DIGEST Sports Feature: Calvin Lunkins

For college football teams, losing seniors to graduation can be tough. Losing any key player that was an intergal part of your program for the last four years can be tough. For the Southern Jaguars, it will be no different, as they will be losing one of their key players to graduation this December in linebacker Calvin Lunkins. 
For Lunkins, he has excelled not only on the football field but also the classroom in his time at Southern. Lunkins has made honor roll four times during his time at Southern and currently has the highest GPA on the team. The New Orleans native and alum of Warren Easton High school says he chose to play for Southern during his recruitment process because he felt like it was the best decision for him. Lunkins also said Southern “felt like home” to him and he built a great relationship with the coaching staff and players.
Calvin Lunkins has excelled very well in the classroom to the point where he has already graduated with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Studies, and currently working on his masters Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. When asked about his post-collegiate plans, Lunkins said “I want to become a certified recreation therapist and a certified rehabilitation counselor.” Although he doesn’t have a favorite professional team, Lunkins plans to pursue his dream of being a professional football player in a sport that has he only wanted to play since he was a little kid. 
Being a leader for the Jaguars football team, the linebacker also wants to be a leader in his community and give back as well. “The reason I chose my major because I love healing people at the end of the day. It feels good putting a smile on someone’s face even when they are having a bad day. My goal is to help people with disabilities because you never know what they are going through. I feel like I been blessed in so many ways, its only right I gave back to the people and the community.” This season was Lunkins’ last as a Southern University football player. Coming into this season, the main goal for himself and his team was being “1-0” after every week and “taking it a step at a time.” 
The hard work has come to fruition as the Jaguars are once again SWAC West division champs for the 2nd year in a row. Lunkins loves a lot of things about the game of football, but his favorite thing about the sport is the brortherhood. “All the blood sweat and tears we put in together makes it special.”