Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
The bond between a Raider and Skyhawk
9/6/2018 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – It's often said you find the people who care about you most when you're faced with tough times. That was the case in November of 2016 for UT Martin's D'Andre Litaker and Middle Tennessee's Jarek Campbell.
The two college freshmen and Murfreesboro natives have been friends for years, building a bond through playing sports starting in the third grade.
When tragedy overcame Litaker's life when they both were juniors at Riverdale High School, that friendship turned into a brotherhood.
"Jarek, that's my brother," Litaker said. "That's the brother I never had. Growing up, I had all sisters, all annoying sisters at that.
"God blessed Jarek and his family … and we built a bond that's never broke."
In November of 2016, a few days after Litaker watched the Warriors' season end in the second round of the state playoffs, he was hit with a tragedy no high schooler should have to suffer: the death of his mother.
Stephanie Coleman and her daughter, Litaker's younger sister, D'Shontae, were in a car accident on Interstate 65 on Nov. 15, 2016. The accident left D'Shontae with minor injuries, while Stephanie, 42, a single mother, perished.
Litaker was left with nowhere to turn. That's when Campbell and his family came calling.
"His dad is who I call my dad," Litaker said. "He stepped in as a father when he still had three other kids to take care of … and Miss Jamie, Jarek's mom, is like a mom to me now with my mom gone. She's a person I can talk to, and I know they'll all always be there for me."
Campbell's stepfather, Emmanuel Chestnutt, had coached Campbell and Litaker on an AAU basketball team for years. Saying the family was close with Litaker was almost an understatement, and that made it easy for them to invite Litaker into their home as one of their own.
"Dre basically lived with me from like fifth grade, because we played AAU basketball together and my dad was the head coach," Campbell said. "All the guys were at my house like every weekend … so that really wasn't anything new.
"I just tried to give him comfort and do whatever he needed me to do for him."
With a heavy heart, Litaker tried to prepare for his senior football season.
The promising defensive lineman had racked up numerous offers from Power 5 conference schools, including Tennessee, with whom he committed after his junior season.
Riverdale raced to a 3-0 start with Litaker and Campbell anchoring the defense, but in its fourth game against Spring Hill, Litaker was hit with another setback.
He tore the ACL in his right knee, causing him to miss the remainder of his final season of high-school football. It was his second ACL tear, the first coming in his left knee during his junior season after he played in just eight plays.
Litaker ended up missing all but a little over three games in his last two years of high school. With his Friday night playing days over, he didn't know what his next step would be. He looked to God for answers and also had a lot of long talks with Campbell, who committed to Middle Tennessee in February.
Litaker ended up decommitting from Tennessee and found his college home at UT Martin.
"When everything went sideways, we never lost faith and kept trust in God and in each other," Litaker said. "UT Martin blessed me with a scholarship … and it's just a blessing to see both of us playing at a Division I school."
Little did he know at the time that the Skyhawks were finalizing a deal to come to his hometown for Week 2 of the 2018 college season.
"I'm ready for us to beat MT, kind of," Litaker said. "There's been a little bit of trash talking [from Campbell]. I was down in Murfreesboro last weekend, and he was like, 'You ready for this whooping?'"
Though they're preparing for a football game on different teams for the first time, being opponents on the field hasn't changed anything about Campbell and Litaker's relationship.
Their brotherhood was molded by tragedy, and they're closer now than most siblings.
"I look at him more like a brother than a friend, because we've been through everything together," Campbell said. "I'm just proud of both of us for going to the next level, getting a scholarship and an education and playing the game we love."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
The two college freshmen and Murfreesboro natives have been friends for years, building a bond through playing sports starting in the third grade.
When tragedy overcame Litaker's life when they both were juniors at Riverdale High School, that friendship turned into a brotherhood.
"Jarek, that's my brother," Litaker said. "That's the brother I never had. Growing up, I had all sisters, all annoying sisters at that.
"God blessed Jarek and his family … and we built a bond that's never broke."
In November of 2016, a few days after Litaker watched the Warriors' season end in the second round of the state playoffs, he was hit with a tragedy no high schooler should have to suffer: the death of his mother.
Stephanie Coleman and her daughter, Litaker's younger sister, D'Shontae, were in a car accident on Interstate 65 on Nov. 15, 2016. The accident left D'Shontae with minor injuries, while Stephanie, 42, a single mother, perished.
Litaker was left with nowhere to turn. That's when Campbell and his family came calling.
"His dad is who I call my dad," Litaker said. "He stepped in as a father when he still had three other kids to take care of … and Miss Jamie, Jarek's mom, is like a mom to me now with my mom gone. She's a person I can talk to, and I know they'll all always be there for me."
Campbell's stepfather, Emmanuel Chestnutt, had coached Campbell and Litaker on an AAU basketball team for years. Saying the family was close with Litaker was almost an understatement, and that made it easy for them to invite Litaker into their home as one of their own.
"Dre basically lived with me from like fifth grade, because we played AAU basketball together and my dad was the head coach," Campbell said. "All the guys were at my house like every weekend … so that really wasn't anything new.
"I just tried to give him comfort and do whatever he needed me to do for him."
With a heavy heart, Litaker tried to prepare for his senior football season.
The promising defensive lineman had racked up numerous offers from Power 5 conference schools, including Tennessee, with whom he committed after his junior season.
Riverdale raced to a 3-0 start with Litaker and Campbell anchoring the defense, but in its fourth game against Spring Hill, Litaker was hit with another setback.
He tore the ACL in his right knee, causing him to miss the remainder of his final season of high-school football. It was his second ACL tear, the first coming in his left knee during his junior season after he played in just eight plays.
Litaker ended up missing all but a little over three games in his last two years of high school. With his Friday night playing days over, he didn't know what his next step would be. He looked to God for answers and also had a lot of long talks with Campbell, who committed to Middle Tennessee in February.
Litaker ended up decommitting from Tennessee and found his college home at UT Martin.
"When everything went sideways, we never lost faith and kept trust in God and in each other," Litaker said. "UT Martin blessed me with a scholarship … and it's just a blessing to see both of us playing at a Division I school."
Little did he know at the time that the Skyhawks were finalizing a deal to come to his hometown for Week 2 of the 2018 college season.
"I'm ready for us to beat MT, kind of," Litaker said. "There's been a little bit of trash talking [from Campbell]. I was down in Murfreesboro last weekend, and he was like, 'You ready for this whooping?'"
Though they're preparing for a football game on different teams for the first time, being opponents on the field hasn't changed anything about Campbell and Litaker's relationship.
Their brotherhood was molded by tragedy, and they're closer now than most siblings.
"I look at him more like a brother than a friend, because we've been through everything together," Campbell said. "I'm just proud of both of us for going to the next level, getting a scholarship and an education and playing the game we love."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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