“They haven’t missed a game since I’ve been in school, home or away,” said DePriest, a Springfield High School graduate and a senior linebacker with the Crimson Tide. “It feels good to know I’ve always got somebody there. After every game, I’ve got somebody to go to and talk to.”
That will be the case again Thursday when No. 1 Alabama plays No. 4 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome. His fan club in New Orleans includes: his mom, Angela DePriest; her mom, Sue DePriest; his sister, Briana DePriest, his girlfriend Cloie Green, of Springfield, and their son Onyx, who turns two this month; his friend, Ismail Salhieh; and his former coach John Cupps.
Angela, Sue, Cloie and Onyx go to every game. Others go to games when the DePriests can snag extra tickets.
DePriest and the other seniors in his class seek their third national championship and need two more victories to get it. The Sugar Bowl winner plays No. 2 Oregon or No. 3 Florida State for the national title in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 12.
DePriest knows this could be the last game at Alabama, but if it is, it would be the start of another journey, one that could continue on Sundays next fall. NFLDraftScout.com projects him as a fifth- or sixth-round pick. DraftTek.com ranks him 78th overall in the 2015 draft class.
“Trey’s goal all along, all the way back when he was a freshman at South, was to play on Sundays,” said Cupps, the former defensive coordinator at Springfield who now holds the same position at Cincinnati La Salle. “He’s done the things he’s needed to do to make that happen.”
Whatever happens at the next level, DePriest has his degree from Alabama in fashion retail. He graduated last month in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Just like on game day, he had a big crowd there to watch him walk in the ceremony. It was an emotional moment for Angela.
“I cried before I went in because I had our really good camera,” she said, “and I couldn’t cry and take pictures.”
Cupps knows how important getting that degree was for DePriest.
“The cold reality of the NFL is the average career is 2.3 years,” Cupps said. “He’s going to get drafted. He’s going to get a big payday in the draft. The problem with the young guys is they get the bulk of their money up front, and once they’re out of the league, you can’t replace that salary. Getting there and staying there is two different things. Hopefully, he manages his money well.”
DePriest credits his success on and off the football field to many people. Two of the biggest influences on his life were John Thomas and Vernon Bass.
DePriest calls Thomas his uncle, and Thomas’ son Trey is one of DePriest’s best friends. They grew up together in Springfield, and like their other friend, Braxton Miller, Trey Thomas attended Wayne. John Thomas coached DePriest when he was 6 years old.
“He was sort of like a father figure to me,” DePriest said. “I didn’t have my father growing up. He stepped into that role and also taught me the game of football. I didn’t have a clue about football, to be honest. My mom just took me out there. I was welcome in his house forever.”
Bass later became one of DePriest’s favorite coaches.
“One thing I took from him was it wasn’t just about football,” DePriest said. “At that point, they were trying to teach you to be a good young man. They couldn’t really tell you about being a grown man, because we weren’t going to hear about that. They taught respect.”
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