What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, Antoine Bethea was preparing for the NFL draft after a great college football career. He was finally selected on the second day of the draft in the sixth round by the Indianapolis Colts.

"Last year was tough not knowing what was going to happen… what city, what organization I was going to go to," Bethea said about the 2006 NFL draft. "Now, I know what to expect this summer, and what to look forward to in training camp."

Denbigh High School in Newport News is a long way from Indianapolis, and Antoine's journey from high school to Super Bowl champion wasn't lined with a red carpet. He made it the hard way--he earned it.

"One thing about Antoine was he could hit," current Denbigh head football coach Tracy Herrod said about Bethea. "He couldn't have weighed more than 160 pounds, but he was a smart player. I knew he could play Division I."

Bethea made second-team all-Peninsula district at defensive back as a junior, and first team all-Peninsula District at linebacker his senior season. Despite the success, he was not highly recruited like his peers Jimmy Williams (Bethel HS, Virginia Tech) and Marcus Vick (Warwick HS, Virginia Tech). He received a full scholarship to attend Howard University in Washington D.C.

While Howard is not know as a football factory, it provided Antoine the chance to play Division I football close to his home.

"Everybody's dream is to go to a big school and play in-front of the big crowd," he explained, " but at the same time you have to realize what's best for you and your situation. Everybody can't have the same story. There are other stories where you have to take a different road…go to the school that gives you the best opportunity to show the next level what you can do."

He moved to safety at Howard, and made over 120 tackles in his sophomore year. He led the Bison in tackles in each of his last three seasons. Bethea had a reputation as a hard-hitter and a great tackler. Did he foresee the NFL in his future?

"I didn't know at the time," he said. " I just wanted to make it to the next level which was college. Once I got there and saw some of the players I was playing with getting looked at by the NFL, I figured that was something I wanted to do."

Antoine entered the Colts training camp seeking a spot on the team, but by the end of pre-season he not only had made the team, but he was a starter at safety. He says his first career interception against New England in the regular season, and his goal-line interception on the road in a playoff game against Baltimore were the two biggest plays he made in his rookie season. He finished the year with 90 tackles.

Bethea, who was voted to the NFL All-Rookie team, still calls Newport News home, and said he is happy to represent the Hampton Roads area. "People always talk about the athletes that come out of this area, and to be one of the athletes people talk about is a great feeling."

He credits Herrod, who was Bethea's defensive coordinator when he attended Denbigh, for helping him make it to college. "He was the loudest one out there… he 's going to be on you, but at the same time he cares for you. He's one of the coaches I will always remember because he really focused on the defensive side of the ball when I was there."

Every high school football player dreams of becoming a professional athlete. Is it more exciting getting drafted or playing on the big stage in the Superbowl? Antoine couldn't put one over the other.

"Being drafted was one of the most exciting things to ever happen to me," he said. "To win the Superbowl my first year was just as exciting as well. "

As a Colts fan, I hope Antoine will help the Colts to a few more Superbowl wins.

Photos courtesy of the Indianapolis Colts

Staff writer Will Garlick covers high school sports for Virginia Preps. He will provide game recaps, Spotlight profiles, and team info. You can reach him via email at VirginiaPreps@verizon.net or his MyFanPage