The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Washington Redskins drafted him in the seventh round based on his potential after his senior year, one shortened by a knee injury suffered against Ohio State that kept him out of the Alamo Bowl versus Nebraska. Massaquoi latched on with Miami af- ter it didn't work out in Washington and enjoyed some success, playing in seven games. Though he didn't catch a pass, he was playing on Sunday, one of eight starters from the 2005 Michigan offense to have seen NFL action. A coaching change created uncer- tainty for many on the Dolphins' ros- ter, and Massaquoi was one of them. "From my experience, you are just a number," he said. "There's always a guy out there they can replace you with. In my situation, I was let go by the team that drafted me, got a lot of playing time with the Dolphins and then the new coach … basically I wasn't his type of guy, and I don't know why. I didn't get a chance to compete. I was at all the preseason games, healthy, but they just give never gave me a chance to play or a shot to make the team. That kind of hurt me." Massaquoi discovered at the end post-secondary coordinator position within the Philadelphia school sys- tem. He assists high school seniors with their postgraduate endeavors as well as helping underclassmen — es- sentially a "college access counselor," he described, setting up college vis- its for kids and helping them gather as much information as possible so they can make solid choices, explor- ing their financial aid options and making sure paperwork deadlines are met. "Throughout the course of my Massaquoi, who now works as a post-sec- ondary coordinator for communities in schools at Frankford High School in Philadelphia, is father to a 10-month-old son, Quentin Day. PHOTO COURTESY TIM MASSAQUOI an ultimatum — play in the final preseason game to have any shot at making the team. So he played. He didn't know that of the process the Dolphins had been trying to trade him. When they couldn't, they released him. He worked out for a few more teams, finally signed with the Buffalo Bills and spent the 2007 season with the club, appearing in four games. Massaquoi was primed for a break- out season in 2008, in great shape with high hopes before tearing his groin in the first days of training camp. The Bills essentially gave him The Tim Massaquoi File skins chose Massaquoi in the seventh round (244th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft, but he was waived following training camp and picked up by Miami … Played in seven games with the Dolphins in 2006 … Played four games with Buffalo the following season before injuries ended his career. Michigan Memory: Massaquoi was one of the heroes in a 2002-05 … Two-year starter, 2004-05 … Played in 47 games, including 29 starts … Finished with 46 receptions for 489 yards, with two touchdowns (one in the 2004 Rose Bowl) … First-team All-Big Ten selection, 2004, after catching 18 passes for 184 yards … Second-team All-Big Ten, 2005, despite playing only nine games and catching 11 passes for 86 yards … Earned Robert P. Ufer Bequest as player with the greatest love for Michigan, 2005. Professional Accomplishments: The Washington Red- Michigan Accomplishments: Four-year letterman, critical 2004 win at Purdue, a 16-14 victory sealed by a late fumble recovery. He led a talented corps of receivers with his five catches for 60 yards, but he was just as impressive a week later in a 45-37, triple-overtime win over Michigan State, even though he didn't catch a pass. "That was the best blocking game of my career, really had a great day that game. Coming off my best pass catching day, I came out and MSU was double taming me. I said, 'What the heck? We've got Braylon Edwards, Steve Breaston and Jason Avant, and you're going to double team me? What's going on?'" Current Occupation: Post-secondary coordinator for com- " he said. "I munities in schools, currently working at Frankford High School in Philadelphia. Family: Massaquoi is single and resides near Philadelphia. He is father to a 10-month-old son, Quentin Day. AUGUST 2012 THE WOLVERINE 87 also opened the door to his outright release. "I hadn't practiced the whole camp, but not knowing better I played, even though I wasn't 100 percent as far as speed of the game, everything else," he said. "They re- leased me right after that. That's the bitter side of it. I didn't feel it was my ability or lack of effort. I just didn't have a chance to compete." Massaquoi spent the next few years looking for his calling. He found it earlier this year when he accepted a playing career, I've always been working with inner-city kids and within the foster care system, trying to get them in to college," he said. "It's about helping inner-city kids achieve their goals, like somebody helped me achieve mine. I did some youth volunteer work at summer football camps when I was playing, so I've always been involved in that kind of work." He'll begin work on a postgraduate degree this fall as well, potentially leading to his own practice down the road. His continued goal is to work with kids and their families to elimi- nate factors that might hinder their paths to success in life. "I try to get them to understand that things that happen to them are not always their fault. They can get through it," he said. "They don't have to become part of a cycle of de- struction and disappointment." One of the hardest parts of the job, though? Visiting college campuses and remembering how good he had it at Michigan. "If I could," he said with a laugh, "I'd do it all over again." ❑