Florida Atlantic linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has never been afraid to discuss his tough upbringing.
He is open about his experiences of being homeless in high school and helping raise his two younger brothers while in college. On Thursday, he was rewarded for how he’s dealt with adversity. Al-Shaair was named one of the five recepients of the Wilma Rudolph Award. The honor, presented by National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals, is given to athletes who overcome emotional odds to achieve academic success.
Al-Shaair, who has led FAU in tackles the last three seasons, was homeless for most of his high school years in Tampa after after a fire destroyed their home.