Valorie, a three-time All-American at Appalachian State, knew what she believed to be two Spanish words when she went overseas to begin her career as a professional basketball player: "Hola" and "Comme ci, comme ça." It was then that JJ became close with a woman he described as his guardian angel: his grandmother Lonnie Means. He was named South Carolina's Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior after catching 108 balls for more than 1,800 yards with 20 touchdowns for Dorman High School. "He was excited and he wanted a sibling, and I don't know, it just really hurt him. Valorie is now cancer-free. "JJ took that tough. Latest on Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside will break into the starting rotation. So that was like -- I was like, 'Dang, Grandma, that would happen to us.'". His gifts were obvious from a very early age. Turns out the latter, meaning "so-so," isn't even Spanish, so she was down to one word. With Alshon Jeffery likely to start the 2020 NFL season on the PUP list, JJ Arcega-Whiteside will be called upon to help bolster the Eagles outside skill positions. For Carson Wentz and the Eagles, it'll be the fifth different offensive line combination utilized this season and speaks to the depths of the struggles this current Philadelphia roster has been dealing with. "JJ, it was like he had 11 aunts around him all the time. Smith gave him "a bunch of advice and like 10 pairs of gloves, and I was instantly -- I was already a fan before, but he became my favorite then," he said. How can you be happy and crying and ecstatic and nostalgic and all of these things all at the same time? He refers to Means as his "guardian angel. No worries, her teammates helped guide her in her new world. Latest on Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside including biography, career, awards and more on ESPN Good speed. Catch up on the draft: En ligue universitaire, il a joué avec le Cardinal de Stanford. Means unexpectedly passed away later that day. ", Though there were dozens of people packed into the living room on draft night, JJ said he forgot he was in the presence of others because he was so locked into his conversation with the Philly brass: "Dang, I'm going to be an Eagle.". No. Last summer, he scored an internship working with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Arcega-Whiteside has a heavy advantage over the Eagles three rookie wide receivers and his quest to become a starter improved greatly win Marquise Goodwin opted out of the 2020 NFL season. Croom played two snaps on offense and another seven on special teams against the Steelers. JJ was born in Zaragoza, Spain, a city of more than half a million people that lies three hours west of Barcelona. JJ Arcega naît à Saragosse dans une famille qui a marqué le basket-ball espagnol dans les années 1980 et 1990 : son père est Joaquín Arcega (joueur en première division) et ses oncles sont Fernando Arcega (médaillé d'argent avec l'Espagne aux Jeux olympiques de 1984) et Pepe Arcega (membre de l'équipe d'Espagne aux Jeux olympiques de 1992). JJ received the message before kickoff and, as requested in the video, scored two touchdowns in a 38-31 Stanford win in overtime. Thanks in large part to his basketball background, JJ excels at 50-50 balls, adept at boxing out his opponent. That was when my mom died, when I found out I had cancer, and one other time -- he had a little brother that passed during childbirth," Valorie said.