Player signs with Idaho a week after cancer diagnosis
Jace Malek, a high school fullback from Washington, found out last week he has cancer.
Malek verbally committed to Idaho in 2014. After finding out that he has a tumor the size of a cantaloupe in his hip, he told the Idaho coaching staff. After he told them he didn't lose his scholarship and signed with the team on Wednesday.
“I told them, ‘listen, I know you need to do what's best, and I realize that might not be keeping my scholarship.'”
The school's response blew him away.
“They said ‘you've been with us this whole time,'” Malek explained. “Idaho is not leaving your side.”
Idaho coach Paul Petrino spoke glowingly of Malek, a 6-3, 240-pound fullback, who is 101-8 as a high school wrestler.
"Jace, I watched him play for two years, he’s in our camp and he’s a tough fullback, great wrestler and one of those guys that makes your team so much tougher," Petrino said via the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. "And just a great kid all around.”
However, there's a significant chance that Malek's football career is over, as, according to KHQ6, doctors have told him he may never play again. While he said signing with the Vandals was a dream come true, he said it wasn't what he imagined. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Malek's medical expenses. He starts treatment for the cancer next week.
"I'm going to go graduate college and become a famous college football coach," Malek told the station.
"And then they'll make a movie after me."
In 2013, Central Michigan commit Derrick Nash was diagnosed with leukemia after he signed with the Chippewas. CMU honored his scholarship and in December when the team went to the Bahamas Bowl, Nash traveled with the team and was named an honorary captain.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
