“I grew up in church and was faithfully attending Bible studies. But I was also faithfully getting drunk, doing drugs, and sleeping around. To sum it all up, I was basically still living in sin. I had no idea of what the word ‘Christian’ meant.

“I came to realize my sin and selfishness when I was confronted on campus by a true believer in Jesus. David Soto, a campus minister, shared with me about the importance of commitment and faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I thought I was still a Christian, but after that I knew I wasn’t.

“That spring semester I became a Christian. I found out what Christianity meant … to have a personal relationship with Jesus, to be Christ-like, to walk as Jesus walked, and to be holy, pure and blameless in his sight. The following fall semester I played third string linebacker. But at the start of the season, I ended up starting the first game and the last eight games of the season.

“While I was honored twice for being the Defensive Player of the Year by the Big West conference officials and my coaches, I shared about my faith in Jesus Christ. I realized that God used me in a mighty way as a result of being faithful and knowing that all things are possible in Jesus Christ.”