Obviously football is a big part of my life. But off the field
Community that's been a big thing for me in terms of just
growing up how I've been raised. He really has
a compassion for others
and expresses that and shares that with people, it's our goal
to do more than just talk
about our faith. But to demonstrate our faith through
the things. In the way we serve, my husband Darryl is
a CPA by day. As well as a
minister 365 days a year and he was diagnosed with a very, very
serious life-threatening medical condition about almost
eight years ago at this point
as I was recovering.
It just came to me that you know what? I can't I have to
continue going on. I still to bless not to serve, their will
becomes a very restless when he is not able to serve others.
And so about a year ago. We established guy a new Ministries
as a family we've
We've kind of rallied
do covid through his sickness and we realized that like,
families is everything to us and that opportunity to kind of
unite through a Ministry. Like this has been important for our
family. We recently did a project with our ministry with
the Veterans Center in Evanston, and
he just really enjoyed his time meeting them hearing their
stories talking with them. That's one of the things
I really enjoy about my son. Just just the giving
that he has has done, you hear the phrase more than an athlete
used very frequently. And that's something that, you
know, especially as a young black man that I felt was
important. You want to be seen for more than just scoring
touchdowns and
and getting interceptions
football is a microcosm of life and to see
what he's done off the field and to see him give back
and, you know, and live such a faithful life. I mean, that's
that's extremely rewarding and it's really special.
That's one of the reasons why I decided to come to Evanston.
My family has a very rich
tradition. Here.
We find ourselves very rooted in this community Darrell and
I graduated from here. I think we counted at one time. 33 family
members have gone through this
High School family
and family. History is very important to us. And we hope
that, that is something that carries on and Sebastian and
all of our children.
Our family has been very blessed
in.
You know, academically, they've done, well
sports-wise, they've done well, as well as
spirituality. We have four children. Sebastian is
the third boy and then has a younger sister and so having
two older brothers sort of
put him immediately
into a stance of always being very competitive and wanting to
do whatever they did. My brother's kind of led the way
from me starting to just basketball football
baseball. We kind of Of
grew up like an average family into
most sports. He really
has a very different body type than his other brothers who are
more of track and field and basketball. And he very
definitely has a football body type. He's that rare
combination of speed and size and intelligence.
I think one of the things that people don't look at is his
instincts. I believe on someone who could play, sideline to
sideline, make plays all over the field, you know, whether
it's outside inside or even at the safety position. I feel
like I can be very It's our
as a teammate, you know, he's caring and he always put
the team first. I get to know every guy individually and I think
that's a huge part, especially being a
captain on a football team
because some guys may not have that voice to speak up and
I want to be that voice for them.
Having Sebastian be invited to participate in the All American
Bowl has certainly been very exciting and a little bit
surreal. Well, I got called up. It was
it was just the childhood dream. You know,
who's who? It was just so amazing to have that
opportunity to play at such. A prestigious stage has been all
conference player. Countless times academic, All-State
captain, now, all Americans. So, he's checked all the boxes and
it'll be great to see him compete, you know, with
the best players in the country. I feel like
the college that I'm going to
Chapel Hill is, is meant for me. We're so proud of him, but
it's coming quickly and we are going to miss him a lot, but we
really feel good that
Going to be well cared for
not just as an athlete. But as a human being,
I want my son very much
to be able to make the NFL
without looking beyond that.
I'm hoping and praying
that he turns out to be a wonderful husband.
I wonderful father
gives to the community
and
has a phenomenal career
Beyond football. And I want my grandchildren to brag about
their dad.
That would make me feel very happy. That's the future I want
for my son.