Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast.

Today’s episode is deeply personal.

I’m joined by one of my former teammates, brothers, and lifelong friends from the University of Maine football program — a man whose life story defines resilience, faith, and the true meaning of strength.

From battling through brutal preseason camps in Orono…

to serving our country as a United States Marine…

to playing professional football overseas…

Troy Conquest has never backed down from adversity.

But at just 29 years old, Troy’s life changed forever.

Diagnosed with lupus, later paralyzed from the waist down, and told he would never walk again. Troy refused to accept that ending. Instead, he chose purpose over pity, faith over fear, and resilience over resentment.

Now a 30-year lupus survivor, cancer survivor, and Paralympic gold medalist, Troy lives by one powerful mantra that was written on a hospital whiteboard years ago and tattooed on his arm ever since:

“Never say never.”

In this episode, Troy opens up about:

• Growing up and being recruited to the University of Maine

• The bonds forged through adversity and brotherhood

• Lessons learned through football, the Marines, and life

• Facing paralysis, illness, loss, and grief with unwavering faith

• Why vulnerability is strength, especially for men

• And how his transparency may save someone else’s life

This is not just a football story.

This is not just a comeback story.

This is a human story about identity, purpose, pain, and choosing to keep going when everything tells you to stop.

If you’ve ever faced adversity…

If you’ve ever questioned your strength…

If you’ve ever wondered why me…

This episode is for you.

Let’s get into it.

🎧 RU Strong — where resilience, mindset, and life after sports collide.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast.

Today’s episode is one of the most powerful, emotional, and inspiring conversations we’ve ever shared.

My guest is Anthony Pecorella a Division I football player, scholar, leader, and true embodiment of resilience.

Anthony’s journey has taken him from competing on the biggest stages in college football to facing a battle far greater than anything he ever encountered on the field. A former Big Ten punter at the University of Maryland, a graduate of the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and a multi-time Academic All–Big Ten honoree, Anthony did everything the “right way.” He earned his spot, earned his scholarship, and earned the respect of everyone around him.

Then, at just 22 years old, everything changed.

What started as a routine medical check turned into a diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. Overnight, football took a back seat to survival. Training camp became chemotherapy. Stadium lights were replaced by hospital rooms. And the future he had planned was suddenly uncertain.

But Anthony didn’t just fight, he led.

Throughout his cancer journey, he became a voice for resilience, vulnerability, and mental health. He deepened his commitment to service through Team IMPACT, helping connect college teams with children battling life-threatening illnesses. He founded and expanded initiatives focused on student-athlete mental health. And even in the hardest moments, he found purpose in lifting others.

Against all odds, Anthony returned to the field, suiting up once again as a University of Maine Black Bear, more than a thousand days after his last snap. Not just as an athlete, but as a changed man, grounded, grateful, and driven by something bigger than football.

This episode isn’t just about sports.

It’s about perspective.

It’s about family.

It’s about faith.

It’s about finding meaning through adversity.

And it’s about becoming a better human being through the toughest chapters of life.

This is a story that every athlete, parent, coach, and leader needs to hear.

RU Strong family, welcome to an unforgettable conversation with Anthony Pecorella.

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast.

Today’s episode features an outstanding example of what it truly means to be a student-athlete. Joining us from Ames, Iowa is Tyler Claiborne, a wide receiver for the Iowa State Cyclones who represents excellence on and off the field.

Tyler isn’t just competing at the highest level of college football in the Big 12, he’s also setting the standard academically. A multiple-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection and recipient of Iowa State’s Cyclone Football Academic Award, Tyler has earned a perfect 4.0 GPA while double-majoring in finance and accounting and minoring in business analytics. That level of discipline, focus, and preparation is rare and it’s exactly what RU Strong is all about.

In this conversation, we go far beyond X’s and O’s. Tyler opens up about his journey from Kansas to Iowa State, how the COVID years helped him discover his true potential as a football player, and the mindset shift that allowed him to excel at a Power Five program. We dive into the realities of college football today, recruiting, NIL, the transfer portal, roster changes and how he’s navigating it all with maturity, clarity, and purpose.

Most importantly, Tyler shares how football has helped shape him as a person, developing habits of preparation, accountability, resilience, and leadership that will carry him well beyond the game. Whether you’re a current athlete, a parent, a coach, or someone preparing for life after sports, this episode delivers powerful lessons on balance, pressure, and using your platform the right way.

This is a conversation about precision, effort, integrity, and preparation and how those traits translate from the field to the classroom and into a future career.

You’re going to want to listen closely.

This is RU Strong and this is Tyler Claiborne.

🎙️ RU STRONG PODCAST – EPISODE INTRO

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast.

Today’s episode is special because I’m joined by another Rutgers Scarlet Knight who truly embodies what it means to be RU Strong.

My guest is John Poznanski, a standout wrestler from Colonia, New Jersey, whose journey is defined by discipline, resilience, and an unshakable mindset.

John put together one of the most impressive wrestling careers you’ll hear about:

• 164 high school wins

• 2020 New Jersey State Champion

• 40–0 senior season

• Three-time NCAA Qualifier

• Two-time Big Ten placer & Big Ten bronze medalist

• Freshman All-American at Rutgers

• Two-time Academic All-American

• Multiple-time Academic All–Big Ten honoree

But here’s what makes this episode powerful, John’s story goes far beyond wins and medals.

He competed at the highest level of college wrestling with vision in only one eye, after being born with Coats disease and losing his left eye at a young age. Instead of letting that define his limits, John turned it into a source of strength adapting, grinding, and proving what’s possible when mindset beats circumstance.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Competing in the Big Ten, the toughest wrestling conference in the country

• The discipline behind weight cuts, training, and elite performance

• Balancing academics and athletics at Rutgers

• Identity after sports and navigating life once the final whistle blows

• What wrestling taught him about persistence, organization, and leadership

• Why athletes live two lives and how to win the second one

• And how John is now using his voice through his own podcast, Destination Talk, to inspire others on their journey

This episode is a must-listen for:

• College athletes

• Wrestlers and combat-sport competitors

• Parents and coaches

• Anyone navigating transition, adversity, or identity after sports

So, buckle up because this is a story about grit, purpose, and becoming more than the sport you play.

🎧 Welcome to the RU Strong Podcast with John Poznanski.

🎙️ RU STRONG PODCAST INTRODUCTION – MJ WRIGHT

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast, where we sit down with athletes who embody resilience, discipline, and the mindset to win both on and off the field.

Today’s guest is a powerful example of what it means to bet on yourself.

MJ Wright is a New Jersey native out of Freehold, a product of Red Bank Catholic High School, and a standout wide receiver at Fordham University. A three-time All–Patriot League selection, 2023 team captain, and one of the most productive receivers in Fordham history, MJ finished his career ranked 6th all-time in both receiving yards and receptions all while earning Academic Honor Roll recognition and graduating with a business degree.

But MJ’s story goes far deeper than stats.

In this episode, MJ opens up about being a late bloomer, overcoming serious adversity early in his college career, including a life-threatening battle with rhabdomyolysis, and navigating the mental grind that comes with injuries, setbacks, and moments when the game is taken out of your hands. He shares how journaling, mindset discipline, faith, and family helped him protect his thoughts and rebuild confidence when everything felt uncertain.

We also dive into:

• What it truly feels like to play “in the zone”

• The unseen daily grind of a Division I student-athlete

• The power of brotherhood and shared suffering

• How structure, discipline, and adversity prepare athletes for life after sports

• Why belief, patience, and persistence matter more than early hype

Now, after earning an invite to the New York Giants Rookie Minicamp, MJ is taking the next step in his professional journey, signing with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League — continuing to chase the dream with the same hunger and humility that got him here.

This is a must-listen episode for:

✔️ College athletes

✔️ Late bloomers

✔️ Anyone facing setbacks

✔️ Anyone learning how to win the mental game

MJ Wright’s story is a reminder that growth isn’t always linear, success is earned in silence, and the strongest athletes are built through adversity.

Let’s get into it. 💪

This is RU Strong.

🎙️ RU Strong Podcast | Episode Spotlight

On this episode of the RU Strong Podcast, we sit down with Steve McGuiggan, a former Division I standout, culture builder, and co-founder of one of the most impactful human performance organizations in the country.

Steve’s journey is a masterclass in grit, self-belief, and responsibility.

From becoming one of the most decorated players in UIC baseball history, to facing the reality of life when the game ends, Steve opens up about the moments that shaped him most—not just on the field, but as a man, leader, and mentor.

In this conversation, we dive deep into:

• What it really takes to build sustainable confidence in athletes

• Why culture and character matter more than talent alone

• The responsibility that comes with opportunity academics, family, and life after sports

• How failure, humility, and support systems became the foundation for building MASH

• Why being present, not projecting the future, is the key to long-term success

Steve shares powerful stories about his parents’ belief in him, the lessons learned from not reaching the big leagues, and how those experiences now fuel his mission to help young athletes grow into resilient, grounded adults.

This episode is a must-listen for:

• Current and former athletes

• Coaches and parents

• Entrepreneurs and leaders

• Anyone navigating transition, identity, and purpose after sport

If you believe that success is built through culture, accountability, and service to others, this conversation will hit home.

🎧 Listen now and get ready to rethink what it means to truly be “RU Strong.”

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast, where we go beyond the highlights and into the moments that truly shape an athlete’s life.

In this episode, host Jeff Durr sits down with Brandon Hance, a former Big Ten starting quarterback whose journey is filled with pressure, perspective, and powerful self-reflection.

Brandon opens up about:

• Graduating high school, a year early to chase his dream

• Starting as a young quarterback at Purdue in the heart of the Big Ten

• Carrying the weight of leadership while quietly battling homesickness, culture shock, and instability

• Learning under Drew Brees and what it meant to prepare at an elite level

• Navigating injury, transferring to USC, and redefining identity beyond football

This is a raw and honest conversation about what athletes don’t talk about enough the internal battles, the loneliness, the pressure to lead while struggling inside, and the lessons that only come with time and hindsight.

Brandon also shares how football prepared him for life after the game, transitioning into entrepreneurship, building companies, and eventually owning and operating a real estate investment and development business proving that the mindset built through sport can carry forward long after the final snap.

If you’re a current athlete, former athlete, coach, or parent, this episode is a reminder that strength isn’t just physical it’s emotional, mental, and learned through experience.

🎧 This episode defines what it means to be RU Strong

RU STRONG PODCAST | NEW EPISODE

On this episode of the RU Strong Podcast, I sit down with an exceptional leader who truly understands the connection between physical performance, mental resilience, and elite leadership: Jamey Mroz.

Jamey’s journey is powerful and unconventional. From playing linebacker at Springfield College, to earning degrees in kinesiology, exercise science, and sports psychology, he went on to coach and work at the highest levels of sport including the NFL with the New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, and Cleveland Browns, as well as elite academic institutions like Vanderbilt, Harvard, and Boston College

What makes this conversation special isn’t just Jamey’s resume, it’s how he thinks.

We dive deep into:

• The mental side of performance that athletes and leaders don’t talk about enough

• Why focus beats motivation and how vision drives every decision

• The powerful relationship between physical capacity and mental capacity

• How leaders build confidence, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness

• Why great leaders must learn to lead themselves first

• Translating lessons from the gridiron to the boardroom

Jamey explains why success isn’t about avoiding adversity, it’s about mental agility, learning how to respond, and bouncing back faster when things don’t go your way. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, executive, or parent, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, competition, and personal growth.

This is a must-listen for anyone who wants to perform at a higher level, mentally, physically, and professionally.

💪 RU STRONG. ALWAYS.