“The definition of perseverance is steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose or a state especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement. This definition best defines the life of LeVon Morefield. Morefield is the most recent recipient of the Rudy Award – an award given to the student -athelete who demonstrates exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment on and off the field – but his life is much bigger than just football.”
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The definition of perseverance is steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose or a state especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement.

This definition best defines the life of LeVon Morefield.

Morefield is the most recent recipient of the Rudy Award – an award given to the student -athelete who demonstrates exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment on and off the field – but his life is much bigger than just football.

Morefield, 21, was born both premature and addicted to crack cocaine, due to his mother’s addiction.

In fact, both of Morefield’s parents were crack addicts, but his father was never around.

I really don’t remember being addicted, Morefield said. I was so young.

Morefield’s older brother Cliff Morefield, who was forced to be the man of the house, was also addicted to crack cocaine.

He and LeVon Morefield bounced from house to house, friend to friend and family member to family member.

We switched schools so many times, Morefield said. We were back and forth between Canton and Columbus.

One house stop introduced LeVon and Cliff Morefield to the dangerous world that is street life.

We lived in a house of a family member where everyone who lived there sold drugs and it kind of got passed down to us, Morefield said. It was like ‘If you guys want to eat, if you don’t want to starve then you’re going to need to do this too.’

At the age of 10, Morefield began selling the same drug he, his brother, his father and his mother were addicted to.

A year later, Morefield got caught selling crack cocaine.

I came to school being young and dumb with $700 in my pocket, Morefield said. A teacher saw it and investigated it, but my aunt basically told them it was hers.

But, I did get caught a couple of weeks later selling drugs and I went to Juvenile. I went again at the age of 14 and again when I was 15.

Morefield missed three seasons of football from eighth grade to his sophomore year Northland high school because of grades.

His troubles may have raised red flags, but Cliff Morefield was beginning to spiral out of control.

The older we got, the worse he got, LeVon said. He just started giving up on everything – gave up on school. He didn’t go back his senior year. He got caught up in the street life. We were becoming products of our environment.

Street life finally caught up to Cliff Morefield.

In 2004, he was charged with murder, convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

That’s when LeVon Morefield realized it was time for a change.

It was a real eye opener for me, Morefield said. It was like ‘Wow, I’m not invincible; this applies to me as well.’

I really believe if that [Cliff’s sentencing] would have never happened, I would have never changed my lifestyle. That was one of the things that contributed to me wanting to be successful again.

Morefield received the qualifying grades the fourth quarter of his sophomore year that allowed him to play football again, but it would not for Northland.

Morefield transferred to Brookhaven High School

In August 2004, Morefield was back playing football for the first time in three years, but it was like he never left.

He helped Brookhaven to a 15-0 record and a Division II State Championship.

That first year, I was a couple steps behind, but coach Anthony Thorton helped me on and off the practice field, LeVon said. I was always gifted athletically and I started, but he helped me get used to the high school game.

Morefield’s junior year was also new experience from an education perspective.

Before that final quarter in the spring of 2004, LeVon carried a grade point average of 0.00.

Beginning his junior year, Morefield began a stretch where he fit four years of schooling into a two-year period.

My guardian Karen Armstrong pulled some strings so I can take summer classes, Morefield said. My junior and senior year of high school, I had no lunch.

I was taking so many classes trying to graduate.

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