2019-2020 Community Report CommunityReport-2019-2020 | Page 28

PROJECT 17 CROSSES THE GOAL LINE
IN 2019
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Jaguars Foundation, Wolfson Children’s
Hospital, Brooks Rehabilitation, Duval County Public Schools,
Jacksonville University, Florida Blue and other partners an-
nounced the final schools to join Project 17. Originally launched
in July 2015, the program set a goal to place full-time, certified
athletic trainers at all 17 high schools in the Duval County Public
School (DCPS) system by 2020 and succeeded by crossing the
goal line a full year ahead of schedule.
Jaguars WR Dede Westbrook showed his support in celebrating
the completion of the initiative by attending Project 17’s news
conference and engaging with all 17 athletic trainers and select
student-athletes from Atlantic Coast High School.
“When I first started off, growing up I wasn’t really a fan of trainers
because you get that whole motto of, ‘If you go to a trainer, you’re
not tough. You play football. This is a grown man’s sport. You’re
going to take these types of hits. Don’t go and talk to your mother,’
and all these different theories,” said Westbrook.
However, his attitude changed significantly following a near-fatal
high school sports injury during a football game his senior year.
Westbrook’s athletic trainer had the wherewithal to recognize
a significant internal injury and took steps to get Westbrook the
immediate treatment he needed.
“If it wasn’t for the trainers, you all, there’s no telling how long I
would have sat out on the field and not known what was going on,”
said Westbrook. “For me, I admire you all, and I appreciate you all
for coming to our field and helping us out.”
The rest is history. Following his high school career, Westbrook
went on to win the Biletnikoff Award in 2016 at Oklahoma, given
to the nation’s most outstanding receiver and was drafted in the
fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Jaguars. In three sea-
sons with Jacksonville, he has caught 159 passes for 1,716 yards.
In speaking with the 17 athletic trainers and student-athletes at
the celebration, Westbrook emphasized the importance of building
relationships between players and trainers.
“It’s just about figuring these athletes out, learning them on a more
personal level, interacting with them every chance that you get, to
the point that they feel comfortable to come to you when things are
going on.”
Westbrook concluded the celebration by taking part in a friendly
ankle taping competition with one of the trainers, and perhaps for
the first time in his life, came in a distant second.
Jaguars WR Dede
Westbrook participates
in an ankle taping
competition alongside
Project 17 athletic
trainers.