When Reggie Gilliam first stepped onto the college football scene, he had his heart set on being a running back. But sometimes, the best plays come from unexpected shifts in the game plan.

Now a key fullback for the New England Patriots, Gilliam recently opened up about the pivotal moment that redirected his entire career. It all started with a tough conversation during his time as a walk-on at the University of Toledo.

"The reason why I transitioned to fullback was because I was a walk-on at Toledo," Gilliam explained. "At the time, I don't know if it's still like in the NCAA, but you can only take 105 guys on your roster to camp. So, I was the last fullback or last running back on the roster because I was a walk-on."

That's when head coach Jason Candle laid it on the line: Gilliam wouldn't make the camp roster unless he was willing to switch to what he called a "hybrid fullback, tight end role, or H back." The choice was clear.

"I was like, 'Yeah, whatever it takes,'" Gilliam recalled with a laugh. He joked that sharing the backfield with future NFL star Kareem Hunt meant he "wasn't getting on the field" as a running back anyway. Instead, he ended up serving as Hunt's fullback—a role that would ultimately define his professional path.

Making the switch wasn't easy, but the challenge was more mental than physical. "I was used to being the guy that had the ball," Gilliam said. "But the physical part of it, it's just like playing running back, honestly. It's the same keys, the same reads. It's just you're a couple steps ahead."

That mental adjustment—learning to clear the path instead of carrying the rock—turned out to be the game-changer. Today, Gilliam is an essential piece of the Patriots' offense, proving that sometimes the best move is the one you never planned to make. Whether you're grinding through a position switch or just lacing up for a Sunday game, versatility and a team-first mindset can take you further than any single skill.