Generational Talent

David Gabriel-Georges is a name that may not be familiar to many in the United States as I write these lines. However, that is about to change very soon, as I know the exact date when this change will begin. Baylor School, a prestigious preparatory school in Tennessee, is the next stop where David will showcase his extraordinary skills as a running back and potentially as a linebacker. David will be relocating there on July 15, 2024, and about a week later, when training camp commences, his name will begin to circulate among football experts in Tennessee, then throughout the entire southeast, and ultimately across all states. How can I be so certain? Because I know the kid; he’s family.

Nine years ago, I married his aunt, a beautiful woman whom I've been dating for 19 years. As a young child, David had so much energy that it was impossible to contain him. Years ago, my wife and I had a conversation with his parents about enrolling his older brother in football. I was the only one in the entire family at the time who played football, and my wife had witnessed the benefits of the game over the years. His brother, now a colossal defensive lineman, achieved immediate success in the sport, destroying ball carriers every time they came his way. When it was David’s turn to start playing the game, we knew he would be at least as good as his brother, so we were excited. Well, we should have been more than excited.

From the age of 5 onwards, David has been dominating his opponents, showcasing abilities that far exceed what is expected for his age. In his younger years, he played both offense and defense. On defense, he used to deliver the hardest hits I've ever seen; his mom had to intervene and remind him that he was playing with kids. Can you imagine having to tell a kid to take it easy on kids his own age? On offense, it reached a point where it was straightforward: give the ball to David and watch him score. At 9 years old, he became a household name in his league, and parents of other players wanted to take pictures with him. During the Peewee championship game, he had this sequence: a long run for a touchdown, forced fumble returned for six, interception returned for six, and another interception returned for six. I remember this game like it was yesterday—the smile on the kid’s face, the happiness of seeing his family supporting him. He used to wave at us from the field every time we attended his games. Football loves David, and David loves the game back.

My wife and I moved out of the city for school and returned during Covid. David's seventh-grade season was canceled due to the pandemic, so we had to wait a year to see him play again. Then came the first game of his eighth-grade season. I remember that day vividly; it was sunny, hot, almost unbearable. At David’s high school in Québec, his eighth-grade team played against freshmen, so they were slightly younger than their opponents. That game went back and forth—every time the opposing team had the ball, they scored. However, they had to kick the ball to David afterward, resulting in David returning four kickoffs for touchdowns. When his team’s defense stopped the opposing team's offense, David went to work, scoring three long rushing touchdowns. David’s squad ended up losing the high-scoring game because the other team stopped kicking to him and started stacking the box. Once again, some parents requested to take a picture with him, unable to believe what they witnessed that day.

When I returned to the Greater Montréal Area, my wife suggested that I start coaching, as I was a bit too much to handle in the stands. So, in 2022, I became the defensive backs coach for the freshman team at Armand-Corbeil High School, David’s high school team. During practice, it was the defense's goal to at least be in David’s vicinity, as he scored on almost every touch. Here are David's stats through 11 games that year: 2273 yards and 38 touchdowns. Remarkable. Oh yes, parents wanted to take pictures after every game. He added a lot of hardware to his collection after that season. Before the campaign, during the summer, he participated in the Football Canada Cup under-16 tournament. He returned the first kickoff he fielded for a touchdown and scored on his first rushing attempt. Québec won the tournament, and David was named special team MVP.

In 2023, David did what he does best—this time, on one leg. Now playing in the highest classification of Québec high school football, Juvenile (Juvy) Division 1, David once again had an incredible start to the season. The first kickoff to him was returned for a touchdown. His first run was a touchdown. Unfortunately, he missed the following four games due to a severe high ankle injury. When he returned, he made a tremendous impact throughout the playoffs. We utilized him on offense and defense, and during that time frame, he had the most sacks and touchdowns on the team. In the semifinals, he delivered the first hit stick plus interception I've ever witnessed. Oh yeah, he also scored a long rushing touchdown.

All these stories serve as evidence that David Gabriel-Georges will continue to do what he does best, but this time in the United States of America, where football reigns supreme. My prediction is that it won’t just be parents who want to take pictures with David, but the media and other decision-makers as well. We support David and have ensured that he knocks on the right doors to achieve his dreams. America, let me introduce you to a generational talent, David Gabriel-Georges.

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