2021 JUCO defensive back, De’Jahn Warren’s, football future looked very bright headed into his junior season as he was poised to grab attention from some of the top Division 1 football teams in the nation.
Unfortunately, this would not come to be. Warren would not get a single offer and play limited football over the next three years due to some academic and personal issues.
“I was ineligible my junior and my senior year,” Warren said. “When I became ineligible during my junior year, I enrolled into The Avalon school (MD). I only played five games there and transferred back to my high school. Transitioning into my Senior season, I was declared ineligible again after only playing one game.”
Not having the opportunity to play football was the least of Warren’s problems at this time. In an attempt to get one more year of high school football under his belt, Warren re-classified to the 2019 recruiting class. While in position to hit the gridiron again for Suitland High School, Warren was expelled and forced to graduate from an alternative school, which left him in a desperate position.
Warren had not played football for a full two years outside of the one game he played during his senior year.
“It really humbled me to the highest level possible,” Warren said. “One, it made me realize without school, you can not have football. When football is taking away from you and you been playing so long, it makes you even hungrier. I felt I had something to prove and I wanted a second chance.
A second chance would come for Warren by the way of Lackawanna College. Excited and motivated by the obstacles he had to overcome, Warren has taken advantage of it.
“Now I got a second chance at Lackawanna, I am making the best of it,” Warren added. “I have a 3.2 cumulative GPA and this is my first year playing cornerback and I caught some people’s attention.”
Warren has done more than just catch some people’s attention as he now holds 13 Division 1 offers and the Crimson Tide are one of the latest programs to jump on Warren. Alabama has been in contact with Warren for a little over a month now.
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Warren’s offer came from Nick Saban.
“He (Saban) was telling me all the things he liked about me athletically and said he wanted to offer me and wanted me in Tuscaloosa,” Warren said. “I feel coach Saban does a lot of great things. he puts guy into the NFL as well as help them build a career. This is really my first year playing corner, just to talk to Saban is really an honor. I know he loves his defensive backs and he is a hands-on coach.”
At 6-0 and 180 pounds, Warren pulled in five interceptions during his freshman season. He also added 35 tackles en route to being named to the 2019 All-NEFC 1st Team as a defensive back.
Warren feels he wants to ‘officially visit’ Alabama eventually, but once to get down for an unofficial visit as soon as he can. There is no date set for a visit, but he will like to get to Tuscaloosa in the Spring.
looking back on his journey, Warren said he is grateful for it all.
“I really want to display my talent with this second chance and give it my all.” Warren said “That is the type of mentality I keep. If it was not for me being declared ineligible, I would not be where I am at today.”
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Justin Smith is a Scouting/Recruiting analyst for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith
