Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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In Four-Star Safety Elijah Shumate's Decisions Learning Experiences Were Key FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY JASON SAPP cause it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." — Thomas Edison "Opportunity is missed by people be- ter page after officially becoming a member of Notre Dame's 2012 sign- ing class. He certainly didn't miss out on his T hose were the first words that Eli- jah Shumate posted on his Twit- opportunity, but that's not to say that it was a direct path without life les- sons along the way. Shumate had a childhood situation that was different than most in a sin- gle-parent home — his father raised him. For that reason, there was no hesitation when the four-star player was asked who the person was that he admired most. "My father [Maurice Williams]," the 6-1, 205-pound East Orange, N.J., native quickly replied. "He's been raising me on his own since I was 13 months old. He stepped up, and he was there for me the entire time. He never missed a game from Pop War- ner all the way through high school." Being present is one part of the equation, but there was so much more that Shumate was able to draw from the relationship. "He made sure my head was on right," he continued. "Watching how he took care of me taught me how to be a man and do the best for my kids when I'm a father someday. I owe everything to him." The relationship that Shumate has with his father taught him an early life lesson —people should cher- ish those close to them and not take them for granted. That concept spilled over into ath- letics. While Shumate wasn't clear what direction things would head after his school, Paterson Catholic, closed down following his sopho- more campaign, he found a new home in Don Bosco Prep that pro- vided him with experiences he'd never thought he'd have. "Paterson Catholic got me to a point where I could compete, and it helped me out a lot when I had to handle leaving and starting fresh at Don Bosco," Shumate said. 44 MARCH 2012 Shumate, a four-star prospect and the No. 6 safety in the country according to 247Sports, participated in the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl Jan. 7 in San Antonio. PHOTO COURTESY U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL how the hard work that was put in was to make me the best, and I got to see it all come together." Don Bosco Prep went on to win the national title in his senior campaign with Shumate playing both defensive back and running back. "It was an accomplishment of a lifetime," he said. "A lot of high school kids don't get the opportu- "That's where I started to learn nity to play teams from around the country like colleges do, and their dream is to win a state title. We won the national championship, and I'm very grateful for having that chance." When it comes to relationships, another situation in Shumate's life has served as a learning experi- ence. Teammate and cornerback Yuri Wright was being recruited by some of the top schools in the na- BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED