions about the Dolphins possibly acquiring veteran running back Dalvin Cook.
Such challenges are what people in all different facets of life deal with on a regular basis. Friday’s effort by Mostert is his attempt to provide advice and present role models that students can emulate.
