June 8,2017
(Photo Credit: John Saraya/Cleveland Gladiators)
A little over a decade ago, Rayshaun
Kizer was a high school student in the Cleveland area. Now, the
Cleveland Gladiators’ defensive back is on the other side of the
classroom. When he’s not intercepting passes, he’s teaching classes.
Kizer is a substitute teacher for the Cleveland Municipal School District. His targeted subjects are health, math, and physical education. He’s drawn to give back to the next generation. He explains , “It’s very important to me because most of the kids in the district don't have a lot of positive male role models in their lives to kind of discipline them and guide them along the way, so I try to do that as much as I can.”
On the field, he disciplines any quarterback that decides to throw in his direction.The two time All Arena performer intercepted his 67th career pass last weekend earning AFL Defensive Player of the Week, and has three picks in his last three games. The season hasn’t gone as planned for the 2-6 Gladiators, but Kizer and his teammates aren’t discouraged. “Well first off, everyone here still believes we are one of the best teams in the league. Our record doesn't show it, but we have been hit with so many injuries this season. It just kind of set us back,” breaks down the Walsh University product. “I feel we are a very dangerous team once we all start clicking on all cylinders. But we don't mind being the underdogs. It honestly just makes us play harder and go out there and want to prove otherwise to the league that they are wrong.”
Rayshaun will not be the only Kizer in Cleveland football this year. Deshone Kizer was drafted by the Cleveland Browns out of Notre Dame. Could there be a family connection between the two gridiron stars? “You know, my family and I were talking about this. Deshone and I will have to sit down one day to see if we are related because I get asked all the time if I’m related to him and I always say I am not sure,” Rayshaun concluded. “But to have 2 Kizers in the same state both playing football is pretty great, and to top it off we both wear #7. So it is pretty cool once I actually think about it all.”
Deshone could learn a thing or two from the 32 year old Rayshaun, who takes pride in helping the new era of football players. He shared, “My biggest thing to young players is to be willing to learn and ask for help. As a young athlete we tend to be a little over confident in our athletic abilities, and don't like to ask for help from the veteran players. I’ve been around a lot of young players and the guys that ask for help, are willing to take coaching, and are willing to learn tend to stick around longer.”
He could be set to make that impact on the sidelines after his playing days are done. When asked if he wants to be a coach in the Arena Football League, Rayshaun states, “Yeah that is the target goal for me to coach in the AFL when it is all said and done. I have so much knowledge in this game. I just would love to pass it along to players coming into the league. Rayshaun Kizer has a lot of knowledge to pass on to the young people in Cleveland. Whether it’s in the classroom or on the field, one would be wise to listen to the lessons he’s teaching.
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