When people ask me who I look up to, I always say that my best friend in the whole world is my mom, but my hero is my dad. My parents emigrated from Ghana in the late ’80s, but my dad moved to Los Angeles all by himself. He had little money to his name, but he got into UC Davis for undergrad, went to medical school at Stanford and did a residency at UCLA.

I’ve seen my dad fight through pain and tiredness to the bone, wake up after two hours of sleep and go to work at the hospital to provide for our family. I think I was in high school when I finally understood that everything I have, from the socks I put on my feet to the car I drive, is provided because of how hard my dad has worked.

Watching my dad come from nothing and turn his whole life around for our family inspires me to model my mindset after him. I aim to put others first, do my work wholeheartedly and dedicate myself to giving back to those who care about me and love me forever.

NaNa Osafo-Mensah after a defensive line drill at fall camp. Photo by Lily Margaret Greenway

These values were instilled into me at an early age, alongside the calls to be persistent and stay consistent. My parents never cared much about what my siblings and I dedicated ourselves to as long as we committed ourselves to success in the areas we chose to focus on. Growing up, we were involved in everything from Kumon classes to karate to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. We were always in extracurricular activities so we could take full advantage of all the opportunities we were presented.

I always was a big sports kid growing up, but I never planned on playing football in college. I loved basketball, but as I grew older, I figured out I was a lot better at hitting people on the field than dribbling and shooting. I started playing football during my freshman year of high school just to hang out with my friends, but when a new coach came in, he showed me I had the opportunity and the potential to play beyond high school. I didn’t think anything of what he was saying to me because I never thought I could get a scholarship. But when I got my first offer during my sophomore season, my whole perspective changed. I started driving from Fort Worth to Carrollton to train with one of my old coaches and truly commit myself to the game.

Looking back, I think TCU is the only sports team my dad got season tickets to — and we weren’t even a big going-to-sports games type of family. But growing up, I watched TCU play in my backyard, and now I have the unique opportunity to play in my hometown.

NaNa Osafo-Mensah at his Notre Dame graduation with his parents, Kwaku and Joyce Osafo-Mensah. Courtesy of the Osafo-Mensah family

I want to dedicate this season to one of my best friends and my roommate at Notre Dame — Jacob Lacey. Jacob is one of the hardest-working dudes I’ve ever met. I always felt like I was a hard worker, but the way that Jacob puts his head down and focuses motivates me to be better.

He’s not just my best friend; he’s my brother. We would train together, eat together, cook meals together, and I was with him when the doctors found blood clots in his lungs and his calf. I witnessed firsthand how hungry he was for the game of football, and I saw his career taken away from him in one night that came out of nowhere. Every day, I remember that feeling, and every day, it motivates me. Jacob is why I chose to wear number 54 this year. My number has always been 31, but putting on a jersey with his number is a constant reminder that the reason I play is bigger than myself — it’s bigger than any of us.

I’ve had to go through a lot of adversity throughout college, and there were times I wanted to sit with myself in my sadness. But I always get up because I know those moments are what make me stronger. I wouldn’t go back and change anything I’ve gone through — the trials I have overcome are what made me the man I am today.

NaNa Osafo-Mensah and Jacob Lacey. Courtesy of the Osafo-Mensah Family

I want to emphasize to all the guys I’m playing with now that there are going to be times when we’re going to struggle — whether that’s with something as simple as being tired or getting a flat tire or as heavy as losing a family member. But at the end of the day, if we can find ways to push through those times, we realize there is so much good in the world and so many ways we can find it. I believe that mentality is what helps us get through moments of adversity, big and small.

Being an older guy on the team this year, I choose to commit myself to showing my teammates the light at the end of the tunnel. We all have goals and dreams we want to achieve. We just gotta go out and get them!

— As told to Lily Margaret Greenway

Editor’s Note: These responses have been edited for length and clarity.