Arnold “Tre” Tarpley III considers it more of a declaration than a promise, but it’s one he intended to keep.
So he spoke his plan of playing professional football into existence, making a series of YouTube video diaries called “Trust the Seed.”
Tarpley, a Jefferson Hills native and former Central Catholic standout, documented his journey since before his junior season at Vanderbilt. He shared the trials and tribulations he endured — from tearing his ACL in his final college practice to being cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers — over a four-year span while continuing to chase his dream.
That seed took root Wednesday, when the Pittsburgh Maulers picked the 6-foot, 200-pound safety with the fifth pick of the 18th round on the second day of the 35-round USFL Draft.
Tarpley takes great pride in giving the team a hometown flavor.
“It’s interesting because I had a small time when I was with the Steelers in minicamp, and that didn’t turn into what I expected, which was God’s plan,” Tarpley said. “To get another opportunity to represent the city is a blessing. There’s such a rich history of sports in Western Pennsylvania. To get to be a part of it is special.”
Follow my journey to the NFL despite all odds! #TrustTheSeed Link in Bio pic.twitter.com/Q2TnZfco7A
— Arnold Tarpley III (@tretarpley) June 25, 2021
????Follow my journey to the NFL despite all odds. Episode 4 in the link below and in my bio. TAP IN????https://t.co/vAa10CsF4f pic.twitter.com/8xb8k21Dqy
— Arnold Tarpley III (@tretarpley) July 22, 2021
The son of Dr. Arnold Tarpley Jr., a podiatrist, and former WPXI-TV anchor and motivational speaker Darieth Chisolm, Tre Tarpley played on Central’s 2013 WPIAL Class 4A champions and PIAA runners-up before becoming a four-year letterman in the secondary at Vanderbilt.
Tarpley’s inspiration is his paternal grandmother, Agnes Marie Tarpley, who died in March 2011. While visiting her grave before his junior year, Tarpley promised her he would pursue his football dreams. That’s when he made the first of dozens of videos for YouTube.
“I want to get to the NFL,” Tarpley said. “That’s my promise. I wouldn’t call it a promise, but it was a declaration of keeping my faith.”
Tarpley, who played strong safety and in the nickel and dime defenses, was preparing for the final game of his senior season against rival Tennessee when he tore the ACL in his right knee in his final defensive practice. After a year of recovery, Tarpley signed to play for the Memphis Express of The Alliance of American Football in spring 2019. The Steelers invited him to their rookie minicamp, but Tarpley wasn’t signed.
That didn’t stop him. Tarpley was preparing to play in the XFL but wasn’t drafted despite attending its combine. In 2020, he played for the Generals of The Spring League, recording 24 tackles, including three for losses, with three pass breakups and one interception.
Follow my journey to the NFL despite all odds! #TrustTheSeed Link in Bio pic.twitter.com/Q2TnZfco7A
— Arnold Tarpley III (@tretarpley) June 25, 2021
“The timing of spring football is what makes it great,” Tarpley said. “You get an opportunity to put out good film, to have the scouts from NFL teams see you and have a chance to evaluate your film before training camp.”
Tarpley said the Washington Commanders showed interest after he clocked a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. But the NFL placed restrictions on the number of players who could attend rookie minicamps because of covid-19 protocols, so he missed another NFL opportunity.
Tarpley said he never lost faith in his dream or considered walking away from football, even when he started selling life insurance and annuities for Family First Life. Tarpley awoke by 5 a.m. every day to train before work, figuring he eventually would get another chance.
The Maulers have selected Arnold Tarpley III #DropTheHammer pic.twitter.com/q7koHLxnl9
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) February 23, 2022
Tarpley had an inkling the Maulers were interested because defensive coordinator Jarren Horton, a defensive analyst with Vanderbilt in 2015 and ’17, put in a good word. It paid off when Tarpley got the call Wednesday morning from Maulers coach Kirby Wilson, a former Steelers running backs coach. Though Tarpley is still a long way from the NFL, he believes he is one step closer to his keeping his promise.
“I live by this mantra with whatever I’m doing: If God has something in store for you, it’s going to happen,” Tarpley said. “I’ve had it in the front of my mind that this was the No. 1 goal.”
“I learned more about myself in this process. I’m going to do my best every day to grind and stay prepared. I want to be an inspiration for other people — the tryout guys, guys who have been put in difficult situations — to keep the faith. So I figured I would be that for other people.”
