SAN ANGELO – The two people Joseph “JoJo” Schumpert believed would live forever died in the first two months of this year.

“I didn't understand any of it. I had just lost my grandma and then my dad died, too,” Schumpert said. “My dad and my grandma were the two people that I never imagined would not be here anymore. I really thought they would be here forever.”

A text message from his aunt and a phone call from his mother in February gave Schumpert the tragic information about his father. Floyd Schumpert, 55, had suffered a heart attack behind the wheel of his vehicle and veered off the road, flipping twice, near the Texas-Louisiana border. The father who made JoJo beam and believe in himself by comparing him to Emmitt Smith was suddenly taken away. Six hours away from his hometown of Gilmer and devastated, JoJo made a somber drive from San Angelo back to East Texas to plan his father's funeral with his brothers, Jarred, Jamal and Floyd, Jr. All this came less than a month after attending the funeral of his grandmother, Josie Whitfield, who was one of JoJo's biggest fans and best friends. Even as a physical and mentally tough linebacker for the Angelo State football team, the emotion from the loss of two of his unconditional supporters is still too heartbreaking to comprehend.

“My dad used to always make me feel real good about myself. He always told me that I could run just like Emmitt Smith,” JoJo said. “He loved the Dallas Cowboys, so it was a big deal to me that he said I played like Emmitt. My grandma had the kindest heart in the world and would do anything for me. They both meant everything to me.”

A senior leader for the Rams' defense this season with 43 tackles and a 25-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Chadron State, Schumpert's coaches and teammates describe him as the type of person any program would be privileged to have.

“If we had a team full of JoJo's, we would never lose a game,” ASU defensive coordinator Mike Walton said. “I would be proud to have him as a son and feel extremely fortunate to be one of his coaches. There are not enough ways for me to express how much I enjoy being around him.”

Angelo State defensive back Alvin Johnson added, “He pushes all of us to work hard and he makes us laugh. You have to have guys like JoJo around you to become a better person.”

A graduate of Jefferson High in Marion County, Schumpert was a two-time all-state and three-time all-district selection for the Bulldogs' football team. He also played center on the JHS basketball team and in the outfield during baseball season before focusing on football during two junior college seasons at Kilgore College. After recording 109 tackles for the Rangers and earning his associate's degree, Schumpert weighed his options from multiple universities before making the decision to transfer to Angelo State last year.

At ASU, Schumpert made an immediate impact as a junior on the field with 29 tackles and created bonds within the locker room which helped him navigate through the most difficult period of his life.

“Just to know that you have a hundred or so guys and great coaches who care about you is incredible when you're going through something like I went through,” said Schumpert, who also has a strong connection with his mom, Beverly, and developed a deeper relationship with his brothers through the challenging times. “It was the worst time of my life, but my teammates were sending me text messages and calling me to see how I was doing. I knew I wasn't alone.”

A kinesiology major, Schumpert is eyeing a summer graduation and plans on pursuing a career as a football coach. He is still having an internal debate whether to attend graduate school and coach at the collegiate level or return to East Texas to coach high school players. ASU first-year head coach Will Wagner has known Schumpert for less than a year, but has enough evidence to see the potential within the 22 year old.

“People really rally around JoJo and believe in him,” Wagner said. “I think those are great attributes that will make him a great coach one day. He is a great communicator and I can see right now how he has the confidence of the younger players in our program. He is a mentor as a player and will be a great coach one day.”

A future that looks promising is not the primary concern for Schumpert right now though. The senior, who led the Rams with nine tackles in their 45-14 win over Texas A&M-Commerce last Saturday, knows that he only has three games remaining until his eligibility and his collegiate playing career is over. The only goal remaining for Schumpert is celebrating three wins with his “Ram Fam” and continuing to make his mother, brothers and family proud of him.

“This team means so much to me for a lot of reasons,” he said. “I'm going to do everything possible to help us win. We all want to win for each other.”


Additional Quotes

JoJo Schumpert: Senior linebacker from Gilmer and graduate of Jefferson High

On becoming closer with his three brothers over the past year:
We had to make all the funeral arrangements and really got closer together through the process. His sons were all he had in life. We were all young, but we had to step up to be strong for each other and do right by my dad.

On remembering his father, Floyd Schumpert:
We would watch the Dallas Cowboys every Sunday together. I still smile every time I think about him. I used to love being around him and his older friends listening to their stories. They were all getting older but they still talked smack to each other about everything. It was real fun to be around him.

On his relationship with his mother:
My mom is a real person that has become one of my best friends. She is always joking around with me and having a good time.

On the difference between East Texas and West Texas:
The trees and the culture.

On his “tryout” to become a defensive back during fall camp:
It was a joke and it was serious. I'm real close with those guys and always tell them that I'm just as good as any of the db's out there. They have this db handshake that they do and I've always wanted to do that handshake with them. They always tell me that I'm not a db and can't do the handshake.

On why he likes playing linebacker:
I'm the youngest of four boys and grew up having to fight for things. I think that's why I love being physical on the football field. I like to get in there and just make some hits. I'm a competitive person and have no fear out there.