She dabbed at her eyes and blinked back a few tears. That’s what mothers often do when their kids confidently take on the world and achieve lofty goals.

This case is extra special.

USF wide receiver Sean Atkins has gone from a completely unknown walk-on to practice fodder to a valuable contributor to a full-fledged record-setter. He’s a shining example and inspiration to all. Now he’s set to defy the greatest odds of all, making the roster of a National Football League team, forever retiring the predictable too-small, too-slow stereotypes.

“I get overwhelmed by it all sometimes,’’ said Jenny Atkins, the mother, as she sat in the living room of the family’s Melbourne home, which was once overrun by the young Atkins and his childhood buddies, a bunch of sports-mad gym rats with big dreams. “You know, Disney couldn’t write a better story.’’

But this is not cinema.

It’s USF football reality.

“It’s similar to high-school recruiting,’’ Bulls head coach Alex Golesh said. “Turn the film on. Look at Sean’s production — and look at the production in big games against the best competition.

“If he goes to (an NFL) camp, whether he gets drafted or not, he’s going to be hard to cut. He has value on special teams. He gets open. He catches everything. He’s fearless. I think whoever takes a chance on him, it’s going to be hard to say, ‘We’re not going to keep this guy around.’ ‘’

The numbers don’t lie.

Atkins had a USF-record 200 career receptions — the seventh-most in Football Bowl Subdivision history for a state of Florida player — and a USF-record 2,167 career receiving yards. In his final USF game, a victory against San Jose State at the Hawaii Bowl, Atkins had 11 catches for 104 yards and a 16-yard punt return that set up a game-tying field goal on regulation’s final play, setting in motion a wild five-overtime finish.

These numbers don’t lie, either. Atkins is listed — perhaps charitably — at 5-foot-10, 186 pounds. On a good day, he approaches the acceptable 4.5 range in the 40-yard dash, the NFL’s holy grail for speed measurement. These are the numbers that usually get thrown back in Atkins’ face.

“I feel like they (doubters) don’t know what I put into it,’’ Atkins said. “You still have to guard me and cover me, no matter my size. I’m confident enough in my abilities to beat you more than you beat me. So I feel like size doesn't matter in that aspect. It’s a game. It’s all about competition. Who gets the better of that person or that rep? Who prepared the best?’’

Atkins has done everything possible to prepare for these life-changing moments. On April 26, at USF’s Pro Day, Atkins ran, jumped, lifted and caught passes as scouts from 32 NFL teams watched, measured and scribbled down notes.

The buildup to a peak performance began three months earlier in the Orlando suburb of Lake Nona as Atkins joined a couple of dozen other NFL hopefuls for speed and strength workouts. Whether it was shaving a few hundredths of a second off the 40 times, achieving optimal agility or adding weight to the bench press, it all mattered.

The trainers and athletes agreed: Sean Atkins belonged.

“I’ve seen dudes be tall and fast, but they ain’t got no heart, ain’t got no dog (in them),’’ Mississippi State receiver Kelly Akharaiyi said. “It’s not going to translate (to the NFL). I could tell that Sean has that dog in him. Especially watching his film. I’m like, ‘Yeah, I definitely want to play with that dude.’ ‘’

Underestimated From The Start

For Atkins, being underestimated has become another competition, another game to win.

It’s nothing new.

In 2017, his Viera High School team traveled to Washington, D.C., for a meeting with storied Gonzaga Prep. After Atkins caught a slant pass and was wrestled to the ground, the defensive back delivered a message.

“Get up, softy. You’re too small. Don’t come (across the middle) again.’’

Atkins finished with 10 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for another score.

Derek Smith, the head coach at Viera High, compared Atkins to Jimmy Chitwood from the basketball movie “Hoosiers’’ — “just an All-American athlete, an All-American boy.’’

“He’s just an electrifying athlete,’’ Smith told the Viera Voice in 2018. “His lateral quickness and his ability to start and stop — without losing any momentum or speed — is unbelievable.

“I think he’s one of the best players in the country, let alone the state of Florida.’’

Still, outside of a few small-school opportunities, Atkins had no offers to play college football.

“I know they measure size and speed, but you really should measure Sean’s heart and determination,’’ said Dennis Atkins, the player’s father. “He always had the dream to play at the highest levels of football. But I remember telling him, “Look, you’re the best here in Viera. You’re a superstar. But if you walk on at a Division I school, there will be 10 other guys just as good, if not better than you. So you’re going to have to prove your point every single day.’ ’’

That’s what Atkins did at USF. He was offered preferred walk-on status in 2019, but never heard back from any coaches. His “official visit’’ was his first day on campus, when USF held an orientation for all athletes.

“What sport do you play?’’ running back Kelley Joiner said as he sized up Atkins.

“Football … I’m your teammate,’’ Atkins said.

There was zero outside attention and very little glory. To make extra money — in addition to a full academic load and football responsibilities — Atkins also worked as a food runner at Meat Market in Tampa’s Hyde Park section.

Those are the times Atkins will always remember.

“The walk-on vibe is who I was and who I am,’’ Atkins said. “I feel like my whole life, everything has been stacked against me and I just have to work hard. There’s no complaining. You put the work in, then you’re going to succeed. I feel like the world gives it back to you if you’re in it for the right reasons.

“I feel like my days (on the scout team) were probably the most special part of my career. That’s where I made a name for myself. I honed my abilities, got reps every day and got some looks. I just wanted to be shifty and make some plays. Without that (scout-team reps), I wouldn’t have been prepared to go out and dominate.’’

His career statistics were dominant indeed. At USF, he’ll be remembered forever.

So what’s next?

The Dream Nears Reality

Sean Atkins, NFL player?

“I’m starting to feel like there’s no doubt,’’ Atkins said. “Like, I genuinely believe it (will happen). I’m in the position now to go make it happen.’’

The smaller slot receiver has become a familiar NFL archetype. Former New England Patriot Wes Welker (5-foot-9, 185 pounds, 903 career receptions) was the patron saint, giving way to the likes of Julian Edelman (5-10, 198), Trent Taylor (5-8, 178) and Christian Kirk (5-11, 200).

Football insiders are not shocked by Atkins’ ascension. After USF’s season, Lawrence Barnett, a partner and director of X3 Performance and Physical Therapy, reached out to Atkins. Barnett, who said he had been watching Atkins for a year, recruited the player to train with his NFL prospects in Orlando.

“Sean is always going to be the underdog, but he’ll outwork you and prove you wrong every time,’’ Barnett said. “I believe he’ll get his shot and make it in the league. His hands are elite. He catches everything thrown to him. And I guarantee he’s going to run faster than people expect. He just has to trust the process.’’

“Look, that boy (Atkins) can move and he’s very sticky,’’ said X3 trainer Lutisha Bowen, a former track and field hurdler at UCF. “It’s tough on a defender because Sean can stick and move with change of direction. Sean’s linear speed isn’t as quick as his lateral speed. But he’s a dog — mentally and internally. He’s got it. He embodies everything a coach likes in an athlete.’’

Just ask Golesh.

“Sean is obviously really close to my heart, just because of what he has done for us for two years,’’ Golesh said. “Seeing the growth, the belief in himself and the confidence — after coming from a situation where he paid his own way and nobody thought much of him — anytime you get a cool underdog story in the craziness of what college football has become, I think it’s easy to catch on to that story.’’

Atkins regularly hears from people who consider him a role model. High-school players let Atkins know they’re wearing No. 38 because of him. For the people who know Atkins best — his parents, teammates and longtime friends — that story has been equally inspirational.

His mother remembers the hyper-drive. The kid never wanted to take a back seat, not even when being carted to practice. I can beat you to the car! I can get my seat belt on faster than you! His father remembers a true gamer — a deadly 3-point shooter in basketball and a soccer player with college-level skills — who found his passion on the gridiron.

“If you tell him he can’t do something, he’s going to prove you wrong,’’ the father said.

His friends remember those anonymous days on the playground, around the neighborhood, or at the practice field, when true habits were formed and competitive character was revealed.

“It’s hard not to love the guy,’’ said childhood friend Tyler McGoldrick, who followed Atkins to USF and now works in finance for a Tampa firm. “I remember playing sports with him and we tried to keep it competitive, but he was always the best guy we had. He was good at everything — ping-pong, golf, you name it. I always knew he was capable of the biggest things. His story speaks for itself.’’

“I think we’re all living through Sean,’’ said Michael Cucci, a former USF wide receiver teammate. “I think we’re all more nervous than he is. He knows what it takes and he deserves every bit of it. Around USF, he’s going to be a legend forever. For all of us, it’s pure happiness, honestly. Pure joy. Just a lot of great emotions.’’

Happy tears all around.

-#GoBulls-