When Courtney Greene was playing in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars, he was a punishing safety who delivered bruising tackles for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Now, Greene is imparting his knowledge and applying his considerable passion into his new career training NFL players, college and high school athletes.

The former Rutgers standout and Seattle Seahawks seventh-round draft pick played in the NFL for three seasons, bypassing other NFL and Canadian Football League opportunities to pursue working in the training industry at Sweat Performance in Timonium, Md.

"This was one of the things I decided to do because it's a passion of mine," Greene told National Football Post. "I love working with kids and clients. Some guys don't know what makes them happy, and this makes me happy. I love what I do."

Greene, an athletic 6-foot, 215-pounder who recorded 93 career tackles, one interception and a forced fumble for the Jaguars as he started 13 of 30 career games, played at Rutgers and New Rochelle High School with Ravens running back Ray Rice, his best friend.

At Rutgers, Greene was a freshman All-American when he recorded 116 tackles and later an All-Big East Conference selection.

"I think just working with athletes, it helps me out," said Greene, who works with accomplished trainer Kyle Jakobe at Sweat Performance. "I had to study for this and learn the whole business of personal training. It's about motivating the kids, connecting with them. It's a bit more easier because I've been where they've been.

"I try to help guys get to the next level. It's been a good experience helping them with what I know, what things I would have done differently. It helps me bring a lot to the job. There's so much that goes into it and what I can impart to kids."

Greene started working in personal training after his final year playing football in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. That's when he started working with Jakobe.

Among Greene's clients is Melvin Keihn, a former blue-chip recruit from Gilman in Baltimore who now plays at Virginia Tech, along with players at Maryland and North Carolina.

"I just want to work and help as many athletes as possible and let people know that what we're doing at Sweat Performance is the best out there," Greene said. "Everybody can go to a personal trainer, but we have a great team here with what we're doing. People understand how good it is. If I can change one kid's life, that's the main goal. Everybody wants to be a professional player, but not everybody has what it takes to do that. School is the most important thing."

Greene has been impressed with the talent and work ethic of the athletes he works with in Maryland.

"There's definitely a lot of good kids around here," he said. "You can tell they want to be better and how much they care about what they're doing.. I've had great experience working out with these kids.

"It's been a good thing to come and talk to them and actually connect with them and see them pursue their dreams. That's the most rewarding thing for me. Like I said, I love what I do."

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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun