The Chev Effect: Darrin Chiaverini’s Championship Build in Tahlequah

From 2013 to 2023, the Northeastern State University RiverHawks football program in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, endured a decade of struggle. Over ten seasons, NSU posted a combined record of just 12–98, including three entirely winless campaigns. The program often suffered lopsided losses, struggling to compete with conference rivals as resources dwindled and coaching turnover became frequent. Once a powerhouse, boasting two national championships, 21 conference titles, 94 All-Americans, and a pipeline of professional talent, the RiverHawks had essentially lost their identity, becoming an afterthought in the competitive MIAA conference.

That trajectory of defeat changed dramatically with the arrival of Head Coach Darrin Chiaverini in January 2024. A former NFL wide receiver and highly successful collegiate coach, Chiaverini brought immediate credibility and energy to Tahlequah. His background alone was a statement: a 7 year professional athlete who played for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns, he understood the pinnacle of the game. Known nationally as one of the brightest offensive minds and most tireless recruiters in college football, he built his coaching reputation at the Power Four level with high-profile stops at Colorado, UCLA, and Texas Tech, where his offenses consistently ranked among the nation’s most dynamic and explosive.

At Colorado, Chiaverini’s impact was historic. He helped engineer the biggest turnaround in Pac-12 history, transforming a basement-dwelling 4–9 program into a 10–4 Pac-12 South Champion in just one season. As the offensive coordinator, he oversaw an overhaul that resulted in the offense shattering multiple school records for total yardage, total touchdowns, and first downs gained. His system was characterized by high tempo and aggressive playcalling, maximizing the talent he recruited. His presence on the offensive side of the ball produced equally explosive results at UCLA, where the Bruins ranked top five nationally in total offense, third-down conversions, and scoring efficiency, averaging well over 500 yards and nearly 40 points per game. He was adept at developing versatile skill-position players, a reputation he carried with him.

His reputation precedes him, confirmed by his colleagues who represent some of the highest offensive IQs in football:

“Coach Chev is an incredible coach and recruiter who always puts the players first,” said Kliff Kingsbury, Offensive Coordinator for the Washington Commanders. “He’s one of the brightest offensive minds in the game. When he commits to building a program, he’s all-in.”

“Darrin was an integral member of our UCLA coaching staff,” added Chip Kelly, Offensive Coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. “His championship run at Chaffey College was no surprise. Coach Chev is a really bright offensive coach, and I look forward to his continued success and the positive change he brings to every locker room.”

From No Players to 11-0: The Chaffey Miracle

Chiaverini’s decision to transition from a long-time assistant to a head coach was driven by a clear desire to take full, unfiltered ownership of a program and implement his unique system. “It goes back to my experience as a coordinator at Colorado,” Chiaverini recalled. “In 2021 there were forces that were over me, limiting me from running the systems I wanted to run. I couldn’t really have the personality I wanted to have as far as my future goes, so I said to myself, “you know what, I’ve been a Division I assistant for 10 years now, I want to go build a program from the ground up.”

After spending a year as an analyst with Chip Kelly at UCLA, a period he called a “reset” Chiaverini took the leap, accepting his first head coaching job at Chaffey College in May 2023, a junior college program in California that had gone just 2–18 over the previous two seasons.

“When I took the job and got hired, I didn’t realize they didn’t even have a team,” he shared candidly. “I got there and there were no players on campus, so I really spent the first six to seven weeks putting a staff and roster together, putting together a football team from scratch.” The challenge was immense: assembling a legitimate college football team roster from zero in less than two months. This meant not only recruiting over 50 athletes but also hiring an entire coaching and support staff simultaneously.

Relying on his deep network established during years of recruiting the Inland Empire and Southern California, Chiaverini quickly rebuilt Chaffey. “I knew the area really well. A lot of guys trusted me because of my time at Colorado and at the Division I level,” he said. This trust allowed him to quickly secure commitments from talented, motivated freshmen. “We got on a run early in the season and went 11-0, winning every single game, and it gave me the opportunity to be a head coach, and have a lot of success, leading toward this job at NSU.”

The Panthers’ turnaround was nothing short of historic. They finished 11–0, securing the American Metro Conference Championship and winning the American Division Bowl. The offense was a statistical marvel, averaging a staggering 46.0 points and 513 yards per game, defined by exceptional efficiency metrics: 58% third-down conversions and 89% red-zone success. The season proved Chiaverini could not only recruit top talent but also instill a winning culture and scheme a dominant system instantly.

Rebuilding the RiverHawks

The move to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was unexpected. “I had no idea where Northeastern State was,” he admitted, laughing as he recalled how an acquaintance reached out on social media. “From what I have heard, there were over 300 candidates for this job, and it showed me how fate and destiny works, getting hired at NSU.”

The task was immediately daunting, particularly when confronted with the strength of the MIAA conference, one of the premier Division II leagues in the country, known for its tough, established. It required a “total roster overhaul,” a process that began on day one. Chiaverini and his staff, built up of full-time staffers who have all shared experience playing or coaching at the Division I level, strategically targeted key recruiting battlegrounds, the Tulsa area, Northwest Arkansas, and the Dallas metroplex, leveraging his Power Four network to attract talent that would normally bypass a struggling Division II program.

“When I got here, this was a very, very challenging job. It still is,” Chiaverini emphasized, detailing the distinct realities of Division II football. “Our resources are limited. We’re in Division II college football. There’s no TV revenue, no mega-donors, so we’re fundraising for a lot of things. It’s been a great learning experience for me as a head coach, to be able to build a roster from scratch, deal with budgets, fundraising, donors, and everything that comes with being a head coach. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

In his first season, 2024, the RiverHawks’ offense immediately demonstrated the Chiaverini effect, averaging 28 points per game, a massive jump from 10.1 the year before. They finished 2–9, but the narrative had shifted entirely. They lost four one-score contests, proving they were no longer being blown out, but were consistently competitive. Tight end Cameron Woods became NSU’s first All-American since 2011, and freshman running back Ramon McKinney Jr. totaled over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 10 scores in a limited campaign.

From Competitor to Contender: The 2025 Breakthrough

The learning and growth paid dividends in year two. In 2025, NSU entered the season with 101 of 108 players recruited entirely by Chiaverini and his staff. This roster cohesion led to the immediate success the program and community craved. The team opened with a stunning upset at Saginaw Valley State and, most importantly, went on to reclaim the President’s Cup against Central Oklahoma for the first time since 2013, igniting campus morale and validating the new culture. At 5–3, the RiverHawks are enjoying their best start since 2011, attracting regional media attention and fueling recruiting efforts.

“At the Division 2 level, you have the ability and opportunity to make mistakes,” Chiaverini noted. “I’ve made mistakes since I got here, but I’ve been able to learn from them and get better… I’ve grown a lot over the past two seasons as a playcaller, being able to call what I wanted to call, be aggressive and take chances. We’ve won some big games this year where it’s paid off.”

Thus far this season, amid their 5-3 start, the RiverHawks’ have continued to amaze with their improvements in box scores and within their statistics. The offense has scored 38 touchdowns, averaging 35.25 points per game, and average 7.1 yards per play, the 9th most nationally, while individuals, Donnie Smith, Ramon McKinney Jr, La’Vontae Shenault and Cameron Woods make their mark on college football. Quarterback Donnie Smith is 8th nationally with a 70.05% competition percentage, running back Ramon McKinney Jr is 5th in Division II with 1,277 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns, tight end Cameron Woods makes his case for a second consecutive All-American campaign as he leads all tight ends across all of college football in yards per reception, gaining 516 yards and 7 touchdowns on just 25 receptions this season, leading the category with 20.64 yards per reception. Wide receiver La’Vontae Shenault also finds himself in the top 10 nationally with 51 receptions for 724 yards through 7 games this season.

On the defensive side of the ball, the RiverHawks secondary have lived up to their names and been some of the best ‘ball hawks’ across the country, having 15 interceptions, and scoring 3 pick sixes thus far this season, both ranking second nationally. 

The coaching staff is not just building a football team; they are building belief. They are embracing the challenges of the Division II level, where the pressure allows a head coach to truly refine his craft without the constant national scrutiny of a Power Four program.

Northeastern State’s G.R.I.T. Culture 

Chiaverini knows success requires more than talent and scheme; it requires an internal commitment.

“Culture is one of the most used words in all of sports,” he said. “I heard Coach Sarkisian say before, ‘culture is not a slogan on the wall.’ So even though it’s something we say, post on social media and do have on our walls, when we talk about G.R.I.T., it’s a mindset, and we talk about what it means to have a G.R.I.T mindset. There’s so much more to it than just a slogan.”

The acronym stands for: Guts, Relentless, Intentional, and Toughness. Chiaverini breaks it down, “Guts, you have to have guts, and our team has a lot of guts, because we competed our butts off last year and we didn’t get the results we wanted, but we fought hard and went down to the wire in a lot of the games last year. It takes guts to pick yourself up when you’re getting knocked down. The second letter is R, Relentless, and just being relentless in your efforts, getting out of bed in the morning and going to work. The guys know I’m in the weight room at 5:00 in the morning, they know their coach is going to not only talk about it, but live it, and work hard and be relentless in his effort. Have that relentless effort to show up every day when things aren’t going your way and still work and give your all. You have to be intentional, don’t sleepwalk through life, have a plan for your life each and every day that you get up. And you have to be tough. Our team is tough. Our team comes to work everyday, and even though its not perfect, they go back to work, and I am very proud of the development piece, and the progress our program has made”

“I don’t like using the words ‘buy in.’ I know they are used a lot in sports, but to me, if you buy something, you can sell it. If you are committed to something though, committed to your family, your wife, your friends, you are all in. You aren’t going to sell when things get hard. So I don’t talk about buying in, I talk about commitment, and our team has committed to the process, and what it means to live by our acronym of G.R.I.T.”

This commitment has fueled “The Chase,” a six-game sprint the team embarked on after a tight loss to a top-ranked program at home to West Florida and with three games left in the 2025 season, Northeastern State stands on the brink of history, controlling their own destiny:

  • One more win would secure the program’s first winning season since 2011, a monumental achievement for the community.
  • By winning the final two home games, the team would achieve winning records both at home and on the road.
  • Winning out would land them at 8–3, a record that would make them strong candidates for a Division II playoff berth, while surpassing their win totals from the years 2016-2023 where the program posted a 7-70 record, something unimaginable 21 months ago.

“Our team this year, the last couple of weeks, we play as hard as any team I’ve been on and I love that about them. The last three weeks we have gotten better and better and our team has been flying around on this chase.”

In just 3 years, Darrin Chiaverini has turned two struggling programs, Chaffey and NSU, into verifiable winners. He’s redefined what’s possible at Northeastern State, and in doing so, has emerged as one of the most promising and proven program builders in college football, regardless of the level. He passionately concludes: “I think what these last two opportunities, at Chaffey and at NSU, have been able to do for me is even though I went down some levels from being at Power Four schools, people are starting to see that ‘man, Chev isn’t only a great recruiter, but he’s a really good play caller and an unbelievable program builder’… My job right now is to get NSU to be a national powerhouse in Division II college football, and there is no reason why we can’t do it. The time is now for us to make that push, and we’re doing it.”

God Always Circles Back: The Diontae Spencer Story

God Always Circles Back.

“It’s bigger than a brand. It’s bigger than a way of thinking. It’s a way of life, and a way of inspiring,” NFL wide receiver and kick returner Diontae Spencer unveils platform, designed to inspire a mindset of perseverance, growth, and authenticity.

“I wanted to start something that was unique. Something that not only connects with myself and my story, but something that can inspire and motivate others.”

The groundwork of this platform began in 2019 when Spencer was playing with the Denver Broncos- “I would always say, ‘God Always Circles Back’ in meetings, practices and games when my teammates and I would be facing adversity. It was a reminder to us to stay focused and face the challenges head on.”

Connecting deeply with Spencer’s journey, the phrase “God Always Circles Back” became a personal mantra– rooted in his own experiences of overcoming adversity. He states, “my story is a testament to my faith and perseverance. Coming out of a small school and having success but continuously being overlooked. Basically it was a mentality, ‘the harder I worked, the more chances that God can circle back in my life. Solely focused on the intention behind the work, my goals and aspirations.” 

His unconventional journey to the NFL began in his hometown, New Iberia, Louisiana. He went to Westgate High School in New Iberia, where, despite his success with the Tigers, earning all-state honors in football and all-district in football, baseball and basketball, he was overlooked when it came to getting offers to play football collegiately. Spencer ended up staying close to home, and played for McNeese State University, a FCS, D1AA school just over an hour and a half from home. 

At McNeese State, he saw success all over the football field, eventually becoming a Cowboys Hall of Famer, Spencer displayed speed as a dynamic returner, while also showcasing his versatile skill set on offense. He finished his tenure with the Cowboys gaining 3,315 all-purpose yards, in addition to 20 touchdowns accounted for. He scored 5 touchdowns in one game against Stephen F. Austin his senior year, scoring 3 returns and 2 receiving, garnering 4 College Football Performance Awards in the same week, the only player in history to do so. He capped off his career at McNeese State by running a 4.29 40 yard dash at his pro day, and played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, evidently opening the eyes of NFL scouts. 

Despite going un-drafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Spencer earned himself an invite to the Chicago Bears rookie minicamp. 

The Bears didn’t extend their invite to Diontae Spencer for their OTAs and training camp, which led him to being signed by the, at the time, St. Louis Rams where he spent time during the off-season around marquee playmakers Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and Kenny Britt prior to being released and becoming a free agent once again. 

Although he hadn’t made an NFL roster his first year out of college, Spencer stayed focused and determined toward his goal of playing in the NFL. “These opportunities were examples of where my hard work could take me,” he said, “I got a glimpse of it, and I think that just propelled me to keep going and keep pushing.” 

His next opportunity came in Canada with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts. 

It was different, and it was a grind.

Being placed on the Argonauts practice squad to begin the 2015 CFL season after training camp and pre-season, Spencer knew he had to outwork others in the same position as himself, and would not let any opportunity slip out of his reach. “I was in the basement. On the practice squad in the CFL, but I just feel like God was there, he kept his hand on me, and was watching over me, allowing me to be successful and let me see that the work that I’m putting in will be on display.”

That work was put on display late into the 2015 season, after receivers, Chad Owens and Andre Durie were sidelined by injuries, it was time for Spencer to shine- and he did. 

Among the 10 games he played in 2015, he started 7 and instantly made an impact on the Argonauts offensive and special teams attacks, catching 36 passes for 502 yards and 3 scores, gaining a combined 1,146 all-purpose yards as the team’s primary kick returner in the second half of the season.

Despite battling injuries in a season where he thought would have been his “breakout year, and maybe my chance back in the league (NFL),” in the 2016 season, with a year already under his belt in the CFL, he stepped into a larger role as a receiver, catching 71 passes for 706 yards and 3 touchdowns, in addition to 37 yards on the ground and 341 in the return game, combining for another 1,000 yard season all-purpose in just 12 games. 

Having then suited up in 22 regular season games, hauling in 107 passes for 1,208 yards and 6 touchdowns as a receiver in the CFL, it was clear that Diontae Spencer could play professionally. Not only as a wide receiver, but as a dynamic returner and a versatile offensive weapon as well. He felt like it was just a matter of time before God circled back and led him back into the NFL, and he did. 

He spent another two seasons in the CFL with the Ottawa Redblacks where he made a lasting impact on the game north of the border, not only becoming one of the game’s premier wide receivers and returners, not just of his time, but in the league’s history- totalling for 1,920 receiving yards, 3,200 return yards and 15 touchdowns in 35 games with the Redblacks, including a 2017 game against the Hamilton Tiger Cats where he had a combined 496 all-purpose yards, breaking a pro football record, previously set by Albert Johnson who had 474 in 2000. 

This impact that Spencer had on the CFL gave him an opportunity to prove himself yet again in the NFL. Following a series of workouts with NFL teams, he signed on with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he’d spend training camp and the 2019 NFL pre-season, where he’d get the chance to show his dynamic playmaking abilities on the biggest stage. In the 2019 pre-season, he caught 4 passes for 39 yards, ran the ball twice for 48 yards, returned 7 punt returns for 103 yards and one kick-off return for 35 yards, and despite not making the Pittsburgh Steelers final roster, he implemented his name into the NFL, and got signed to the Denver Broncos active roster for the 2019 NFL season. 

Not only did he make it to the NFL, and his dream became a reality, but God circled back. 

He was back into similar rooms and buildings which he had been in as a rookie in 2014 with the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams- but this time with a greater purpose. 

Becoming the Denver Broncos’ primary return man for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 NFL seasons, Diontae Spencer not only proved himself right, showing that he could play at the biggest stage, but also put on display what is possible when you keep God close, and keep God in your life. 

Spencer went on to have 1,754 all-purpose yards over the three seasons, playing in 42 games with the Broncos, returning 68 punts, 47 kick-offs, and getting 16 offensive touches, scoring one 83 yard punt return touchdown in 2020 during his tenure with the Broncos. He later found himself with the New York Jets in 2022 and 2023, continuing to be reminded of the blessings, and opportunities in front of him, not only on the field, but off of it as well. 

“I remember the times that I was in the basement. Like up in Toronto, sleeping on an air mattress, on a CFL practice squad. So I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in football.” Spencer expressed, “I haven’t always been the biggest, the fastest, the strongest. I didn’t have a lot of offers. I didn’t go to a big school, and I didn’t get drafted, but I faced everything in my life head on, I’ve taken advantage of every opportunity, I’ve kept God in my life, and he circled back.”

Aligning his story with the platform “God Always Circles Back” Diontae Spencer says, “it’s a way of life.” Explaining, “It’s something that so many people can relate to. Everyone goes through things, and have things their working towards, and I know that God Always Circles Back is something that people will be able to look toward, and not only be inspired, but reminded as well that, by keeping God in your life, he can, and he will circle back– at any time, but you have to be willing to be patient, continue to work and seek him, and will circle back when the timing is right.”

Outside of football, Spencer has trusted and believed in God’s plans for him just like he has on the football field. Facing adversity off of the field, he always knew and believed that God would circle back and provide him with a greater meaning and purpose. 

“I lost my dad in my freshman year of college– so now, being able to have a son myself, it’s felt like an example in my life where God has circled back.” Spencer comments, “he put me in a position where I’m able to lead and have somebody I can teach and guide just like my dad did for myself.”

As he teaches his son, and guides him to keep God close to himself- Diontae Spencer hopes that through his platform, God Always Circles Back, he can guide those around the world to do the same. “I see God Always Circles Back becoming one of the pivotable cornerstones, not only for athletes like myself, but for artists, creators, and people in general. It’s something I can’t put a ceiling on. It’s much bigger than a brand.” He reveals, “I want to start hearing from other athletes, and people around the world about their stories, and including ambassadors into the platform and the brand who have stories and moments in their lives and careers where God has circled back, and let the brand and the platform grow organically.”

“I’m Super Excited!” KD Hill looks forward to his big KD’s Fun Day in Eufaula & Oxford

Ole Miss football star turned motivational speaker KD Hill has two major events coming up in his hometown of Eufaula, Alabama as well as Oxford Mississippi. Both events will be KD’s Fun Days presented by The KD Hill Foundation. On June 15th at 446 Sanford Avenue in Eufaula, Alabama and July 13th at 100 McLaurin Drive in Oxford Mississippi between 12 and 4 pm there will be all sorts of fun activities for all ages, from relay races and obstacle courses to face paint, food, snow cones, great tunes from the DJ, and more.

When it comes to the upcoming events, KD says, “I’m more excited than a fat kid in a candy store” he explained, “these dates have been circled on my calendar since they were set. I’m super excited. I love giving back to the community and I am grateful to be able to do so. Especially to the youth, having been in their shoes before, I know what it feels like to be in their position and to have events like these, and people around to show love and support.”

These KD’s Fun Day events, as well as other events that Hill has done previously, and looks to do moving forward, including his Thanksgiving Dinners and Toy Giveaways are hard to do all on his own. He, and his foundation are seeking help from those willing and able to help support these events, and other acts of kindness that Hill hopes to do. Those interested are able to help support The KD Hill Foundation via PayPal donations to Info@TheKDHill.com.

During his football career at Ole Miss, KD had done similar events to those he is holding with his foundation, and earned himself a spot on the SEC Community Service Team in 2022 as a senior.

The Launch of The KD Hill Foundation

KD Hill, a former Ole Miss Rebels football star turned motivational speaker looks towards making an impact off of the football field through his very own foundation: The KD Hill Foundation.

Officially launched as a 501c3 organization, The KD Hill Foundation aims to help and support communities across the United States, and eventually the world. Hill wants to support and be hands on with the youth, single mothers, as well as the homeless. He hopes to hold events for the communities that hold a special place in his heart in the near future, in both Mississippi and Alabama.

To execute the events to the best of his abilities, and to create the impact he dreams of, Hill is asking for help from those around him. KD and his foundation can be contacted via email, and donations can be sent through PayPal to Info@TheKDHill.com.

The 2022 Chucky Mullins award winner, and now motivational speaker had the opportunity to speak in front of hundreds of people at Ole Miss on Saturday for FCA’s annual Breakfast with Champions where he told the audience his story, and motivated them through a speech, guiding them through his definition of a champion.

This speaking engagement is just one of many he has had the opportunity of being a part of, and there will only be more as he continues to make his impact on the world and people around him.

Heart of a Lion: The KD Hill Story

On July 21st 2023, the life of KD (Ka’Darian) Hill changed forever.

Hill was in the middle of his first professional football off-season. Since he was in grade 5, he dreamed of playing in the NFL, and was very close to seeing that dream become a reality following a successful career with the Ole Miss Rebels. At Ole Miss, Hill had played in 47 games between 2018 and 2022, making a total 58 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 2 pass deflections from his defensive tackle position. His success from High School, as a 3-star recruit from Eufaula, Alabama translated well into the SEC, and he was excited to translate his collegiate success to the NFL next. He had been drafted and signed by the XFL’s Orlando Guardians and was training for an NFL roster spot with mini camp invites from both the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets when his entire life had changed. He experienced, not only the biggest collision of his life, but also the biggest battle he had to fight.

KD had been in a serious car accident on July 21st 2023 that many wouldn’t have survived.

In an interview with JZ Media’s Jordan Zlomislic, Hill reflected on the accident, and how it changed the rest of his life.

“On July 21st, the accident happened at 4:40 AM, I remember it like it was yesterday,” he said, “the state trooper arrived on the scene and the first thing I said was ‘hold my hand and let’s pray’. Not once did I cry. I stayed calm and I laid my head on the steering wheel. Not once did I think of my future at that time but in that moment I knew that my career was over because as I felt my leg and looked down I knew what was going on.” Despite this moment, realizing what has happened, being so hard, Hill told Zlomislic, “not once did I question God or curse God because I knew if I was still here he wasn’t done with me yet, he still had purpose for my life.”

Hill was at the scene of the accident for over 5 hours as first responders worked to get parts of his truck off and away from him. At the scene he received two blood transfusions and stayed wide awake for the entirety of the 5 hours spent in and around his truck. He explained, “I’ve done the impossible… 5 hours trapped in the truck, leg smashed, 2 blood transfusions on the scene, most people go in the shock, most people die on the scene.” Hill recalled, “I watched the surgeon drive in, lean over me and say ‘are you ready to get out of this truck’ I said ‘lets do it’ thats all I said, the moment they said amputate my leg, I said ‘lets do it’.”

Once he had gotten the help he needed at the scene, he was air lifted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital for surgery, followed by 6 others over the span of just two weeks.

He lost his right leg in the result of the accident, and while the loss of a limb was life changing for Hill, he is adamant that the change was for the better, not the worse. Talking about the changes he’s faced since the accident, he said he’s handled it much differently than most would, “they wouldn’t be the same person they was.” he said, “You probably wouldn’t be able to notice them, and thats in a bad way because they don’t want to be seen or anything, they look completely different, well with my side of the story, I look better than ever, I feel good, I’m stronger mentally, physically, spiritually, everything.”

Hill’s positivity and strength through the accident and his recovery comes from his faith, and the relationship he has with God. “Because of my faith in the good lord and I knew his plans were better than my plans, I knew that if I was still here, something amazing was going to come out of this, and I’m talking about something big, like eyes haven’t seen, ears haven’t heard.”

That ‘something amazing’ for KD Hill ended up being his ability to tell his story, and give back to the community.

Hill has become a motivational speaker, inspiring those around the world through his story, and reminding people of all ages how powerful God can be if you truly believe and trust his plans for you.

This has been something he envisioned himself doing for a long time, but originally thought it would be following a football career in the NFL. Once he had gotten into his car accident though, he began to prepare himself for his next chapter. “I would sit in my bed and write speeches in bed each and every day, I spoke it into existence, manifested it and also worked towards it.”

As a motivational speaker, Hill has the ability to give back to the community, and inspire those around him, of all ages and backgrounds.

He has spoken in front of many audiences thus and will only continue to inspire and introduce himself to many more as he continues his journey as a motivational speaker. With events coming up across Mississippi and Alabama over the next two months, visiting New Brockton, Alabama, Eufaula, Alabama, New Albany, Mississippi, Olive Branch, Mississippi, Pontotoc, Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi, Cornith, Mississippi, Decatur, Mississippi and Birmingham, Alabama, Hill wants to get a few points across to his audience. In his one on one interview with Zlomislic of JZ Media he quoted, “If you just stay focused on where your feet are at, and take one day at a time you will be where you want to be in life. Don’t worry about tomorrow will have its own worries, don’t worry about next week, worry about today and do what you can do today to better yourself and your community.”

With nothing but love, care, appreciation and respect for those around him, Hill not only inspires through his story, but through his actions. To be able to walk today with a prosthetic leg, he is proving many wrong, and displays a heart of a lion through the work he does to inspire and support the communities around him and around the world.

Continuing his journey as a motivational speaker, and impacting the world through his story, Hill will be launching The Heart Of A Lion: KD Hill Foundation very soon to make a splash and implement himself into communities around the world from a far and hands on.

“There’s something special building in Tahlequah” Darrin Chiaverini is beyond excited about opportunity with NSU RiverHawks

Over the past 10 football seasons, Northeastern State University, who historically has had a rich football tradition has gone a combined 12-93, coming off of a 1-10 season which left them in last place in their conference a year ago. These one-sided seasons by the RiverHawks though are not here to stay in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The university has gone in a new direction this off-season, not only becoming an independent program for the 2024 season, but also rebuilding the team, starting with new head coach Darrin Chiaverini. 

Chiaverini comes to Tahlequah with a lot to offer both on and off of the football field for the NSU football program. 

The California native has evidently been a football star since high school, being named a USA Today honorable mention All-American at Corona High School where he has since been inducted into the school’s hall of fame. Coming off of his incredible success in high school, he earned the opportunity to play football at the collegiate level with the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. 

At U of C, Chiaverini caught a combined 97 passes over 4 seasons for 1,199 yards and six scores. He pieced together a senior season that was worthy of All-Big 12 honors and put him in a position to be drafted in the 5th round by the Cleveland Browns in the 1999 NFL Draft. 

After being drafted by the Cleveland Browns, Darrin Chiaverini etched his name into the Browns’ record books as he still holds a record for most catches in a single game by a Browns rookie with 10. He finished his rookie season with 44 combined receptions, adding to his career total of 62 for 662 yards and 7 touchdowns. Chiaverini played 7 years of professional football between the Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Austin Wranglers prior to joining the sidelines as a coach. 

While being able to relate to the NFL dream that many student athletes have coming into NSU, having lived them himself, Chiaverini has also coached a number of players towards the NFL level and has done so successfully. 

It was in 2008 when Chiaverini first found a home on the sideline, serving as the offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Mount San Antonio College. The gig was followed by a stint at UCLA, coaching alongside his former coach at Colorado, Rick Neuheisel where he got his feet wet at the FBS level as a special teams assistant, setting himself up to be a special teams coordinator at Riverside City College between 2010 and 2014. He then bounced back to the FBS level, at the FBS level he coached at Texas Tech, Colorado and UCLA prior to taking a head coaching job last season at Chaffey College in California, completely turning around the team, taking a 2-8 football program and turning them into 11-0 conference champions within just one year. 

The rebuild at Chaffey last season is just one of the rebuilds he has been a part of thus far. He has also helped turn things around at Riverside City College during his time there (going 40-5 in 4 seasons) as well as Colorado in 2016, helping them go from 4-9 to 10-3. With NSU coming off of over a decade of losing seasons themselves, Chiaverini will look to rebuild and bring RiverHawks football back in the win column as well. 

Talking about the opportunity to coach and rebuild Northeastern State University’s football program, he had said in an interview, “(Before taking the job) I looked at Northeastern State. I looked at the background of the great history and tradition, having two National Championships, 21 conference championships, 94 All-Americans, that’s a big deal. That’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this program by previous coaches, players and community members and I saw an opportunity to help bring back that pride and tradition to Northeastern State.”

Since being hired at the end of December by the RiverHawks, Chiaverini has been working non stop on building a championship caliber roster in Tahlequah. He, and the new staff at NSU has signed 41 new players to date and hope to continue to bring in talent as the 2024 football season approaches. 

This will be his first season in Tahlequah, Oklahoma with the Northeastern State University RiverHawks, and he looks to make an impact right away, starting with spring ball which will kickoff on March 26th, and ending with a spring game on April 27th. He encourages fans and alumni to come out to practices and the spring game to see and be a part of what he is building at Doc Wadley Stadium in Tahlequah this year. He explained that he’s “excited to get out there and coach.” and, “I’m excited to show fans and alumni that something special is building in Tahlequah.”

As stated, spring football for NSU will run at the end of March, through April, making a statement on April 27th with the first spring game under head coach Darrin Chiaverini. Coach Chiaverini is beyond excited himself to bring his talents, his knowledge and success within the game of football to the football program at Northeastern State, and the fans, the alumni and community in Tahlequah should be equally excited for what is to come for the future of the program.

Dreams to Reality; a story behind the rise of class of 2025 athlete Justin Rowe of Ottawa

Over recent years, there has been a large growth of talent in the city of Ottawa on the football field. In 2024 there are 5 Ottawa-raised athletes on teams across the NFL: Jesse Luketa, Luiji Vilain, Neville Gallimore, Eli Ankou and Jonathan Sutherland alongside several at the collegiate level. It’s been proven though, time after time, that regardless of how many athletes have come out in previous years, we are yet to reach the peak of Ottawa talent. A prime example of that is Ottawa’s Justin Rowe.

Justin Rowe began playing football with the Nepean Eagles in NCAFA, the National Capital Amateur Football Association in Ottawa where he put together film at multiple positions, eventually winning a championship at quarterback for the Eagles in 2021.

For Rowe, it was that year, 2021, that opened his eyes to his abilities on and off of the field through the game of football. He began training more seriously and became more motivated when it came to football and becoming a better all-around athlete. Both Coach Jean Guillaume (Maroons Academy) and Iseah Montgiraud (Limitless Era) helped him a lot through his transition on and off the field. He said in an interview with JZ Media’s Jordan Zlomislic, “meeting Coach Jean opened my eyes, and my family’s eyes as well to the future that is possible with football and Iseah has really gotten me better, and is preparing me for the next steps of my football career.”

His next step of his football career following the Nepean Eagles came at Asheville School in Asheville, North Carolina.

The opportunity came to Justin Rowe through a relationship that Jean Guillaume has with Asheville coach Shawn Bryson, a former NFL running back himself. When the opportunity came, for Rowe, it was “time to lock in,” it was an opportunity he had been working towards and waiting for since he met both Guillaume and Montgiraud in Ottawa, and now two years removed from him announcing his commitment to Asheville School, there is no doubt that he was ready for the opportunity.

In his first year across the border, despite fighting through injuries throughout the season, he came away with a NCISAA Division 2 state championship with Asheville School.

The championship, as well as his ability to play both sides of the ball in year one gathered some buzz around his name. On January 24th of 2023, two months after the state championship, Rowe received his first division one offer from the University of Missouri in the SEC. There is a funny story behind his first offer though. “I didn’t know the coach actually offered me.” Rowe explains, “there was a coach that came to the school and spoke with me in my coach’s office, and you know, he said something like, ‘I like how you play, and would love to give you the opportunity to come play for us on a scholarship’. I didn’t think anything of it. I thought it was just a routine visit, maybe something he said to everyone else too. When I had gone to lunch though, all of my teammates were congratulating me on getting an offer. It definitely took a while to sink in, and was a surreal moment.”

Over the next two or three months following his first offer, it felt like they just kept piling on. He ended up going to camps across the country in the spring and summer, carrying 13 total offers including those of the likes of Michigan, Boston College, Duke, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, UNC and Wake Forest.

He took part in the Wayne State University National Showcase, and Mercer Mega Camp, as well as SEC camps at Mississippi State, Tennessee, Auburn and Alabama where not only did he improve and develop as a football player, but attracted more attention from coaches around the NCAA. He went into the 2023 season with 5 more offers, with 18 total.

His second year at Asheville resembled the off-season he had. Successful.

Over 10 games with Asheville he dominated in all three phases of the game. Rowe caught 28 passes at receiver for 483 yards and 5 touchdowns, returned 22 kicks for 560 yards, and made 35 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions and 2 pick sixes as a junior. On top of that, he helped lead Asheville to yet another NCISAA Division 2 state championship, going 2 for 2 across the Canada, US border.

Speaking on his success in 2023 the only word that Rowe believes fits his experience is “unreal”. The highly touted class of 2025 athlete told Zlomislic, “it’s amazing to see not only how far I have come but my family as well. How we’ve immersed ourselves into the sport.” He touched on some of his favourite experiences thus far, “I’ve been able to visit a multitude of schools for games, visits and camps. Obviously going to Alabama with Floyd (Boucard), Steve (Mboumoua), and Keeyshawn (Schneider) was amazing. Just getting to meet Nick Saban, I also met Jon Harbaugh at a camp in the summer. So just meeting the people and going to places you see on TV, it’s really been unreal to live it in my own life.”

While 2023 may have seemed to be a big year for Rowe, he wasn’t afraid to mention that 2024 “will be a big year” as well. He explains that he has “practical goals” set for himself, mentioning those of “getting bigger, stronger faster, maintaining a high GPA in the class room. Keeping good grades is something I have kept close to me and will continue to do so in 2024 and moving forward.” On the field with Asheville School, Justin Rowe also mentions, “I want a 3 peat. For all three years at Asheville, I want a 3 peat.”

So far along Rowe’s journey, nearly everything he has ever wanted, he has manifested. To this date, he holds 20 offers from NCAA division one schools, 13 of which from power 5 schools. So, having all eyes on a third state championship seems reasonable for Justin Rowe as he closes out his high school football career this upcoming fall, and looks to find a home at the post-secondary level.

“It was the opportunity I was waiting for all my life” Steve Mboumoua conquers the impossible; signs with the University of Alabama

On Wednesday, December 20th at CEGEP Notre Dame de Foy outside of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, Steve Mboumoua made a life changing announcement, committing, and signing to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football program. While Mboumoua states, “this has been all a part of my plans”, it is without question that this announcement took the province of Quebec, as well as the entire country of Canada by storm. Mboumoua marks just the third Canadian to step foot on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, being among both John Metchie III and Isaiah Hastings of the general Toronto area, but he also becomes the first from Quebec. In an interview with JZ Media’s Jordan Zlomislic, Mboumoua touched on the history he making with his announcement. He highlighted that “it adds pressure that I work hard and do good for those following in my footsteps and watching around the country (of Canada).“

Steve Mboumoua’s history, becoming the first football player from Quebec to suit up in crimson and white, wasn’t made overnight. It took years of preparation on and off of the football field for Mboumoua, beginning all the way in Cameroon where he had been born and raised until the age of 12 years old when he moved to Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. It was in Lac-Mégantic where he was later introduced to the game of football following a soccer career in Cameroon where earned himself the nickname “Le Chacal” meaning “The Jackal” in English, which he still often called by to this day.

He was introduced to the game of football by his gym teacher and high school football coach Yannick Thibault at Montignac high school in Lac-Mégantic. At Montignac, Mboumoua displayed his raw talents and skills within the game, playing a versatile role on both sides of the football, leading to his next stop at CEGEP Notre Dame de Foy.

In Quebec, students finish high school in grade 11, and have the option to enrol into what they call “CEGEP”, a pre-university program. There are several CEGEP’s across the province of Quebec, offering a variety of academic programs as well as post-secondary athletic opportunities. Once Steve had finished high school, he chose to go to CEGEP at Notre Dame de Foy. At CEGEP Notre Dame de Foy, or CNDF, he played for head coach Marc-André Dion, where he had seen major growth on the football field in all aspects. He called his time there “a blessing.” “I went through a big transition with football there” he said, “I learned a lot and improved into a better football player during my time at CNDF.”

During his time at CNDF, not only did Mboumoua improve into a better football player and have success at the CEGEP level, totalling 52 tackles, and nine sacks in 2022, but he also prepared himself for the next step of his football career; the collegiate level.

“Some of my friends and I had created a plan, and my plan included getting an offer from Alabama,” Mboumoua described that his dream was to play football at the NCAA Division 1 level. That dream for Mboumoua, coming from Quebec, Canada, didn’t always seem possible. Impossible or not though, he worked his tail off, preparing himself so that, simply, if the time came, he would be ready for it.

It didn’t take long for that to come to fruition.

Jean Guillaume, a football coach and mentor of many young athletes in both Ontario and Quebec, Canada teamed up with Marc-André Dion and the staff at CNDF to turn Steve Mboumoua’s dreams a reality. This included a road trip in June of 2023 which evidently changed Mboumoua’s life.

Mboumoua, his coaches, his teammate Thomas Gosselin and class of 2025 athlete Justin Rowe of Ottawa had taken part in camps and visits all across the SEC over one week, seeing the campuses and camping at the University of Tennessee, Mississippi State University, Auburn University, and of course the University of Alabama. This trip had followed one that he and some other athletes took a few weeks previous at Wayne State in Detroit, Michigan for a mega camp. Following the mega camp, and heading into the SEC road trip Mboumoua had 8 collegiate offers from those of the likes of Boston College, Penn State, Arizona State, Minnesota, Memphis, USF, East Carolina, and Liberty.

While these 8 offers were much more than he had ever expected going into his football career, his job wasn’t finished. This road trip gave him that opportunity though to finish the job and complete his plan, getting the offer from Nick Saban and the University of Alabama.

“It was the opportunity I was waiting for all my life,” Mboumoua explained, “we worked hard to prepare for when the time would come, so when the time came, and we went to the Universities and met coaches I just did what I had to do.”

For Mboumoua, some of these camps were eye-openers. It was among some the first times he competed across the border, but it’s safe to say it didn’t take long for him to get adjusted. After earning himself an offer from Mississippi State University at their camp, he was granted the opportunity he’d been working towards, showcasing his talents in front of Nick Saban.

In front of Nick Saban and the Alabama coaching staff at Nick Saban’s Football Camp in Tuscaloosa, Steve Mboumoua dominated. He didn’t lose a single rep, and even put multiple offensive linemen on their backs, plowing through them. Saban asked to meet him in his office after the camp, and after getting to know Steve, just a couple of days later he had his offer from the University of Alabama, turning his dream into a reality, and completing his plan.

After receiving the offer from the Crimson Tide, he was bombarded with offers from rival SEC schools such as Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Auburn and Missouri. On his signing day he had 17 total offers, only taking one, from the University of Alabama.

Signing to the Crimson Tide, completing his plan that he had drawn up, was a “rewarding experience” Mboumoua said. “When I made my plan, I followed it. I worked out, morning and night. I never stopped believing. When there were times where it was hard to believe, I just kept working and kept my goal in mind.”

Now that Mboumoua has achieved his dream and goal of getting an offer, and signing to the University of Alabama, his focus has shifted.

He now has all eyes on proving himself both in the class room and on the football field at the University of Alabama, and he hints at the idea of using the platform he has, with the Crimson Tide to build his own brand around his name, image and likeness behind the nickname “Le Chacal”.

“Can’t knock me down.” A CorMontae Hamilton story

There is a quote which University of Memphis defensive lineman CorMontae Hamilton lives by. That quote reads: “To knock me down means that I’m defeated, and I won’t be defeated.”

This is a quote that Hamilton only discovered recently but it seems to tell his story in many ways. It symbolizes the journey he has gone on to get to where he is today, and the list of challenges he’s overcome. It’s a quote that brings him back to Decatur, Illinois, where he was born and raised prior to moving to Memphis, Tennessee at 5 years old with his family.

When he and his family moved to Memphis, CorMontae, who is now known nation-wide for his abilities on the football field, didn’t know anything about the sport. “I remember one day my dad and I were driving through Memphis. I was probably around 6 or 7 years old, and we had seen a football team practicing. Of course he knew what it was, but I didn’t know what they were doing, but I told my dad ‘I want to do that’ so we ended up going there and eventually signed up to play football.”

Hamilton grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan. He idolized both Demarcus Ware and Dez Bryant. As a kid, he remembers throwing up the X after big plays, and practicing Demarcus Ware’s pass-rush moves, but he also remembers watching a lot of SEC football, being raised into a Florida Gators fan by his father. He said that the Florida Gators, and SEC football was all he really knew when it came to college football. It was only in high school, around 11th grade when he realized how big college football really is, as well as the opportunities that can come with football around the country. It was when he began to dominate at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, when he began to get offers across the country, including those from Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Alabama in the SEC, but it was The Ohio State University where he decided to sign to originally. He may not have known a lot about the Buckeyes growing up, but he knew a lot about Urban Meyer and he knew that going to OSU in Columbus, Ohio was the best fit for him at the time.

(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Over two seasons spent in Columbus, CorMontae Hamilton made an appearance in a total 13 games, had 6 tackles to his name, 3 of which being tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. His biggest highlight on the field with the Buckeyes came in the 2020 Big 10 Championship game where he perfectly read a screen pass and threw Northwestern Tight End John Raine to the ground for a big tackle for loss. It was moments like that on the field, as well as many lessons learnt off of the field that makes it obvious of how Ohio State benefited Cormontae Hamilton the football player and the man. “I feel like anything that had to do with Ohio State made me better.” he told JZ Media’s Jordan Zlomislic, “communication wise, I wasn’t necessarily bad or anything, but I am from Memphis, so going up there, not everyone could understand the slang and some stuff I was trying to say at times but being at Ohio State helped me get better with my communication, and a lot of other things too. Their support at Ohio State is amazing, so really everything that the football team had to offer the athletes helped me out as a person and helped shape me into who I am now.”

Now, Hamilton can be found back home, playing for the University of Memphis Tigers.

After two seasons with the Buckeyes in the Big 10, he decided to enter the transfer portal and take up the opportunity to return home and play for the Memphis Tigers in front of his family and friends.

In his first year back in Memphis, CorMontae Hamilton made his presence felt as a Memphis Tiger. He played in all 12 regular season games, and the First Responders Bowl, where he combined for a total 42 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 pass deflections and one forced fumble. While being a key contributor to Matt Barnes’ defence, Hamilton has also made a great impact as a leader in the locker room with the Tigers, and a key piece to the community as well. Being able to have that kind of impact on a hometown team, Hamilton described it as, “a special moment” when he first realized the opportunity he had with Memphis. Another special moment for Hamilton was his first game in the Liberty Bowl last season. He said, “I didn’t know what the seating arrangements were for family before the game, so I was looking all over for my family during warmups and the first quarter, and I remember I just happened to look at a good angle, and I had seen my dad, my mom and my sisters. That put a smile on my face. And on the inside, something just felt different. It felt like home. And I locked right in on the game after that.” Being able to have family at the games in Memphis, “means a lot” to Hamilton, and also keeps Hamilton grounded as he approaches the next steps of his football career, like the quote: “to knock me down means I am defeated, and I will not be defeated” also keeps him grounded and motivated.

Photo by Zach Wall

One goal that Hamilton has for himself is “to continue to be the best version of myself.” he said, “I want to be a great football player, and do everything that I can to help my team win on and off of the field. I want to give back to the community. I’ve been here (Memphis) pretty well all of my life, and it would mean a lot to have an impact and be able to give back to the community I was raised in. Overall, in football, and outside of football I just want to place myself in situations that can lead me to being a better individual and help me improve in every area.”

Going back to the quote, “to knock me down means I am defeated and I will not be defeated.” as well as the line, “can’t knock me down.” It was something he had wrote down in his journal over a year ago. It was inspired by some quotes and brands he had seen on social media, and he felt as if what he wrote down also reflected on his story, and certain moments of his life that people around the world would also be able to relate to. “Something hit me and I said, ‘can’t knock me down.’ And when I said that I just kept repeating it, and I thought about my life, and there were moments in my life, when things happen, when issues or adversity arises, I never let it knock me down, so when I wrote down ‘can’t knock me down’ it hit home for me and I knew it would be something that others would relate to as well, so it’s something I want to build on moving forward with my career on and off of the field.”

Day In The Life with Melique Straker

Melique Straker, linebacker at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Brampton, Ontario native said in an interview with JZ Media’s Jordan Zlomislic, “there are certain people that, when they walk into a room, they adapt to the room, and there are others that force the room to adapt to them.”