Senior Yusuf Muhammad refuses to give up the game that has shaped him since middle school. Football has taken a toll on him due to injuries he’s had, but it has built character, strengthened his friendships, and deepened his understanding of what it means to give it your all. As a running back for Rocky’s team, he has faced set backs that could’ve kept him sidelined, but every challenge motivated him to improve.
Since 8th grade, Yusuf has played tackle football, which has allowed him to gain experience in the athletic world. What he’s loved most about the sport is the friendships he’s made, especially learning and growing with Rocky players like Cooper Gonzales and Brady Swigert.
“I made a lot more friends than I would if I didn’t play football,” Yusuf said, “like freshman year, the preseason camps, I made a lot more friends coming into school than I would have not if I played football.”
But football hasn’t always been the best for Yusuf due to the injuries he has faced. Almost every season, he’s been on the sidelines due to injuries. He’s battled with injured knees and tweaked ankles. His worst injury was from having two sprained ankles at once, which made walking a challenge for him. He has done plenty of physical therapy sessions for all the injuries he’s had.
“Some days after school, like you don’t want to go because your body just aches, and the last thing you want to do is get tackled by a bunch of guys the whole practice.”
Injuries aside, a typical day for Yusuf starts early and ends late. He wakes up for 6:00 a.m. practice and after 3rd period, he heads to weights, followed by two hours of intense practice; his day ends later than most. Even when he’s dealing with physical setbacks, physical therapy comes first—before school or anything else. And by the time he’s home, has dinner, and gets ready for bed, there’s still homework to finish.
“Coming home thinking that you can just go to sleep and eat dinner, but then you get away from bed realizing that you have an assignment for each class and you got to stay up to like, 11 or 12.”
For Yusuf, football isn’t just a game, as it has shaped him into the person he is today. He doesn’t define success with trophies or recognition despite being named “Preseason Player” by The Coloradoan, but focuses on pushing himself to his limits and growing into a better person.
“Win or loss, when you look back on something, knowing that you did your best and that you’re not going to be disappointed in yourself when you look back on it, and knowing that you can improve no matter what it’s like–even if you think you’re at the top, you still got stuff to work on,” Yusuf said.
He may not plan to attend college for football, but his time on the team has left a lasting mark. His journey has highs and lows, but his success has been measured by effort, growth, and commitment to the sport.
