Football Player Finds Redemption in the Endzone
Image Provided by D. Bynum
What most people know about college football is what is televised – the all day action-packed Saturdays in the fall, the bands, the rowdy collegians in the stands and high scores that often mimic basketball game totals.
The extensive workouts after class, the solitude and the surveillance usually all go unnoticed. A full scholarship means you just deal, right?
Devodric Bynum was just 18 years old when he left all familiarity in South Dallas and headed to the big University of Houston to begin play for its immense football program. His excitement was evident. Some may even call his eagerness too emboldened, but Bynum knew he earned the opportunity to go to the next level of football. He was ready.
In his young life, he’d already experienced a lot. He wanted the football career he’d dreamed of since he was a child.
Bynum played both wide receiver and cornerback for the Lincoln Tigers during his high school career, racking up tackle totals that would rival any All-American defensive man. But he never received the honor of All-American. Early into his junior year of high school, Bynum tore his hamstring. He would miss the entire season.
“That torn hamstring cost me a lot of scholarships,” explains Bynum. “Hamstring tears are a big risk and can happen over and over, so lots of schools gave up on me.”
A season away from football and the disappointment of becoming an afterthought for many universities fueled Bynum’s fire. His senior year at Lincoln was one for the record books.
He managed to break football records, while also running track and playing for the Lincoln Boy’s Basketball Team. But football had his heart. And football was going to provide him a full-scholarship.
Bynum had offers to play for SMU, Nevada, New Mexico and North Texas among other programs, but the opportunity to play for Houston and newly appointed head coach Major Applewhite made his decision a bit easier.
The transition was fairly smooth. In many ways Houston reminded the teenager of Dallas. There was culture there. There were black students there. Working out was second nature for Bynum. Being at a top-tier university, with state of the art facilities was a dream come true. Even on those days when he felt a longing for home, he could always rely on football.
If you didn’t know, football is life to college football players. The start and end of an athlete’s day is dictated by football. There is no going home for the holidays or driving to Dallas to spend a special birthday with family. If anything became burdensome for Bynum, it was the lack of control over his own life. He was an 18 year old, with a nice car, popularity back home as well as a growing fan base in Houston. He wanted to move around.
“I was enjoying myself,” laughs Bynum. “But football can be stressful.”
Houston defeated Navy on Thanksgiving Day in 2017. Bynum was finally going to get his chance to go home and visit Dallas. He was tired. His body was sore, but he was determined to make it home. His family had traveled to Houston to spend Thanksgiving with him and to attend the game. They were a couple of cars behind him on the drive back to Dallas.
Bynum wanted a relief from both his thoughts and his bodily pains as he drove. As he headed up Interstate 45, he reached for the marijuana that was in his car. Not long into his smoke session, police spotted Bynum’s black Charger. He wasn’t exceeding the posted speed limit, but the officers said was driving too slowly. According to Bynum, cameras later proved that he was traveling only five miles under the speed limit.
That night Bynum was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. While he bonded out shortly after, the world as he knew it was soon about to change.
He arrived at The University of Houston in May and was arrested in November. The school wanted him to go to court, but his court date was constantly being pushed back. He would be suspended from the team for quite awhile and left waiting on the court system. Bynum could see the writings on the wall. He left Houston in January.
Almost immediately after his tenure with U of H, Bynum began receiving offers from Kansas, UTEP and Texas Tech.
“I didn’t know the transfer rule at that point,” says Bynum. “If you leave a four year institution you have to sit out for an entire year before joining another four year program.”
He couldn’t stay away from football that long.
Bynum learned about Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, a junior college, through his good friend Patrick Rosette, a former Houston athlete himself. Rosette called Bynum and said “let’s play together one more time,” both men certain that after a junior college run, they’d find themselves back in Division I programs. Bynum and Rosette would encourage one another daily, pushing each other in the gym. The two young men held each other accountable and made sure that they took full advantage of the chance to salvage their football careers.
To say that the junior college experience humbled Bynum would be an understatement. He went from one of the more prestigious universities in the country, with an abundance of resources for its athletes – to a small junior college with facilities reminiscent of those at Dear Old Lincoln High. It was a culture shock.
Bynum would only play in four games for Northeastern Oklahoma before pulling his quad. In those four games, however, he recorded 50 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown. His name was back on the recruitment radar.
During his time spent at the junior college level, Bynum had time to reflect on his decisions and revise his life plans.
Back in high school, he had trademarked a clothing line called POVERTY. “I saw poverty every day where I’m from,” he says. “All of my friends would tell you back then that if I had it they had it. My loyalty is with my people always.”
Perhaps wanting to be the man to take care of everyone and the desire to always have the money and resources influenced a lot of Bynum’s narrative and behavior back in high school. He insists that he plans to go back to South Dallas someday and positively impact the community.
“When I make it pro, I’m pouring into my community,” he insists. “I want to help. I can’t understand professional athletes from Dallas who forget about Dallas. People overlook us for the longest and then when we make it - we forget we were once the ones overlooked. Not me.”
The NCAA shut down Bynum’s efforts with Poverty, because collegiate athletes aren’t allowed to earn money. That definitely left a sour taste in Bynum’s mouth, but he promises a resurgence of the brand once he’s done with NCAA Football.
To know Bynum in high school was to love his athletic prowess, but to be tested by his untimely bouts of arrogance. The flashy dresser, with the incessant need to talk about his future would often rub people the wrong way. Some called him cocky. Some would say he was just overly confident.
“If I played down to the level of my competition – that makes me average,” says Bynum. “I’ve never wanted to be average. Average doesn’t get you to the league.”
Humility has been his best teacher.
“Cockiness tore my hamstring in high school,” he admits. “It humbled me. I’m constantly being humbled. I should’ve been a better teammate.”
In May Bynum committed to play football for the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB). In fact, both he and Rosette are now in Alabama. Rosette, a member of the University of South Alabama football team will actually play against Bynum and UAB this upcoming season.
“UAB is very family oriented,” shares Bynum. “I chose this school because the coaches are very supportive and really approve of players maintaining relationships with their families.”
Bynum will be playing cornerback and special teams for UAB. He’s looking to get on the field right away and make a name for himself quickly.
“I believe the NFL is a reality for me – I wouldn’t still be trying if I thought it was out of my reach,” explains Bynum. “I need to take care of my family.”
Now 20 years old, Bynum doesn’t smoke anymore. He doesn’t even crave it.
“I just used weed to combat the stress,” he admits. “I made a mistake, but that mistake won’t define me.”
He works out every single day, drinks a gallon of water and hustles on the field harder than he ever has. He doesn’t believe anyone can stop him.
Standing 5 foot and 11 ½ inches (or six feet even on a good day) and 190 lbs, Bynum has speed, aggression and power – all of the makings of a coverage man in an NFL secondary.
“If the good Lord says the same, I want to be one and done after this season and enter the draft,” Bynum shares. “This journey isn’t over. I’m going to make it through.”
