UL-Lafayette footballer “returns home” to help SW La | Local

Catholic charities brought muscle from Lafayette Friday to help prepare for and steal sandbags that could be used in future disasters.

Three members of the UL-Lafayette football team spent the afternoon loading sandbags on Second Street.

Cejae Ceasar, an Iowa native, said he was happy to return home and help.

I’m from Lake Charles, I went to school in Iowa and being able to give back to the community now as a college athlete is a blessing, he said.

Teammate JaMarian Peterson said work outside the field also pays dividends on the field.

Its commitment to my teammates while we are able to help the community, he said. It is our first community service project. It helps us work as good teammates, get to know each other better. It helps us on the ground. Communication is always key in the field.

Peterson said community service is one of the ways he helps grow as he transitions into college life.

I just want to be the best person I can become, a better man, he said.

I’m pretty sure it’s different in the fall, but so far it hasn’t been bad. The orientation class we all use has been pretty good. I just graduated from my homework before we came here. Outside of class, the football parts have been fun. We have done training and running. Every Friday we wake up at 6 and do a team run. Its always great to be so early.

I like Lafayette, people. It’s not happening as much as it does in New Orleans, so I get to relax.

Colleague Dr. Cam George said he hopes to learn to lead in Lafayette.

I really enjoy helping and I expect to be able to do a lot more like this during my college years, he said. I hope I can help the team become the program I believe it can be, one of the best teams in the nation. I want to become the leader of a large group of guys and just keep building the program.

I have enjoyed being close to my teammates, getting to know them and building relationships. Cejae is a good person to be near and talk to. Jamarian is like a brother to me. It’s been as long as we know each other, for the whole two years. We play the same position and met at a high school summer camp.