CV Buckskins lineman Yodhe Desta commits to LIU Post @YodheD @CVBuckskins @LIUPFB
Tagged under: District 3, News, Recruiting
Billy Splain | January 16, 2019
Everyone loves a great story. This is a great story.
Back in 2010 Yodhe Desta’s family made a decision that would change the 10 year old boys life forever. They decided to leave their homeland of Ethiopia and head to America. Several years later that young man took up a sport that would lead him to places he could never imagine. Coach Bobby Swift, offensive line coach, was the one he said approached him first about playing football, but there was a barrier. “I didn’t understand the game because of my lack of knowledge in the English language” said Conestoga Valley offensive lineman Yodhe Desta of the immediate struggle he face playing football.
He eventually overcame that obstacle and became a highly sought after lineman in high school. With offers from colleges such as Franklin Pierce, Urbana, Lake Erie, Concordia, Culver Stockton, Cincinnati Christian, West Virginia St, West Liberty and Jacksonville University, the 6-2, 282 pound lineman was well on his way to realizing a dream, to attend college in America and play a game he fell in love with. Then after a recent visit from LIU Post at his school, he received an offer that was just to hard to pass up. Yodhe accepted a scholarship offer to play for the Pioneers. He made his announcement on Twitter yesterday.
“I would like to thank my Lord and Savior for blessing me with this amazing opportunity to play division 1 football. I would also like to thank my parents who sacrificed their lives in Ethopia to come to America and give limitless opportunities to me and my siblings. Additionally i would like to thank my high school coaching staff for pushing me to be the best i could be on and off the field. Finally, I would like to extend a hand of thanks to family, friends and all the coaches who used their valuable time to come to my school and talk to me about pursing my dream. God bless. I’m extremely excited to announce that I’m 1000% committed to Long Island University.”
When asked what the Pioneers are getting in a player like himself, I got probably one of the best answers anyone has ever given me. ” Try my best to out-work my surroundings because my “why” is bigger than anyone’s.” His “why” is “The reason I play football is my motivation to do my best all the time”.
As for what he’s proud of the most since coming to America: “Honestly, when i earned a scholarship to go to school for almost free.”
We caught up with Yodhe and asked him about his decision:
PFN: how long have you played football?
Yodhe: Just 5 years
PFN: why did you choose to commit to the Pioneers? When did they offer you a spot?
Yodhe: Felt like home and was the most affordable from all my offers
PFN: who was your biggest influence at LIU Post, who recruited you?
Yodhe: Coach Gibson recruited me, the OL coach. I felt i can sacrifice my self for this man next 4 years.
PFN: what do your parents think of your decision?
Yodhe: Excited there son gets to play d1 football
PFN: what position will you play?
Yodhe: Guard and center
PFN: what was the recruiting process like for you?
Yodhe: Like Pennsylvania weather, high and low.
PFN: Do you know what you’d like to study?
Yodhe: Computer science
PFN: What do you think is the most exciting thing about The Pioneers program?
Yodhe: They out work/out smart their competition
PFN: Tell everyone out there in Pioneer land something they’d never know about you until you told them:
Yodhe: I can speak 3 language.
PFN: Who is the person who most influenced you in your football career?
Yodhe: Jose Barbon, he was going through the same process last year. I saw the steps he took the work he put on I tried copy that
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