Texas A&M Football

When Damon West talks, college football teams listen

After a shoulder injury ended his playing career, Damon West turned to drugs and crime which eventually landed him in prison. Refusing to let his life spiral further, West transformed himself and now serves as a motivational speaker to some of college football's biggest programs.
By Bruce Feldman
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The Athletic
June 21, 2020
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Photo by Damon West

Dabo Swinney has helped launch a lot of careers in the past decade, but none have come from the depths as that of a 5-foot-10 quarterback from Texas.

Damon West was nervous that day in Houston when he hit Swinney with his own 30-second recruiting pitch. It already had fallen flat with six or seven other college football coaches. West wasn’t trying to land a college scholarship. He was hoping he could sell the Clemson coach on letting him speak to this team.

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Bruce Feldman Gary Patterson Chip Kelly Nick Saban Lane Kiffin Dabo Swinney The Athletic Lincoln Riley Coronavirus COVID-19 Damon West Jimmy Johnson
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