If anyone was destined to be an NFL player from a young age, it was Kirk.

"With Christian, you kind felt like there was something special there," Saguaro coach Jason Mohns said. "Not only because of his talent level, but his maturity. I always tell people, he was the one and only kid that I said was a pro in high school."

Even as a teenager, Kirk stuck to a strict regimen that he refused to alter.

"There would be times other people would give him cupcakes in the hall, and he wouldn't eat it," Crose said. "He would bring me the cupcake. 'Here. I can't eat this.' It didn't fit his plan. He was the most focused kid, whether it was academically or athletically. Some of those students, they would throw themselves at him, because he was Christian Kirk. Even in high school, he was Christian Kirk. But there was no deterring Christian."

Kirk finished his high school career with 3,943 receiving yards and 52 touchdowns. He played running back as a senior and added 1,692 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging 10.6 yards per carry.

Even though he had one the most decorated prep careers in Arizona history, Kirk, ever the pragmatist, wasn't counting on the NFL quite yet.

"There were a lot of guys that were great high school football players that went to the next level and fizzled out," Kirk said. "You'd never hear their name again. For me, I was like, 'I need to go to college first and make sure that doesn't happen.'