Claiborne heard of an Allen-based trainer known as “Real Truth” through Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, a Richardson Berkner product. Ronnie Braxton trains Talib and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. of the defending Super Bowl champions.

“Celdon is the best eleven-year-old football player in America,” Ronnie Braxton, his trainer, told me. “In America.”

Patmon’s personal trainer, Ronnie “Real Truth” Braxton, trained him last season prior to the draft, and is working with him, and other NFL players, this offseason, as well. “He calls himself ‘lion heart’, and I take that seriously, because anyone can label themselves as a lion heart, but, like, he is the definition of a lion heart, when you know where he’s came from and where he is today. My message to him is, the lion heart has to change to a lion mentality, the lion mentality has to be able to touch everyone around him, and everyone around you becomes lions,” Braxton said.

“Chris Harris dragged himself out of bed during the offseason and hit the Allen (Texas) High School track most days at 5:30 a.m., alongside trainer Ronnie Braxton.”

Claiborne is hoping that this season he’ll finally breakthrough. He had a rigorous offseason with a new trainer, Ronnie Braxton, that included daily workouts at 5 a.m. in Dallas. “He pretty much changed everything,” Claiborne said. “…He took my mindset to another level.”

That said, Claiborne told me about his offseason working out with local trainer Ronnie Braxton three or four times a day, starting at 5 a.m., along with fellow NFL cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris.

Claiborne hopes to have finally put his injury woes in the past, and has spent the past two offseasons working with a trainer – something he never did earlier in his career. He figured he worked out enough on his own, but Denver cornerback Aqib Talib told him about a trainer he used in the Dallas area named Ronnie Braxton. Claiborne gave Braxton a call, and the trainer had him go through an aggressive program that mixes Pilates and boxing and cardio work.

Q: How are you going to train/prepare this offseason in preparation for the draft or other pro opportunities?

Chad: I am currently training with one of the top trainers in the Dallas Metroplex, Ronnie “Real Truth” Braxton. He trains current NFL players and 2017 prospects and has worked with me on getting my body right, and my technique right with position specific drills. Most importantly, he also emphasizes working on eating properly and focusing, getting your mind right.