Deljuan’s Big Heart Needs a Little Help

Just a few months ago standout defensive end Deljuan Robinson (6-4, 270, 4.8) from Hernando was standing on the top of the world. Rated as the Rivals100 number one defensive end in the country, he had signed a football scholarship and was ready to embark on an outstanding college football career. But then came the news...

"We found out he had the heart problem when he was younger, and we were supposed to get the problem fixed then, but then he got the physical to play at Mississippi State," commented Deljuan’s cousin (who he lives with) Jennifer Webb. Then that's when it came back up again.

"They told us when he was young, about 12, when he started playing, that it would just heal up, but it didn’t. If he doesn’t have the heart surgery, then he can’t play football. He has to have it, or he can’t play football."

Jennifer, along with the rest of the family has accepted the reality of what needs to be done. "We know that it has to be done, but he’s not really talking about it. He hasn’t had any trouble with it, but they are saying it could be worse later."

So how does Deljuan feel about it?

"It’s good in a way, and it’s not good in a way," he said. "It’s just something I’ve got to get taken care of. That’s the way I feel."

Has the situation gotten worse? "Something like that, I was born with it," Deljuan commented. "It’s not life threatening. Truly to be honest with you, I don’t know how to explain it. All I really know is I need to get it fixed, and I am going to get it fixed."

Deljaun has accepted his fate, and faces it with the same courage he faces his opponents on the field. So will he be back on the field?

"Yes, sir, I am going to be back bigger and stronger than ever," he said with a laugh. "There are no signs of problems. I don’t have any, I mean. I am healthy as a horse, you know.

"It is a heart murmur that we discovered at the all star game." Although he was cleared to play, he was told that problems could occur if he continued to play football without the surgery.

"In the long run, if I want to continue to play football I need to get it taken care of now, because if I don’t get it taken care of now, I may not be able to play football later on down the road. It doesn’t effect me when I play football, it’s just a problem I need to get fixed.

"If I get it taken care of now, I won’t have any long term effects. I can go on with my life and have a good football career, hopefully. I am kind of nervous, but I realize it’s a problem that I need to get fixed."

Deljuan goes in for surgery July 18 at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis. "I should get out of the hospital in just a couple of days," he said. "As far as feeling healthy and everything, it will probably be six weeks."

If they have to operate on him, they picked the right spot, because he certainly has a lot of heart to go around. Good luck, big guy. We’re all behind you, and the future looks bright ahead.