NFL Prospect KC Concepcion Defends His Speech Impediment After He's Mocked for Stuttering: ‘I Cannot Control This’
· Yahoo Sports
Credit: Maria Lysaker/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- KC Concepcion shared a strong message for those making fun of his speech impediment after his participation in the 2026 NFL Combine
- “I just wanna say something, if you have a speech impediment there is nothing wrong with us," he wrote in a message shared to Instagram
- The college football wide receiver currently plays for the Texas A&M Aggies after two seasons with the NC State Wolfpack
KC Concepcion has a powerful message for those making fun of his speech impediment.
The NFL prospect, 21, shared a statement on his Instagram Stories on Sunday, March 1, amid media attention after his participation in the 2026 NFL Combine.
Visit livefromquarantine.club for more information.
“I just wanna say something, if you have a speech impediment there is nothing wrong with us," Concepcion began his statement.
KC Concepcion at the 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game against the Miami Hurricanes at Kyle Field on Dec. 20, 2025 in College Station, Texas.Credit: Alex Slitz/Getty
“I have had this stutter since I can remember talking," he continued. "This is a part of me. This is who I am. I cannot control this."
The college football wide receiver said he wants to "be a role model for those who may be scared to speak up," before bringing attention to the talk over the weekend. He said the experience “has taught me a lot about myself and people out here in this world."
After sharing a message of appreciation for his supporters, he added, “I am blessed to be in the position I am in and I want to help give back to those who are scared to speak up."
“I stand with you,” Concepcion said, “I will always stand with you.”
“We are different for a reason,” he added, concluding his statement with a hashtag reading, “Stop the negativity.”
KC Concepcion at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 28, 2026 in Indianapolis.Credit: Cooper Neill/Getty
Concepcion’s dad, Kevin, shared the post to his own Instagram Stories with a message of support to his son.
“I stand with you son,” he wrote. “I know exactly how you feel. How it feels to struggle speaking in front of people. You did absolutely amazing and you’ve always been my hero.”
Concepcion, a third-year college student from Charlotte, N.C., currently plays for the Texas A&M Aggies after two seasons with the NC State Wolfpack. The player won the Paul Hornung Award in 2025, which honors the most versatile player in major college football. According to Texas A&M, he is the first from the school to earn the award.
Concepcion previously spoke about struggling with public speaking in a September 2025 interview with The Associated Press.
“I’m really still kind of getting comfortable with it,” he said at the time, before reflecting on his experience with his speech impediment as a child.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“It kind of used to be really, really bad when I was a kid,” Concepcion told AP. “But, you know, just taking my little speech classes here and there, I really didn’t like going to them because I kind of felt like I was a little weird. ... Just being taught how to try to like speak fluently and and not stutter or anything.”
AP reported that he was the first receiver at Texas A&M to score two or more touchdowns in consecutive games since 2021.
Read the original article on People