PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Damar Hamlin is a young man whose impact on community and family has been felt on many levels. Even before reaching the NFL or NCAA, going back to his days in Stowe Township and then his path to Central Catholic High School.
"He wanted to represent his neighborhood, his community of McKees Rocks," former Central Catholic football coach Terry Totten told the PM Team on 93.7 The Fan. "He became an integral part of this community at Central Catholic. It's a diverse community, but he reached across every line of different geographic areas, socioeconomic levels."
Totten remembered Hamlin coming in as a pretty quiet freshman, that as his game improved and his platform grew, he used that to be a leader. Not in an over-the-top or look-at-me way, but trying to bring people together.
"His approach to everything he did whether it was a very high, high or a very low, low," Totten told Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller on 93.7 The Fan Tuesday. "He was an even-keeled, level-headed kid. Everything flowed from his sense of confidence and awareness."
You could tell his confidence as in preparing for the NFL Draft. Hamlin said he's a natural born leader, that he will make everyone around him better. 'I'm an asset to an organization's brand' is a direct quote from Hamlin.
"He went through some adversity here and the University of Pittsburgh," Totten told the PM Team. "He wasn't drafted quite as high as he thought, but he went at it as a sixth-round pick that I'm going to make this football team. I will be in the starting lineup and I'm going to play."
That wasn't all that Hamlin wanted to do. It wasn't just about being a professional football player, it was about using that to help the community where his family is deeply entrenched.
"He wanted to play in the National Football League, but it was just as important that when he made it, and he was going to make it, he was going to give back to his community," Totten said.
It's part of the reason he spurred offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson out of Central Catholic High School to stay at Pitt. He wanted to be in the City and close to his young brother. He was a part of a free football camp to help those who couldn't afford it. He set up The Chasing M's Foundation Community Toy Drive, which since has raised over $5 million to those wanting to honor Hamlin.
As Totten said he wanted to represent his neighborhood, his community of McKees Rocks. Even when he is at his lowest, he still does.
