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Broncos DPS Futures Football Flourishing

The Denver Broncos have a long-lasting partnership with Denver Public Schools (DPS), most notably through its funding of the school-based tackle football program in DPS middle schools each spring called Futures Football.

"Thanks to the Broncos Futures Football Program started six years ago to boost the districts programs, DPS is once again among the elite ranks of Colorado Football in 2014," said John Andrew, Assistant Athletic Director of Denver Public Schools.

DPS Futures Football was created to address the declining numbers of participants in Denver Public Schools football programs.

"Not only is DPS Football relevant again but we have seen a huge gain in the number of participants and most of our 10 high schools are fielding all three levels of football once again," added Andrew.

DPS Athletics is committed to providing opportunities for participants as an extension of academics in a competitive and wholesome environment, while emphasizing the importance of life skills, team work, character, and work ethic through the bridge from athletics to academics.

DPS and the Broncos have seen dramatic improvements in the athletic and academic performance of the students participating DPS Futures Football since its inaugural year in 2008, including a number of graduates playing football at the collegiate level.

"It is our firm belief that the Futures program has made one of the biggest impacts on football in the last 30 years," said Andrew.

More than 20 DPS Futures student-athletes have gone on to play collegiate football at a number of schools including the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, University of North Colorado, CSU-Pueblo, Alabama State and more.

"The vision of [Broncos] Vice President of Community Development, Cindy Kellogg, to revitalize a district whose football programs were very close to not having enough players to sustain a program and whose competitive drive had been diminished by lopsided defeats and lack of participation, has taken DPS Football from the bottom of the State to being a viable and competitive district once again," said Andrew.

Recent DPS Futures Football Participants that have played collegiate football
StudentHigh SchoolCollege
Phillip LindsayDenver SouthUniversity of Colorado
Pete WilliamsDenver SouthSouthern Utah University
Shun JohnsonDenver SouthColorado State University
Zach LindsayDenver SouthUniversity of Northern Colorado
Matise MooreDenver SouthAlcorn State
Orlando MosleyDenver SouthAdams State
Taylor WilliamsDenver SouthAdams State
Mike WilliamsDenver SouthDodge City JC
Darian ChilesDenver SouthMesa State University
Amos HarrisDenver SouthAdams State
Michael BarfieldDenver SouthFort Lewis
Johnnie ColemanDenver SouthLincoln University PA
Kierian ChambersDenver SouthMesa State University
Gabriel UbiasDenver NorthWestern State University
Cesar EsobedoDenver NorthWestern State University
Aquian WrightDenver WestNorthern Colorado
Shahid HooverDenver EastPima Community College
Josh SpicelyDenver EastCSU Pueblo
Jabari HollandDenver EastHoward University
Dakari LawrenceMontbello WarriorsCSU Pueblo
Gerardo BarazzaMontbello WarriorsCSU Pueblo
Jante GadsonMontbello WarriorsAlabama State
Marquell JonesMontbello WarriorsWestern State

*List compiled from coach submissions, not a complete list representative of all DPS Futures Participants that have played at the collegiate level.

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