Born: June 16, 1987
Hometown: Kansas City, Kan. Height/Weight: 5-11/212 lbs.
College: University of Kansas
Drafted: Fourth Round (110th overall) in 2010 by the San Diego Chargers
Notes:
- Chargers Special Teams Captain (2013-14)
- Chargers Special Teams Player of the Year (2013)
- Two-Time first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection (2008-09)
“ … Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith ...” – Hebrews 12:1-2
Growing up in Kansas City, Kan., I was constantly outside playing basketball or baseball, climbing trees or riding bikes. I suffered from seizures at a very young age, but I was finally cleared to play contact sports when I was nine, and that led to football for the first time at 10 years old.
My older brother, younger sister and I were raised in the church, even through my parents’ divorce when I was four. Their decision to separate left me with a lot of anger; I felt I missed out on having a father figure. My mom remarried several years later, and our family of four grew to eight. Then, after they adopted three nieces and nephews, our house was bursting at the seams with kids. With a huge family and a father to look up to, life was great entering high school. My high-energy nature carried over into sports, where I was all-state as both a running back and center fielder.
The summer before my senior year, I accepted a scholarship to attend a local FCA Leadership Camp, but it was the same week as a football camp at the University of Kansas. I didn’t want to miss out on landing a football scholarship, yet I also realized the impact FCA Camp could have on my life. I decided to go to the first day of football camp, and then head to FCA Camp the rest of the week.
Sure enough, I injured my hamstring in my only day at football camp and left feeling mad at God and dejected that I hadn’t done my best. The whole way to FCA Camp, I was asking God why He’d put me in this situation.
I was broken, and those thoughts continued until we partnered up for the obstacle course at FCA Camp. Another camper and I wanted to leave our mark and set some kind of record by being the only people to do the course bound together and blindfolded.
As we worked our way through the course with only limited senses, I heard God speaking directly to me. I realized I was angry with Him for nothing. All my life I’d played a sport that required so much faith and trust in other people, yet I was struggling to give my life to God on a daily basis and trust Him with my future.
Later, on the final night of camp, I volunteered to share my testimony. Trembling as I stood in front of 300 campers, I confessed that all my life I had tried to control everything, to do things my way. For the first time, I felt like I understood that God just wanted me to surrender my life to Him and give Him all the glory and praise. My priority was no longer to get a scholarship, but to allow God to show me where He wanted me to go to share His Word.
Turns out, that place was Kansas. I accepted a scholarship offer the next day. At that point, it was amazing how much my life had turned around. Two weeks later, however, everything came crashing down again when my mom told me my stepfather had sexually abused one of my siblings. I couldn’t believe it. My feelings of anger quickly surfaced, more fiery than ever. But I wasn’t mad at God; I was furious with my stepfather for shattering the trust we had all built in him.
All of a sudden, as a 17-year-old high school senior, I was the man of the house, leaving football practice early to work nights and help support my mother and family. The whole experience crippled so many areas of my life—except for my faith. My heart was hardened toward people but still open to learning what God was teaching me. I learned what it means to be a man, to be responsible, accountable and reliable.
In college, FCA’s John Shore really poured into me. I don’t know if he knew how badly I needed a positive male role model, but he provided that for me. He helped me launch KU’s FCA Huddle and took me to FCA events and men’s Bible studies. My time at KU was so special, both on the gridiron and away from it. I met my wife after recommitting my life to God and fully immersing myself in Him.
My faith has not wavered even since reaching the NFL. I’m surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, and I keep my eyes focused solely on Jesus as I go down His path. I have a responsibility to my family and the world around me to be selfless, to be an example of the Lord’s love, to share His Word and advance His Kingdom.
–This article appears in the November/December 2014 issue of FCA Magazine. To view the issue in its entirety digitally, click here: Nov/Dec 2014 FCA Mag Digital
–Want FCA Magazine in your home or business? Subscribe here: fca.org/orderthemag
–For daily faith and sports content follow @FCAMag on Twitter (www.twitter.com/fcamag) and “Like” FCA Magazine on Facebook (www.facebook.com/fcamag).
Photos courtesy of the San Diego Chargers