I have always been an argumentative type person.  From my childhood, my parents will tell you two things about me.  One is that I was an energetic kid and always on the go; the second is that I would argue with anyone about anything. I was born in Brunswick, New Jersey in 1982.  When I was four years old, my family moved to Gwinnett County Georgia.  It was there that I began to learn how to play football.  When I was six years old I played on my first organized youth league football team.  My current teammate and best friend David Greene was also my teammate then.  I played fullback and David played cornerback.  Our dad’s were also on that coaching staff and both have been very instrumental in our lives.

I come from a great family.  I love my mother and father, and my older brother Jason and I are extremely close.  They have always been very supportive and are my biggest fans. It hurts to admit this fact but I was not brought up in a Christian home.  I was raised with standards and morals, but we did not attend church; therefore, CHRIST was not apart of our everyday lives. As I grew older, I became more selfish and self-centered.  I began to act out in many ways.  I would bully kids in school, I wasn’t very kind to my family, and I just thought that I was bad.  In my freshman year of high school I began to drink and hang out with people that were rebellious and always wanted to party.  I got caught up in that for a season, but I began to realize that if I wanted to be successful in football, and in life, then I needed to straighten up. 

I was empty inside and I didn’t know what I was looking for, but deep down I knew that the path that I was traveling was leading me nowhere. I quit the party scene but I still walked around with a chip on my shoulder thinking that I was cool.  Even though I was an athlete, I still did not find total satisfaction in sports.  I lettered in basketball, football, and wrestling at Shiloh High School in Snellville Georgia.  In football, I played on both sides of the ball.  I played defensive tackle on defense and fullback on offense.  As a junior I began to get some recognition for my abilities on the field and started receiving personal awards.  I was recruited by many schools but chose to attend the University of Georgia. 

The Day that I signed my letter of intent to play college football at UGA, my parents had a signing party.  At that party one of our families closest friends gave me a Bible. At the time I didn’t understand the significance of receiving such a gift but I thanked them and put it in my room.  Soon afterwards one of my teachers gave us an outside reading assignment.  Our assignment was to read two hundred pages from a book of our choosing.  I thought about the gift that was given to me several weeks earlier, so I decided to read the Bible.  I read it for various reasons, one being that I wanted to read it so that I could argue with all of the JESUS freaks at my school.

As I read the Gospels I was overwhelmed by GOD’S love.  I was so intrigued that GOD would send his Son to die on a cross for man’s sin.  I began to see the ugliness of my sin and understand that I needed to be forgiven for the way that I acted and treated people. I did not want to act like I was acting.  I did not want to treat people like I was treating people.  I did not want to keep taking advantage of my family and those around me.  I wanted to be better, but I couldn’t do it on my own. As I continued to read and talk to people, I began to understand the loving sacrifice that CHRIST had made for me.  One night while reading my Bible in bed I was confronted with my sin.  I cried out to GOD and asked him to forgive me for all of my sins.  That night I received JESUS CHRIST into my life as my personal LORD and SAVIOR.

I can honestly tell you that reading the Bible and understanding GOD’S love is more exciting than playing in front of 92,000 people. I love football, but it pales in comparison to what GOD has done for you and for me.  Since becoming a believer, GOD has given me unbelievable peace.  He has allowed me to have wonderful relationships with many people.  My relationship with my family has grown tremendously as I share with them what CHRIST has done in my life.  No, I am not perfect, my life is not perfect, and there are areas in my life that consistently need tending to, but I am passionately pursuing GOD and his will in my life.  All for His glory!!

 
Learn more about God's Love and how to live in Christ.