OTTAWA TEEN DEFIES THE ODDS
Luketa’s modest origins prepared him for NCAA scholarship and a shot at the NFL
There were doubters, those who told Jesse Luketa his dream of playing college football in the United States was unrealistic, unachievable.
Getting told no seems like so long ago now. In January, the 18- year- old who grew up in Ottawa’s Heron Gate area will start classes at Penn State, the school he chose out of his 62 scholarship offers.
He’s also one step away from playing in the prestigious Under Armour All- America High School football game Jan. 4 in Orlando, Fla.
In a voting system with two brackets ( think of the March Madness basketball setup), Luketa has emerged as a finalist on his side. If he gets more votes than Tevailance Hunt, a receiver from Texas, before midday Friday’s deadline ( you can cast a ballot for Luketa at amfam. com/ fanvote), he’ll play in the national all- star game.
“When I was younger, I wasn’t always the most talented kid,” said Luketa, the top- ranked high school prospect in Canada, along with being one of the top linebacker prospects in the U. S.
“I would tell people this was what I wanted to do, they would laugh. But I wouldn’t let people tell me no. The fact that people didn’t believe in me, I knew what I wanted to do and I went out and did it. There’s no greater joy than accomplishing something that people told you that you couldn’t do.
“Everything that’s happened, it’s so humbling. Coming from the south end of Ottawa, not many make it out. We’ve always been counted out. We’re kids who come from lower- income families — that drives us. It shows the younger kids that the opportunity is there, they can have hope that they can play NCAA football.”
One of nine children — six sisters, two brothers — to a single- parent mom, Rose, Luketa appreciates the support he’s gotten along the way. He hasn’t walked his journey alone.
“My mom had to raise all her kids by herself. She worked overtime, she did a lot of things,” said Luketa, the youngest of the nine. “( When she lost her job because of an office closure), it was really rough. I’d be going to school, we’d do whatever we could to support her — make sure the bills were paid and everything. My siblings, honestly, they helped raise me as well. I’m doing this for my family and for my mom. This is a blessing for her. She gets to see me living out my dream, so she’s so proud of me. I play football because one day I want to be in a position where I can take care of my family.”
There was also someone pushing him: Neville Gallimore, another kid from south Ottawa whose football excellence landed a scholarship to Oklahoma University. Luketa went to St. Patrick High School for grades 9 and 10 then, with some help from former Ottawa Redblacks defensive back Jovon Johnson, got into Mercyhurst, a prep school in Erie, Pa.
“It’s been great,” said Luketa, who also played minor football for the South Ottawa Mustangs. “When I got here, Mercyhurst was not a powerhouse. We built this program — we really turned the program around. We just lost last weekend in the District 10 championships. What started as a 1- 8 team just went 11- 0 and was ranked second in the state of Pennsylvania for triple- A classification.”
Heading to Penn State and playing for the Nittany Lions is a big deal for anyone, especially for a six- foot- three, 235- pound player who dreams of one day having his picture on the walls alongside greats like Sean Lee, LaVar Arrington and Paul Posluszny. Luketa will not take his opportunity for granted.
“I’ve always had relentless drive to get better. I was never complacent,” Luketa said. “I wanted to find areas where I wasn’t as dominant at and I knew I had to take it to the next level …
“When you get to college, to the D1 level, that’s where everyone’s trying to go. So what are you going to do to elevate your game so one day you can step on the podium and have Roger Goodell call your name when you’ve been drafted? It’s going to be a matter of what am I willing to do, what sacrifices will I make — it’ll be the little things.”
He’s already beaten the odds, done what others said wasn’t possible. But he doesn’t plan on stopping here. For him, there’s so much more — on and off the football field.
“If the opportunity comes that I can play at the next level, that would be great,” he said. “If not, I’m going to put myself in a position where I’ll be successful at whatever I do.”
There’s no greater joy than accomplishing something that people told you that you couldn’t do.