Dedrian

What do they love most about playing their sport(s)?

DJ thrives on socializing and meeting new people—he’s truly built differently. Football has given him the opportunity to enjoy the game while also building friendships, confidence, and discipline. He especially loves tackling!! What I love most is how naturally football has helped him with stemming. He doesn’t even realize he’s learning and applying those skills anymore—it’s simply become a natural part of the game for him. And I absolutely love that for him!

Who inspires them—on or off the field—and why?

The Coaches inspire DJ on the field. They teach him how to tackle safely & properly. They give him courage to do what he once was afraid to do. One Coach in particular told him “he had a dog in him” & DJ was so proud to be apart of the team. He gave it his all & his best effort because that Coach kept on encouraging him & seen in him what he didnt as a new player to tackle football. DJ had a new outlook & was inspired to return to practice the next day. I was grateful he was in good hands!

What’s one moment in their athletic journey that makes you proudest?

A moment that makes me proudest was seeing my son at practice do the bear crawl. He was exhausted & looked very lethargic. I thought he was going to give up. However, his Coaches called out “keep on going DJ, keep on pushing!” DJ pursued more and more! I was astonished at what he could do tired, sweaty,and hot! My son kept going with his teammates who had been doing these drills for 2-3 years. He was the newest to the team & didn’t give up. I always give him a pep talk about courage prior to.