New Warhawk Hall-of-Famer Brad Arnett has JJ Watt as one of his clients at NX Level

(Editor's Note: The following story on newly announced UW-Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame member Brad Arnett includes excerpts a story originally published in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Brad Arnett’s NX Level facility in Waukesha is “home” to dozens of athletes from pre-high school all the way to those already make a living in the NFL. Among Arnett’s clients is Houston Texans’ All-Pro defensive end JJ Watt.

Watt grew up nearby in Pewaukee and in high school started trekking here every morning at 5 or 6, when Arnett opened the building for him. The heat wouldn't be on yet. "It was always freezing in here," said Watt.

"But I wouldn't be where I am today without Brad," said Watt, a defensive end who was Houston's top draft pick (No. 11 overall in 2011). Watt has quickly developed into one of the highest profile defensive players in the NFL. "I'd been working on those combine drills with Brad ever since high school. To have those concepts down I felt like I was ahead of the other guys in terms of my training."

Arnett is a former nose tackle from UW-Whitewater and Wisconsin prior to becoming a strength coach at the universities of Minnesota and Arizona but became disheartened by the win-at-all-costs ethos in college football.

"I don't think we do enough to teach these kids how to take care of themselves and teach them life skills," said Arnett.

A friend of his, John Fina, who played for Arizona and with the Buffalo Bills, introduced Arnett to Joe Panos, the former Bills and UW offensive lineman who began his college career at UW-Whitewater. They established NX Level in May 2005.

Panos, now a sports agent who had a big pay day on Monday when his client, Dallas Cowboy 1st round draft pick Travis Frederick, signed a reported four-year deal with a fifth-year option worth $6.87 million, according to a source. The first three seasons of the deal are guaranteed and feature a $3.37 million signing bonus.

Arnett’s facility has also been the training “home” for a for a number of former UW-Whitewater players. Matt Gifford, a wide receiver on the Warhawks’ 2007 NCAA III national champions, is currently a Sports Performance Enhancement Specialist at NX Level in Waukesha.