The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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72 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL C lose friends Jamelle Eugene, a Wolf- pack running back from 2006-09, and DaJuan Morgan, a safety at NC State from 2004-07, have used their knowledge of football combined with an entrepreneurial spirit to create a start-up company to sell their new product — Gryppers. Eugene came up with the finger sleeves, and Morgan completely believes in the product. The duo and Precious Wilson, the fledg- ling company's chief marketing officer, hope to have the product for sale by mid- September, and have been appreciative of all the support they have received along the way. The community and resources that NC State has provided the last several years have helped the product become a reality. "Gryppers help you do the things you are already doing more effectively and ef- ficiently," Eugene said. "You are going to increase your ability to grip and control a ball. "You are going to have that mental con- nection between your fingers, the ball and your mind. They all work in unison." Morgan has had different individuals over the years want to go into business with him after he signed his rookie contract. Eugene's idea hit home for him, and that proved to be the difference. "When I first saw the product from the idea and sketch that Jamelle drew on a nap- kin, I was sold," Morgan said. "I knew that I could help move the needle and get things done with the money and connections I had. I knew we could take it to the next level. I saw the end goal and how lucrative this could be. "This could be bigger than any NFL contract I've ever gotten. Gryppers is so unique, and we are in our lane." Morgan and Eugene overlapped by two years at NC State, with Morgan looking at his former roommate like a little brother. Eugene tallied 1,478 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 383 carries during his 44-game career at NC State. He also added 93 receptions for 697 yards and two scores. The Naples, Fla., native's perfor- mance in leading NC State to a 31-27 win over rival North Carolina on Nov. 10, 2007, helped him carve out a part in Wolfpack lore. He rushed 32 times for 159 yards and three touchdowns — all career highs — plus added six catches for 33 yards. Morgan blossomed into a dominant safety at NC State and finished his career with 200 tackles and six interceptions. The Riviera Beach, Fla., product turned pro after his redshirt junior year. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him No. 82 overall in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He had 30 tackles and two forced fumbles in 30 games played, while spending two years with the Chiefs plus a two-game stint with the Indianapolis Colts in 2010. He left the playing field in 2012. With Morgan and Eugene's football ca- reers over, they tried to figure out what would be next in their lives. Morgan went back to school at NC State and earned his degree in sports management in 2015, which is the same field Eugene graduated in. Eugene had an idea and turned to his former college roommate, and Gryppers was born. A handful of NC State play- ers tried them out at the Kay Yow Spring Game April 9. The finger sleeves were par- ticularly helpful for centers in snapping the football. "The feedback from the centers was that their snaps were more crisp, and they had more control over the ball," Eugene said. Morgan was embraced warmly by head coach Dave Doeren and got to speak to the team, which touched him deeply. He thinks back to the times he'd get frustrated about something while at NC State, but now is taken aback with what the people at the university have done for him. "You used to have those moments where you are like, 'I'm tired of my school,' or 'I don't want anything to do with my school,'" Morgan said. "It may not even be the school. It could be the football pro- gram, or what a coach might have done or said to you. "To see my football team embrace the ■ PACK PAST Former Football Players Jamelle Eugene And DaJuan Morgan Are Trying To Get A "Gryp" On Small Business Success Eugene (above) developed Gryppers, which are finger sleeves that increase the ability to grip and control a ball, while Morgan has helped bring the invention to fruition with his money and NFL con- nections. PHOTOS COURTESY GRYPPERS.COM "Gryppers just does so much in a small package. We believe it is the future. It is about innovation and the athletes." ■ Eugene