The Player Development Pod

Duke Football takes the field against Elon, but behind the scenes their athletes are preparing for something even bigger. In this episode, I sit down with Dorian Jackson to talk about the Duke Futures Initiative: Why athletes should build résumés and LinkedIn profiles as freshmen How Duke’s 145,000+ alumni are helping athletes with careers Why trial and error internships matter for players How pro...

We did it — 1,000 YouTube subscribers! 🎉 In this celebratory episode, I share my journey from launching the Beyond The Field channel in 2022 to building a global community that just crossed the 1K mark. I talk about: – What this milestone really means – How consistency (even through tough seasons) pays off – Why YOU are the true creators of this content – And the lessons I’ve learned that can hel...

⚠️ Content Warning This episode discusses sextortion, suicide, and sensitive topics related to athlete safety and mental health. Listener discretion is advised. If you are struggling or need help, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. or seek support from a trusted professional in your area. 36 confirmed deaths. Countless more unreported. Sextortion is the scam that prey...

College football’s opening weekend reminded me of a conversation I had this summer. North Carolina Central just earned a big win in the MEAC–SWAC Challenge over Southern, and it’s the perfect moment to highlight Darian Iverson, Player Development Coordinator at NCCU. In this short but impactful episode, Darian and I discuss: Why NCCU recruits high-character athletes How HBCUs are doing meaningful...

In this episode, I unpack one of the most common questions I get in player development: “How do I land an NFL player engagement job?” While it’s a valid question, it’s also a limited one. I break down why opportunities in the NFL are rare, how most staffers started in college roles, and why chasing a logo isn’t the same as creating real impact. If you’ve ever thought the NFL was the only path to a...

When most programs launch player development, they fall into one trap: copycatting. They see what another school is doing—maybe Clemson’s Paul Journey—and try to carbon copy it. But every university, every roster, and every city is unique. Copycatting leads to programs that look good on paper but fail to make a real impact on athletes. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the four steps to avoid...

In this episode of The Player Development Pod, I open up about two pivotal career moments when I knew it was time to leave a role I worked hard to get. From leaving Kansas for Baylor with a $40K raise to recognizing the early signs that my Baylor role was changing — these stories are filled with lessons on value, timing, and career strategy. If you’re in athlete development or student-athlete supp...

Career development in player development isn’t just about job placement—it’s about preparing athletes for a lifetime of success. In this episode, I walk you through the Professional Development Progression, a 5-step framework from The Player Development Guide (page 123) that covers: 1️⃣ Documentation – resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles 2️⃣ Presentation – personal brand, social media presen...

There are 10 core areas that can define a great player development program—and every program leader should know them. In this episode, I break down: The 10 areas of player development that impact athletes for life Why starting with 3 creates the most focus and results How you can use these areas to guide your program’s direction Whether you’re a player development professional, coach, or administr...

In this episode of The Player Development Pod, I pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to work for a head coach who doesn’t understand player development. From being left off the schedule to having your professional growth stunted, these are the eight hard truths I’ve learned in my career — and what they mean for your role: 1️⃣ They are either for you or against you 2️⃣ They will say they...

In this episode, Edward dives deep into the why behind strategy in player development. Many programs rely on good people doing good things — but without strategy, the work lacks staying power. He shares four critical reasons why strategy is the key to sustainable and scalable impact: Player development is often misunderstood Strategy allows for intentional impact Strategy supports data and follow-...

What does true player development look like? In this episode, I share the 3 core pillars that shaped the Beyond the Field program during my time at the University of Houston, Kansas, and Baylor. From financial wellness to community outreach to real career placement—we cover it all. 💡 Whether you're new to athlete development or leading a program, this breakdown will help you level up your approac...

For the first time ever, Beyond the Field hit the road to spend intentional time with a college football program — and our first stop was Duke University. In this reflection episode, I highlight the four biggest takeaways from my visit: 1️⃣ John Battle – His journey from player to pro to Director of Player Development 2️⃣ Coach Manny Diaz – A head coach who truly gets the power of off-the-field gr...

This is a milestone episode. For the first time on The Player Development Pod, we’re joined by a head coach: Coach Manny Diaz of Duke Football. Coach Diaz dives into: The critical role player development plays in his program How off-the-field growth leads to on-the-field results His belief in holistic care for student-athletes The incredible impact of John Battle IV’s work with Duke Football You’l...

In this episode, Edward sits down with his mentee and now fellow player development leader, John Battle, who currently serves as the Director of Player Development at Duke University. John shares: How he transitioned from the NFL into this field What helped him prepare (before he had a title) How he’s building culture and relationships at Duke Why intentionality is everything in this work This is...

If you're a student interested in working in player development, this episode is your playbook. Ed Jones II shares 8 practical ways to begin preparing for the field — from understanding the role to building your network and gaining experience right where you are. Whether you're in college or just getting started, this episode will show you how to take action now. - BOOK - Get YOUR copy of...

If you’ve ever asked, “How do I get into player development?”—this episode is for you. I walk you through the five foundational areas you must understand if you're serious about serving athletes beyond the game: How the role is defined What the role actually does What challenges you’ll face Career path examples How to make impact—before you get hired If you want to work in this field, this episode...

In this short but powerful episode, Edward Jones II announces the next big step for Beyond the Field: a three-day visit to Duke University to speak to the football team and spotlight the incredible work of Director of Player Development, John Battle. Edward shares: The full story of how he met John through Justice Jones (New York Jets) How a random Miami meetup turned into something bigger Why thi...

The Story That Sparked It All In this episode of The Player Development Pod, I take you back to the moment that changed everything for me. A 1990s Houston Cougar football legend—once celebrated, now broken—returned to campus for an alumni event. Homeless. Overweight. Forgotten. Watching him cry while his teammates looked on in sadness wrecked me. How could this happen to someone whose name is stil...

🎙 Welcome to Season 8 of The Player Development Pod! We're kicking off this season with the episode that always starts it all: "What Is Player Development?" Whether you're new to this space or a seasoned professional, this episode is your go-to breakdown of the entire field of player development. In this kickoff episode, I’m walking you through: ✅ What player development really...

In this episode, we explore how young coaches—especially those close in age to their athletes—can be powerful assets in any program. From connecting over shared life experiences like academics, mental health, and social media to leading by example through maturity, young coaches have the ability to care, communicate, and empower like few others can. Whether you’re coaching your former teammates or...

Why don’t coaches get player development? And is that… our fault? In this episode, I take a raw and honest look at one of the biggest disconnects in athletics: the gap between player development and coaching. While other departments speak clearly about their contributions—coaches talk wins, academics talk GPAs, nutrition talks health—player development is often left in the shadows. I dive into: Wh...

In this episode, I’m joined by Osman Kamara — a thought leader in athlete development whose YouTube interview is the most-watched in the space. He also delivered key insights at the 2025 Player Development Summit. Together, we break down: What the NCAA House Settlement means for athlete care and program structure The top concerns athletes are silently carrying right now How Osman uses NBA-level th...

In this episode of The Player Development Pod , I share the hard truth: our silence is costing us. Player development roles are being cut across college athletics—not because they’re not valuable, but because the value isn’t being communicated. Coaches and administrators can’t defend what they don’t understand. And too many of us are doing great work in the dark. That’s why I commissioned a study...

Gus Felder on the NCAA House Settlement + The Future of Player Development In this powerful conversation, Ed Jones II sits down with Gus Felder, Director of Player Development at the University of Nebraska, to break down how the NCAA House Settlement is reshaping college athletics—and what it means for player development professionals, departments, and athletes alike. We dive deep into: How Gus fi...