As told by D.J. Foster
Most student-athletes get to play in front of a handful of people they are close with. That number might rise to a few dozen if you stay close to home.
Me? I was lucky. I had tens of thousands at every game at Sun Devil Stadium.
I’ve played football my whole life in the Phoenix Valley, from the Apaches in Pop Warner to the Sabercats in Saguaro, and I grew up watching greats like Derek Hagan and Terrell Suggs, hearing stories of legends like Mike Haynes and John Jefferson.
Those Saturday’s, along with a few Thursday and Friday nights, felt like a reunion with my friends and family.
That Maroon and Gold. It was in my blood.
They say I helped change the perception of the football program across the state, that I #StayedTrue, that I was the precursor of a new era.
I say they changed me.
I've been through so much as I’ve gone from a young teenage boy to a man in his early twenties, and the process hasn’t always been easy. I carried a lot of pain around with me and there was a lot of anger growing inside me.
I used to ask why me. Now I say thank you.
I found strength and support in the form of my family, friends, fans, and the Man above. Scottsdale, the Valley, and Sun Devil Nation gave me that push when I couldn't push myself and gave me a reason to wake up every day with a smile on my face.
That Maroon and Gold. It is in my blood.
Arizona State – its coaches, support staff, students, fans - gave me direction and purpose and a path to get somewhere I thought at one point would be unreachable: standing at the doorstep of the National Football League.
But along this journey, I’ve realized the NFL isn’t the destination, but merely a stop along the way.
Becoming a man of compassion, a caretaker for my community, and an ambassador for the good that can and does exist in this world – that is where the road leads to and what I’m most proud of.
I will continue to grow in this aspect and continue to work to be a man that kids can look up to and emulate.
I want to thank everyone who's supported me on my ride - the ones cheering me on when I was wearing the black and gold at Saguaro High School and the ones rooting for me when I traded that black for maroon – and show my appreciation for everyone who gave me an opportunity to represent them on the field.
That Maroon and Gold. It will always be in my blood.