“I joined because I had been a volunteer, doing relief work near the Darfur region of Sudan in 2004. After that experience, I wanted to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. I deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008 and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013 and 2014. I was really fortunate to have football as part of my transition out of the military. I re-enlisted in the Texas National Guard when I was in college. It was an interesting experience being an older student who was half in college, half in the Army, always on the go.

In 2015, I lost both my college football uniform at the University of Texas-Austin and my Army uniform. It was rough. I had so much of my identity tied up in those uniforms. That led me to co-found Merging Vets and Players (MVP), a non-profit that brings former professional athletes and combat veterans together to help them find purpose when they leave the playing field or battlefield.

Veterans are very capable and what we’ve learned and survived can be applied to almost anything. The work ethic that was instilled in us is something that will always be with you as a service member. Obstacles are just opportunities to work hard, to grow, to be great.”