Photo: Lions' Rakestraw Jr. Fulfills Promise to 4th Grade Teacher After Being Drafted
Mike Chiari@@mikechiari
Featured Columnist IVMay 7, 2024
Detroit Lions 2024 second-round draft pick Ennis Rakestraw Jr. fulfilled a promise this week that he made to his fourth grade teacher more than a decade ago.
Rakestraw took to X on Sunday to share a letter he wrote to his fourth grade teacher, Mr. Gammon, before he moved on to fifth grade:
Ennis Rakestraw Jr @EnnisRakestraw4th grade I made this commitment and if I make a promise. I'll keep it no matter how difficult it is.🙏🏾🙏🏾 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lions?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lions</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chaseyourdreams?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chaseyourdreams</a> <a href="https://t.co/V6yJ9QNIKZ">pic.twitter.com/V6yJ9QNIKZ</a>
In the letter, Rakestraw wrote, "I hope you're alive because if I make it to a professional football player, I will talk about you."
Rakestraw also expressed his admiration for Mr. Gammon in the letter, writing, "You are the best teacher ever."
Mr. Gammon responded to Rakestraw's post on X and expressed great pride in what his former student has accomplished:
Gammon8181 @GammonD8181You put it out there at 10 years old and made it happen!!! I have no words for how proud I am of you! <br><br>Also, I'm telling everyone I played with and against you and threw multiple touchdowns to you and on you. <br><br>Yes, it was recess…but it's technically true! <br><br>Again, SO PROUD!
The 21-year-old Rakestraw was born and raised in Dallas before embarking on his college football career at the University of Missouri.
Rakestraw spent four seasons at Mizzou as a cornerback, registering 107 tackles, 24 passes defended, three forced fumbles, one interception, one sack and one fumble recovery.
Last season, Rakestraw played a significant role in the Tigers having their first winning record since 2018, as they went 11-2 and finished the year as the No. 8-ranked team in the nation.
Rakestraw was viewed as a potential late first-round pick or a second-round pick during the pre-draft process, and the Lions may have gotten a major steal by landing him with the No. 61 overall selection in the second round.
Detroit took Rakestraw after drafting Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold in the first round, potentially rounding out the Lions' starting trio of cornerbacks for many years to come in Rakestraw, Arnold and 2023 second-round pick Brian Branch.
Rakestraw joins a Lions team that reached the NFC Championship Game last season, meaning he could have a chance to compete for a Super Bowl in the near future.