> Football, Baltimore, black. That example growing-up environment does not exactly favor a kid to be encouraged to pursue intellectual strengths unless you have an incredible teacher or parents for example.

Wikipedia says "Urschel was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His parents, John Urschel and Venita Parker, were a surgeon and attorney, respectively. He grew up in Buffalo, New York, where he attended Canisius High School." With no other information, that "growing-up" environment (notably including a private school) sounds great for an academically precocious kid.