Growing up in inner-city Baltimore is tough enough. Ian Thomas had to do it without a mother and father.
Long before the tight end was drafted in the fourth round of this year's NFL Draft, Thomas was raised by his oldest brother after they moved in with their grandmother. It was their only option after their father died of a heart attack less than a year after their mother died of a kidney infection.
Click 'play' below to hear Thomas describe how he fought through his challenging upbringing.
