Reading a book by former Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez has changed the life of Georgia Tech defensive lineman Francis Kallon.
Kallon began reading The All-Pro Diet, a book written by Gonzalez and Mitzi Dulan and published in 2009, over the summer.
“I decided I wanted to eat better so I could feel better and play better,” Kallon said.
He soon cut red meat out of his diet and replaced it with mostly lean chicken, lean fish (tilapia preferably), salads with banana peppers because he said it needs some taste, and protein shakes.
He said he has eaten red meat once since the decision, presumably during the steak dinner held recently for the team.
“It’s definitely benefited me,” he said. “I feel really good and I want to keep it that way by making healthy choices.”
Kallon is entering his last season at Tech. A four-star prospect coming out of Central Gwinnett High School, Kallon hasn't had the impact at Tech that some might have expected considering how highly thought of he was in high school. Kallon has never played in more than 10 games in a season, and never had more than 15 tackles, but he is projected to start.
He said he and the rest of the line are working hard this summer to try to put last year’s 3-9 record behind them. Kallon said the group is working hard every day on their techniques and fundamentals with the goal of becoming the best unit on the defense.
“Every day is a new thing that we are learning to do better,” he said. “That’s the only way you can be great is doing the same thing again and again to perfection.”
Perhaps playing in Ireland in the season-opening game against Boston College is the jump-start that Kallon may need.
He was born in London and is very much looking forward to returning closer to home, even if it’s just for a few days.
He’s excited to pay for things with pound sterling. He’s excited to see Tango and Ribena soft drinks, instead of Fanta and Sunkist. He won’t eat the sweets, but he’s excited about the nostalgia that will come from the smells. And he won’t lift a pint in the pubs, possibly because defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who was standing nearby while Kallon was answering questions, said “Better stay out of the pubs,” which made Kallon laugh.
“I’m a Brit,” he said.
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