The 23-year-old athlete spent Thursday morning at St. Patrick’s High School in Ottawa. This is also where he had begun to attract the attention of recruiters from the country of Uncle Sam.
Afterwards, he did what every Ottawan loves to do: he ate a shawarma. Another proof that Jesse Luketa remains humble and simple even though he is well aware that his life will completely change in the coming days, when he will be drafted into the NFL.
« I spoke to 16 teams [sur 32]. Some people call me every day. »
Sometimes it’s a lot. But I’m careful. I want to continue to be humble and happy.
Either way, if the footballer were to swell his head, even for a short while, he knows full well that his mother Rose would give him a tune-up. The latter immigrated to Canada in 1980 from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She raised her eight children on her own. No doubt, she commands respect.
It was really difficult for her. I saw him work very hard. She sacrificed a lot for us, and I will never forget that. She is my rock.
Young, the youngest frequented teenagers who took the wrong path, that of the street. Some have put their feet in the dishes, and not nearly. Rose was quick to remind her son to maintain good behavior.
: playing football.”,”text”:”I am very happy that my mother was there for me. She told me not to be like them. I understood. I kept doing the one thing I really wanted to do: play football.”}}”>I am very happy that my mother was there for me. She told me not to be like them. I understood. I kept doing the one thing I really wanted to do: play football.
Pride in representing Ottawa
For more than 10 years, Jesse Luketa has had his eyes set on the NFL. These three letters that make him dream. His route took him to Pennsylvania, first in a prep schoolthen to the University Penn Statewhere he recorded 151 tackles, including 85 solo, in four seasons.
Despite everything, he always remained in Ottawa. On social media, his username goes like this: @OttawasVeryOwnsignifying the solidity of one’s sense of belonging.years, I say I’m going to play in the NFL and I’m going to do this for Ottawa. It’s very important to me.”,”text”:”Since I was 9, I’ve been saying I’m going to play in the NFL and I’m going to do this for Ottawa. This is very important to me.”}}”>Since I was 9, I said I’m going to play in the NFL and I’m going to do this for Ottawa. It is very important for me.
It is also essential for him to continue to speak French well. After his first years on American soil, family members told him that the quality of his French had declined. He didn’t like it.
I told myself that I was not going to lose it. I am Canadian, I am Congolese and I am French speaking. It’s my identity.
Soon he will be an NFL player. According to forecasts, his name should be heard on Friday, during the second or third round of the annual assizes. Otherwise, the long-awaited call will be postponed for 24 hours. Quite simply.
Where will he land? He hasn’t the faintest idea. Micah Parsons plays with the Dallas Cowboys. He told me that the team that will pick me up will be one of the ones that hasn’t spoken to me yet. Since then I’ve been shuffled”,”text”:”My friend Micah Parsons plays with the Dallas Cowboys. He told me that the team that will pick me up will be one of the ones that hasn’t spoken to me yet. Since then I’ve been mixed”}}”>My friend Micah Parsons plays with the Dallas Cowboys. He told me that the team that will pick me up will be one of the ones that hasn’t spoken to me yet. Since then I’ve been mixedhe detailed, laughing.
Jesse Luketa does not hide that he has a preference for Ravens of Baltimore, his favorite club when he was young. Regardless of the franchise that bets on him, he will give himself body and soul to the leaders who will trust him, never forgetting where he comes from: Ottawa.
With information from Kim Vallière
