While it is still not clear if there will be an NFL football season this fall, the league is moving forward, having just held their annual draft of college players. The ceremony took place via teleconference, without much of the pomp that normally accompanies the announcements by teams of their selected players. One college player got the attention of the Jewish world in February when he was interviewed during the NFL Combine, the event where prospective players are showcased prior to the draft. The athlete appeared for an interview wearing a Star of David around his neck, and a reporter asked him the significance of the star. Who was the player and what was his explanation?
A. The player was Yetur Gross-Matos, the Penn State defensive end who was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 2nd round. Gross-Matos said, “I was raised Christian by my mom. My folks were divorced, but I still saw my Dad a lot. He’s Jewish so I wear the Star of David for him.”
B. The player was Shaquille Quarterman, the University of Miami linebacker who was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 4th round. Quarterman explained that at Miami he was a member of the historically Jewish Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. Said Quarterman, “Many of my friends in ΑΕΠ were Jewish, and a bunch of us bought the same Star of David to wear. It means a lot to my brothers and me.”
C. The player was Justin Herbert, the University of Oregon quarterback who was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 1st round. When asked by a reporter from the Los Angeles Times why he was wearing a Star of David, Herbert looked surprised, and answered, “Umm, a Star of David? I don’t really know what that is. This is a sheriff’s badge. My grandpa was a sheriff in Eugene, where I grew up. When he died he left me his badge, and I’ve worn it ever since.”
D. The player was Josh Uche, the University of Michigan linebacker who was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2nd round. Uche explained that while he was at Michigan, there were rising tensions between black and Jewish students over issues including the Israeli/Palestinian problem and Black Lives Matter protests on campus. Uche joined a group of black and Jewish students who came together to attempt to find common ground and defuse the conflicts. Said Uche, “I became very good friends with a Jewish student who gave me this Star of David as a present on my birthday. That was real cool. It has a lot of meaning to me.”
E. The player was Jerry Jeudy, the Alabama wide receiver who was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round. Jeudy explained, “My last name’s Jeudy. People sometimes call me Jeu...so I just got a Jewish star. I’m not Jewish though.”