On this special episode of “Listen In With KNN” presented by Fox Sports 1340AM/96.9 FM, executive producer and host Kelsey Nicole Nelson welcomed special guests from Topshelf Performance Training to the show in Stephon Brown (CMO and wide receiver specialist coach), TJ Brown (COO and wide receiver specialist coach), and Stevo’n McGill (CEO and speed, strength and nutrition coach).
Topshelf Performance specializes in installing drills that translate to athletes’ prospective sport. The trainers work to fine tune the major muscle groups with strength, conditioning and footwork. Topshelf Performance trainers train individuals from ages four and up. The trio of leaders from Topshelf Performance train some of the top athletes in the National Football League (NFL) including past and present players. Some of these players are already having an important impact on their respective teams this 2021 NFL season.
Topshelf Performance has trained NFL players like Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, Washington Football Team defensive tackle Daron Payne, Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, and Seattle Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas. With some of the top NFL athletes on their roster, Nelson asked how they were able to track down some of that top tier talent to train with them. “I think all of it came from sharpening and staying true to our craft… Doing that is just the hardwork and dedication… I believe that shines to people that know about the hard work… Everything just blossomed, a blessing for real…” said McGill. The trio has also trained NFL players like Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson, Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Amari Rodgers.
“Our training would be catered to in-game movements… Some of the same movements that they are gonna work while running a route… Just having them work in those different movements that they are going to use on the field… We cater to moves that you can use in the game…” said TJ Brown. The success of Topshelf Performance comes from having their training of athletes translate towards gamedays. “We have to give these guys the strength and conditioning they need because you can’t run routes all day and can’t deadlift… We’re still learning as we’re going but we’re thinking this is something to help our guys, but not even knowing its stuff to help them strengthen their legs… Just learning the drills that we are doing actually helps…” said Stephon Brown.
Diving further into their journey into training Nelson asked McGill how he got into personal training which has included training some of the top athletes in the country. McGill first started out coaching in Atlanta when he first moved there in 2012. He started out coaching kids but eventually parents got interested and wanted to get into shape. “While I was in school, one of my good friends played offensive line for us and I got real in-depth with the journey. Just getting him in shape he lost 100 pounds, so it was like ‘wow I actually might know what I’m doing lets keep going’ and the whole journey started,” said McGill.
McGill attended Clark Atlanta University for business school. He said it felt like he was the head of the project when talking about creating Topshelf Performance exclaiming, “I said ‘why use another business when we already have our business going.’ So, I made our name more marketable. I thought about top of the line, Topshelf. Then I was thinking about what I could do for p and I said ‘duh,’ Topshelf Performance and that was all she wrote…” said McGill.
Nelson went on to ask TJ about his journey in joining Topshelf Performance. It’s a family affair as TJ is actually the cousin of McGill. TJ started off at a Division 1 school at Eastern Kentucky University but things didn’t end as planned and TJ instead ended up going to junior college. TJ shared it was a tough transition but he didn’t let his circumstances define him. “When I came home from school, the kids wanted to workout with me. It happened organically and God just showed me this is what you’re supposed to be doing in life, it’s bigger than what you wanna do,” said TJ.
Coach Stephon also joined the discussion to talk about his journey joining Topshelf Performance but he mostly credits McGill and TJ for helping him upon his journey. “I’m the baby brother,” Stephon jokingly said. “But seriously though these two, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without them. I didn’t have a decorated career like everyone else, I just prided myself on working hard. I tried to start my own training stuff but they both called me and were like you need to be with us. Being big brothers they kept me in line and told me what I needed to do…”
The guys are open to coming anywhere that their training is needed, especially this upcoming spring when they’ll be touring and opening up more camps to come to different cities around the country. “We’ll come wherever, we’re just trying to come full steam ahead and give the world what we have to offer,” exclaimed TJ.
You can follow TopShelf Performance Athletic Training on social media via: Coach Von Instagram, TopShelf Performance TJ Instagram, and/or Coach Steph Brown Instagram.
Listen In With KNN Ft. Special Guests from TopShelf Performance Athletic Training – YouTube
