Deaf player aims for NFL <\/p>\n
By Ryan Steele <\/p>\n
STILLWATER NEWSPRESS (STILLWATER, Okla.) <\/p>\n
STILLWATER, Okla.\u0014 Only two deaf players have reached the National
\nFootball League. <\/p>\n
Bonnie Sloan suited up for the then-St. Louis Cardinals in 1973 and
\nKenny Walker competed for the Denver Broncos in 1991-92. Oklahoma
\nState senior Martel Van Zant hopes to someday become the third. <\/p>\n
And why not? He\u0019s been beating the odds his entire life. <\/p>\n
Van Zant was born deaf after his mother contracted chicken pox while
\nshe was pregnant. That didn\u0019t stop him from emerging as one of the
\ntop football prospects in Texas during his senior season at Lee High.<\/p>\n
Van Zant, who uses sign language to communicate with coaches and
\nplayers, received offers from Texas A&M, Colorado, Southern
\nMethodist, Texas Christian and Arizona but decided to accept a
\nscholarship with the Cowboys (6-6) instead. <\/p>\n
\u001cIt\u0019s everything I thought it would be and more,\u001d Van Zant said
\nthrough his interpreter, Allie Lee. \u001cAt first, I didn\u0019t even know I
\nwas going to have a chance to go to college. Then to end up coming
\n(to OSU), it went by really quick.\u001d <\/p>\n
The 6-foot-1 cornerback played in eight games as a true freshman and
\nearned four starts in 2005. Last season, Van Zant started in every
\ncontest and recorded 67 tackles \u0014 which ranked fourth on the team \u0014
\nand led the club with six pass break-ups. <\/p>\n
\u001cIt still amazes me to this day that he can play at this level and
\nnot hear, especially in the secondary,\u001d said O-State coach Mike
\nGundy. \u001cI think he\u0019s been a great part of what we stand for here.
\nHe\u0019s really meant a lot to our program, he\u0019s a tremendous person.\u001d <\/p>\n
Senior Nathan Peterson added, \u001cYou can\u0019t say enough about him, to see
\nsomeone overcome like he has. I don\u0019t know how he doesn\u0019t get
\nfrustrated or upset, he is always so patient. He is always paying
\nattention and willing to learn. I think that\u0019s why he has had so much
\nsuccess.\u001d <\/p>\n
Van Zant doesn\u0019t let his disability keep him from being one of the
\nguys. Gundy said he even participates when the team has \u001cRock Band\u001d
\ncontests on the Xbox 360. <\/p>\n
\u001cThey were joking with him about how he\u0019s obviously going to have be
\non drums and there\u0019s going to have to be something on there because
\nhe can\u0019t hear, and they were giving him a hard time and I thought,
\n\u0018Well that\u0019s not good,\u0019\u001d the third-year boss added. <\/p>\n
\u001cBut he loves it because he makes fun of them because they can\u0019t
\nbreak on the ball. It works out good that he\u0019s able to be with the
\nfellas and be sane. They make fun of him because he can\u0019t hear, and
\nhe makes fun of them because they can\u0019t tackle.\u001d <\/p>\n
This season, Van Zant has been plagued by injuries \u0014 he missed a pair
\nof games earlier this year because of turf toe and is expected to miss
\nMonday\u0019s Insight Bowl against Indiana in Tempe, Ariz., due to a
\ndislocated tendon in his ankle. <\/p>\n
\u001cIt\u0019s really frustrating,\u001d Van Zant said. \u001cI don\u0019t know why these
\nthings happen but God is maybe giving me a chance to heal up or
\nprevent something else from happening, that\u0019s the way I look at it.\u001d <\/p>\n
The senior will likely be going through rehabilitation by the time
\nthe NFL scouting combine rolls around in February, and if a career in
\nthe pros isn\u0019t in the cards, he will earn his sports management degree
\nin the spring and will possibly consider coaching youth football. <\/p>\n
\u001cI\u0019ll be working with my hands in whatever I do,\u001d Van Zant said.
\n\u001cWe\u0019ll see what happens when the cast comes off.\u001d <\/p>\n
Lee said he will miss the daily interaction with Van Zant once he
\ngraduates. <\/p>\n
\u001cI look it as being like brothers, but Martel calls me a second dad,
\nso I guess I\u0019m a little older than what I need to be,\u001d he added with
\na laugh. \u001cInterpreting for Martel has been really special.\u001d <\/p>\n
Link:
\nhttp:\/\/www.pryordailytimes.com\/statenews\/cnhinsall_story_363200142.html<\/p>\n
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Deaf player aims for NFL By Ryan Steele STILLWATER NEWSPRESS (STILLWATER, Okla.) STILLWATER, Okla.\u0014 Only two deaf players have reached the National Football League. Bonnie Sloan suited up for the then-St. Louis Cardinals in 1973 and Kenny Walker competed for…<\/p>\n