Michael Sam made his Dancing With The Stars debut on Monday night, and the former defensive end looked as natural on the dance floor as he did on the gridiron.

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The NFL's first openly gay player scored a 26 out of 40 with partner Peta Murgatroyd, good for fourth best of the entire cast.

Sam is considered a heavyweight contender to take the title for DWTS's twentieth season, given that previous football players like Jerry Rice, Donald Driver, and Emmitt Smith have all provided a precedent on the show.

However, though Sam had some good rhythm, his boogie shoes weren't perfect, either. Judge Len Goodman called his footwork atrocious, and urged Murgatroyd to "work on his feet."

Week 1 is always the lowest scoring week for DWTS contestants -- after all, it's usually their first time ever doing this.

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Sam has shown he's a great worker, fast learner, and insatiable competitor throughout his college and brief NFL career. There's little reason to doubt he won't bring the same preparation and work ethic to this endeavor moving forward as well.

Watch Michael Sam's opening dance routine below: