Salesian High receiver and safety Jakiel Kendricks escaped Chicago to find a home in L.A. and a future in football with the Army.
“I’ll be honest, when they first offered, I was real skeptical,” he said. “But there’s something in me that requires me to see something through. I couldn’t ignore the fact that everyone was telling me it was such a big opportunity and I’ll be set for life. That’s something any teenage kid can’t ignore.”“It took a lot of time before I could commit,” he said. “I had to go see it for myself. There’s this rumor you’re in the Army and it’s ten-hut. And really strict.
Salesian coach Anthony Atkins has worked with Kendricks for four seasons. “He’s matured a lot,” Atkins said. “We held him accountable from the first day he walked onto campus. He’s grown into one of the leaders and captains of the football team.” Salesian is off to a 3-0 start, Kendricks made six catches for 59 yards and contributed 11 solo tackles playing safety in the first two games.Kendricks is motivated to take advantage of his education because he wants to help his many relatives still in Chicago. He has some unpleasant memories from a city dealing with senseless shootings.“It’s not a stereotype. It’s a reality,” he said. “I’ve experienced trauma at a young age. I’ve seen death. I want better for my younger siblings and cousins.
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