Coming back from an injury is never an easy thing to do, you can ask someone like Derrick Rose who is a professional NBA basketball player currently playing for the New York Knicks that. He suffered a meniscus tear and ACL tear while playing with the Chicago Bulls and has never been the same since. Others athletes such as Adrian Peterson turn the setback into motivation and come back better than ever. One of the best inside backers in college football, Ja Whaun Bentley can tell us a thing or two about adversity and how injuries can cause mental and physical drain on your body. In order to overcome obstacles you have to mentally be tough and you must be able to turn negativity into positivity. Coming from a Power House like DeMatha Catholic High School located in Hyattsville, MD, the football environment automatically gives you a great start mentally and physically because you are playing in one of the best conferences in the world, the WCAC. During Ja Whaun s career at DeMatha he suffered a severe injury going into his sophomore year, which made him sit out the whole season. With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. - Eleanor Roosevelt The minor setback produced a huge comeback for the superstar linebacker, who led his team and produced a WCAC championship his senior high school season. While accomplishing great accolades, he received many offers from multiple schools such as Purdue, Maryland, Iowa, and West Virginia. The DeMatha leader picked the Big Ten school, Purdue Boilers. Austin Tuck
The Big Ten is known as a very physically tough conference, so me being a part of a physical football team at DeMatha, it helped me to be able to hold down the fort and be known as a physical backer in the Big Ten. said Bentley. Ja Whaun was the type of player who was built physically and mentally to play right away on any college football team. With Purdue is given the best chance of Ja Whaun playing early and getting his feet wet, he felt like that was the best opportunity for him. Also, the academics and the opportunity to play was best of both worlds for the Big Ten prospect. During his freshman campaign, Ja Whaun made his presence known. He started as a freshman and getting the early field experience helped him build into the player he is today. Since playing as a freshman, he had to get an early about playing in big games and playing under pressure. Ja Whaun said, It doesn t get too much tougher than taking control of a defense being 17 years old, but I had seniors and other upperclassmen helping me out along the way. Being a middle linebacker means you are the Quarterback of the defenses every call and every set runs through you. You are the point guard of all plays that are running through you and for a 17-year-old to take on that challenge is very remarkable because you are new to things and have to take on a lead role. Being physical for the soon to be a star wasn t an issue, The physical part came natural to me, but I had to make a great effort to make sure our defense as a whole was aligned correctly each and every time the ball was snapped. said Bentley. During his freshman year run, he was named a captain of the team, which was a huge step for him because that day he had became the leader of men who were 3-4 years older than him. They saw a special gift in him that previous teams were also able to see which helped him grow as a player and to be thankful for the people that trusted and believed in him. During his run at DeMatha, he was a very outspoken, a motivator, and a spark so there wasn t any pressure for him.
It s only pressure if it s not authentic, but I m just being me. They selected me because I was being the best me I could be so there wasn t any point to change, I wanted to be a captain that I would be willing to follow, said Ja Whaun. To cap off an amazing freshman season, Ja Whaun finished with Big Ten Freshman All-American Team, ESPN True Freshman All-American Team, and USA TODAY Sports Freshman All-American Team honors. His stats proved that he was one of the best middle linebackers in the country, 76 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, one PBU, and one interception, all as a FRESHMAN. Y ou get out what you put in, and that statement has stayed true since football was created. The way Ja Whaun trained over the off-season, he wasn t surprised to his outstanding play and honors. I personally don t think anyone trained harder than me that off-season and that has been the approach I have taken with each and every off-season. The Big Ten Freshman All-American was to me a sticker for the hours I put in the off-season, said Ja Whaun Heading into a strong sophomore campaign, Ja Whaun season ended with a knee injury during practice before game #6. Despite the short season he still had 49 tackles and a season-high of 14 tackles in one game against Bowling Green. Injuries are often a severe setback especially if this is your 3rd time tearing your ACL. By now people would usually hang up the cleats. However for Ja Whaun this was just adversity and extra motivation for him to become a better player and a better man.
Injuries are a part of the game and that s what we ve signed up for when we decide to lace up and run into people. They are setbacks, but I m a firm believer that they only remain that way if you let them. They can be used as a springboard to something special and that s the perspective I take anytime adversity hits me in any way, shape or form. Bentley says Setbacks are something you experience and it makes you look at things from a different point of view. With Ja Whaun going through so much, he s one tough person and he can inspire so many people based on how he can come back from such injuries and is still able to perform at the highest level possible. Going into his junior year his mission is to be dependable whenever his number is called, be a leader, captain, head hunter, and anything that his team wants him to do. So far in 9 games played, Ja Whaun has had 50 tackles and 7 tackles for a loss. Over the last couple years, many DeMatha football players have been choosing Big Ten schools to attend and showcase their talents at. Such players are, Tyler Green (Indiana), Mark Allen (Penn State), Taiwan Deal (Wisconsin), and the four horsemen Tino Ellis, Lorenzo Harrison, DJ Turner, and Terrance Davis (All attend University of Maryland). Playing old teammates in big games are very interesting because they usually don t feel like teammates anymore because the bond within each of them is bigger than it seems.
Tino Ellis(Top Left), Mark Allen (Top Middle Left), Ja'Whaun Bentley (Top Middle Right), Terrance Davis (Top Right), Lorenzo Harrison (Bottom Right), Tyler Green (Bottom Middle Left), DJ Turner (Bottom Middle Right), Taiwan Deal (Bottom Right) When regarding this to Ja Whaun he said, Blood couldn t make us any closer. Each and every one of them are great football players and it has shown every time they have gotten their opportunity. Being away from home can affect most people and people will never know what home can mean until they are actually away from it. With Ja Whaun not only does he represent DeMatha Catholic High School, he also represents the DMV with everything he does and with every opportunity he gets. Having a family at Purdue is key to him because they are welcoming him with open arms and it opened his eyes to how many people he s become close with and with people who want to continue to help him along the way. Family plays huge parts in people s lives because, every time you re on the field, in front of a camera, or in public general, you are representing your family and your name first. Your last name stays with you at all times and the decisions you make have an impact on every person that share the same name as you. The decisions I make have an impact on everyone that I share that name with along with the fans that I ve made along the way. I have to be the best me at all times. said, Ja Whaun.
Ja Whaun is a bright young man who is soon to be pursuing a professional football career. He certainly has the work ethic and has the build of an NFL player. Football has helped him become a better person on and off the field and in many different experiences and situations. The game of football shows you how to respond to adversity. It reveals to you what kind of man you are and how far you have to go for you to the man you want to be. Whatever you do in football when things get tough I firmly believe is a direct correlation to what your response will be in life as a dad, owner, employee, or coach, by it will show up in your life again I truly believe that. I preach toughness and I live toughness because no matter how hard, confusing, or awkward things get one thing that I know I don t have a problem with is being tough and physical and that s something that will follow me forever, long after football. - Ja Whaun Bentley