It was a snowy day on January 29th, 2031, in the Tri-Cities area in Washington. It was Dre Uzond's birthday, and he was up at 5 in the morning, earlier than his mother and his younger sister, Azelia. Dre has been taking care of his mother and sister emotionally since his father was shot and killed when Dre was only thirteen.
Dre had been getting up early every morning ever since his gruesome injury on September 3rd. It was Saturday night. The Kamiakin Braves were up 27-23 to the Kennewick High School Lions. It was late in the fourth, and the Braves needed a stop. Set, hut. Dre trailed the star receiver, #6 Jeremiah Wojohowicz, across the field on a post route. Wojohowicz had been held in check all game long thanks to Uzond, catching only two passes on eleven targets for fifteen yards. Wojohowicz was averaging ten catches with one-hundred eleven yards and one-half touchdowns per game. Now was no time for Uzond to crack. He didn't.
The Quarterback, #11 Benny Jackson, who would go on to be the starting quarterback and Stanford, didn't force a pass. He instead went to a different receiver who was open on the opposite side of the field. Uzond flew to get to him. Uzond caught him from the side, and spun him to the ground. But his knee wouldn't budge.
It was a torn ACL, and the doctors told him to say goodbye to the season, and most likely his career. His football scholarships from Auburn and Ohio State were removed. LSU and USC lost interest in him. Everyone who knew him thought that his promising young career would be over. A knee injury that ruined his potential. All because of a brutal reality that is football. But Dre wouldn't have it.
He fought back, and he fought hard. And by February 3rd, he had to lie to doctors about his pain to get cleared to play football. But he had little time, as the next day was signing day. He had his recruiting advisor work quickly, but no FBS school wanted him. But, an FCS school offered him a small scholarship. He signed the next day. In August, he packed his bags for Spokane, and began taking classes at Eastern Washington University.
He redshirted his first year due to the ACL injury. It was long and hard, and Dre Uzond didn't know if he could last it. He credits his faith in God, and the support from his mother to his ability to keep up his will to play.
The next year, he recorded six tackles and two pass defended in five games played. It was a disappointing year for him, he said. As he performed very poorly in practice. He was determined to play better. It paid off.
His Sophomore year, he broke out. In eleven games he had thirty-nine pass defended, twenty-seven tackles, including twenty-four solo. One tackle for loss, and four interceptions, including a one-hundred and eight yard pick six. His stats didn't speak for his enormous impact on the game itself, and was widely considered the best shut-down corner in the FCS. He got a call from coach Boull the off-season. He wanted Dre to transfer to the University of Washington. Dre Uzond couldn't pass it up. We all know the story of his redshirt junior year, where he got seven interceptions, which lead the FBS. He played his hearts out, not to get somewhere, but because of what he'd gone through to get there. He wasn't playing for Ohio State, like he thought that he would, but now he has what he wanted all along. A chance in the NSFL. He declared for the DSFL draft, and is regarded to be among the best corners available.
Dre Uzond has had a long ride, but he says that he is grateful to have made it. "The NSFL has been nothing but kind to me. I am eager for a chance to prove that I can play at a high level." Whether or not he becomes one of the greats, there is no doubt in my mind that I'll be rooting him on.
Dre had been getting up early every morning ever since his gruesome injury on September 3rd. It was Saturday night. The Kamiakin Braves were up 27-23 to the Kennewick High School Lions. It was late in the fourth, and the Braves needed a stop. Set, hut. Dre trailed the star receiver, #6 Jeremiah Wojohowicz, across the field on a post route. Wojohowicz had been held in check all game long thanks to Uzond, catching only two passes on eleven targets for fifteen yards. Wojohowicz was averaging ten catches with one-hundred eleven yards and one-half touchdowns per game. Now was no time for Uzond to crack. He didn't.
The Quarterback, #11 Benny Jackson, who would go on to be the starting quarterback and Stanford, didn't force a pass. He instead went to a different receiver who was open on the opposite side of the field. Uzond flew to get to him. Uzond caught him from the side, and spun him to the ground. But his knee wouldn't budge.
It was a torn ACL, and the doctors told him to say goodbye to the season, and most likely his career. His football scholarships from Auburn and Ohio State were removed. LSU and USC lost interest in him. Everyone who knew him thought that his promising young career would be over. A knee injury that ruined his potential. All because of a brutal reality that is football. But Dre wouldn't have it.
He fought back, and he fought hard. And by February 3rd, he had to lie to doctors about his pain to get cleared to play football. But he had little time, as the next day was signing day. He had his recruiting advisor work quickly, but no FBS school wanted him. But, an FCS school offered him a small scholarship. He signed the next day. In August, he packed his bags for Spokane, and began taking classes at Eastern Washington University.
He redshirted his first year due to the ACL injury. It was long and hard, and Dre Uzond didn't know if he could last it. He credits his faith in God, and the support from his mother to his ability to keep up his will to play.
The next year, he recorded six tackles and two pass defended in five games played. It was a disappointing year for him, he said. As he performed very poorly in practice. He was determined to play better. It paid off.
His Sophomore year, he broke out. In eleven games he had thirty-nine pass defended, twenty-seven tackles, including twenty-four solo. One tackle for loss, and four interceptions, including a one-hundred and eight yard pick six. His stats didn't speak for his enormous impact on the game itself, and was widely considered the best shut-down corner in the FCS. He got a call from coach Boull the off-season. He wanted Dre to transfer to the University of Washington. Dre Uzond couldn't pass it up. We all know the story of his redshirt junior year, where he got seven interceptions, which lead the FBS. He played his hearts out, not to get somewhere, but because of what he'd gone through to get there. He wasn't playing for Ohio State, like he thought that he would, but now he has what he wanted all along. A chance in the NSFL. He declared for the DSFL draft, and is regarded to be among the best corners available.
Dre Uzond has had a long ride, but he says that he is grateful to have made it. "The NSFL has been nothing but kind to me. I am eager for a chance to prove that I can play at a high level." Whether or not he becomes one of the greats, there is no doubt in my mind that I'll be rooting him on.