Solid Advice Keeps Wharton Senior Safety in Check

senior Jordan Saab credits the influential figures in his life for keeping him in the game.

Saab struggled with his confidence as a freshman and nearly quit football, but the lifetime of advice he had accumulated helped him persevere.

"Out of everybody, my dad was the most positive influence," Saab said. "He always told me, 'Don't start something you're gonna quit.' "

Saab said his father, Joseph, stepped up when he didn't believe in his football skills. "He would take me to the gym and just wouldn't let me give up," the teen said.

Saab also credits David Persaud, former Wildcat defensive coordinator, with helping him learn the position of safety.

"As a sophomore, I mostly played wide receiver," Saab said. "I loved playing receiver, but it eventually faded. I realized I wanted to be delivering the hits instead of taking them."

It was Persaud's idea to move Saab over to safety, and Saab thrived at the position. Saab asked head coach David Mitchell if he could make the move to safety. Mitchell asked if he had spoken with Persaud about it. But it being Persaud's idea, the switch happened instantly and permanently.

When assessing himself, Saab said he "had a lot to learn" but he "picks up things quickly." Saab models his game after head hunting NFL safety Bob Sanders, who was drafted by another influential voice in Saab's head.

Tony Dungy, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts head coach, came to speak at Wharton High last season, and the visit had a profound impact on the young athlete.

"He made me want to be better, inspired me to work harder and (taught me) that if you put the hard work in, it usually pays off," Saab said.

Saab even credits underclassman Vernon Hargreaves with helping him to become a better member of the defensive secondary. "He helped teach me to keep my attitude up and my head up," Saab said. "I learned to live for the next play."

Saab is a very cerebral player. "I go into my head when things start to go wrong," he said. "It's almost like people can't talk to me."

Defensive coordinator Mark Kantor notices this about Saab.

"It's weird, it's like, 'Hello?' sometimes, and you can see that he's withdrawn into his head," Kantor said.

What's going on? 

"I'm listening to all that advice in my head, and it brings me back to the game and helps me to stop getting down on myself," Saab said.

The senior safety will have to have a short memory, being the last line of defense in the Wildcat secondary. "If you miss a tackle out there, it's usually a touchdown," he said.

Luckily for Saab, he carries his mentors' words between his ears and is only a moment away from a piece of advice or nugget of encouragement.