• Video Feature on Este From WPSD Local 6
By Luis Aguilar, OVC Media Relations Intern
For UT Martin football student-athlete
Joe Este, family comes first above all other things. It comes above his collegiate football career, his dreams to play in the NFL and even his studies. Este showed this last year when got custody of his two young nephews, Christopher and Zackary, after being left by their mother.
Joe begins his day by waking up every day at 5:45 a.m. to take his boys to school. Este then goes to classes from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with just enough time to go pick up the boys from school and heads directly to football practice accompanied by Christopher and Zackary.
“I can’t put them aside and do what I want to do,” said Este when asked how he finds time to juggle so many responsibilities. “It’s not just about me; it’s about the boys now,” Este said.
“They are my strength for everything that I do now, everything I do – I do for them,” Este said.
Joe credits Christopher and Zackary as the reason he works so hard on and off the football field and in the classroom. Este seeks to be an example to his two young nephews and to show them that they can achieve their goals. “I’m the first kid to graduate high school in my family; I’m the first to go to college in my family,” said Este.
Este is not quick to forget all of those people that have invested in him during his childhood and even now as a student-athlete. Joe has received help from numerous people from the Martin community including head football coach Jason Simpson, who has supported Joe and his decision to care for his nephews.
“People around me told me, if you don’t stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything,” said Este.
Joe credits those people for the man he is, a man with an exceptional character willing to do whatever it take for his family.
Este, a defensive back, will be a senior with the Skyhawks in the fall. In his first year with the program he played in all 12 games, netting 67 tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss and three interceptions.
He is on track to graduate in December.