By Christina Rodriguez
Football’s sophomore tight end Ceejhay French-Love signed this off season with Arizona State University for Fall 2017. “Blessed, I feel blessed.
I started to play football when I was 9 years old. Football is my life, it’s what I do, it’s what I love,” said French-Love.
Verbally committed to ASU in February, French-Love officially signed with the Sun Devils while on his visit to Tempe, Arizona.
The six-foot-five sophomore was named to the First Team All Metro League American Division while playing for East Los Angeles College. French-Love felt he had a great season.
He compiled 25 receptions for 403 yards and nine touchdowns. “My Pops played football for Washington State. He was a big influence. I always wanted to be like him, well better than him actually,” said French-Love.
He also mentioned that ELAC was a gateway to a Division I university, as he recorded multiple touchdowns in four consecutive games. “God, family, hard work and mud walking, that’s what has gotten me to this position today.
I’m humbled for the opportunity coach Todd Graham offered me,” said French-Love. Graham is the ASU coach that called French-Love personally for the invitation to join the team. French-Love says he can do it all and is comfortable doing anything.
Before becoming a Husky, he played for a Division II university. As a freshman at Colorado Mesa University he started in four of ten games. “I wasn’t born in Long Beach; I was born in Paramount, but I was raised in Long Beach. I went to Long Beach Poly High School and headed out to a D-II,” said French-Love.
At Long Beach Poly, French-Love strengthened his tight end skills, logged in 10 receptions for 241 yards and scored three touchdowns his senior year.
His father was his high school coach and has not missed any of his ELAC games. French-Love hopes for success at ASU and prays to be drafted to the Oakland Raiders. He’s a Kinesiology major and has plans to train professional athletes after his football career.
“My mom helps me stay focused. She’s really on my head about taking care of business on and off the field. My pops too, but he’s more lenient,” said French-love.
He says it is extremely important for him to be a positive influence for his two younger siblings, his sister is 11 and his brother is 9 years old. French-Love says he is fully committed to football and knows he must work really hard to tackle his goals.
This spring he is enrolled in four classes, and, to complete his ASU requirements, he will be taking three online courses this summer.
“I love ELAC. It’s been great here. I’ve met good friends and coaches,” said French-Love.
He said that bonding with his teammates and having great influences made his sophomore year a memorable one.
He leaves for ASU June 14, but says he will take with him all the advice that former offensive coordinator, special teams coach Andrew Tree and head coach Bobby Godinez gave him.
“He’s a good man, good coach, he taught me a lot this year, just how to go about things in life,” said French-Love about Godinez. French-Love will be reuniting with his Long Beach Poly High School football teammate Jojo Wicker, who is a defensive lineman at ASU.
French-Love feels humbled and is excited for a new chapter in his football career.
Hancock College opponent in a season opening victory at home last season. C/N Rogelio Alvarez