By Chris Cullum, Assistant Athletic Communications Director

    As a senior at one of the most important positions on the field it's almost a necessity for Elijah Nkansah to be a leader for the Toledo Rockets.

    Elijah is a well-spoken but not outspoken young man. "I'm not the most vocal guy," he admits. An All-MAC candidate at left tackle, he is someone other teammates look up to (figuratively and literally — he stands 6-feet-6 inches tall). He is always doing what he can to be a model student-athlete, passing along knowledge to his younger teammates whenever he can.

    "I try to do things the right way and lead by example, on the off the field," he says.

    Luckily for Elijah, if he ever needs inspiration or a guiding light on how to be a better leader, he can look to a prominent figure in his life to show him the way: his father. Shadrack Nkansah passed away in 2002, but his legacy is still something his son carries with him every day. 

    "I remember he was a hard-working guy," Elijah says, "He had no quit and he was an incredible athlete. And he cared deeply for his family.

    "Then one day he got sick."

    A native of Ghana before coming to the United States, Shadrack was a chemical engineer for the Cincinnati-based company Proctor & Gamble and an avid runner. Elijah recalls his father running 10 miles every day before work and, after putting in a full day at the office, coming home and running another 10 miles. 

    In 2001, Shadrack was running in the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati when something happened that seemed unfathomable for a man of his physical condition: he had extreme difficulty finishing the race. Barely reaching the finish line, paramedics tended to him immediately and helped get things under control. On the way home he pointed out to his wife, Amy, the lumps running up and down both thighs. It wasn't long after that a diagnosis came: cancer, specifically anaplastic large cell lymphoma, which would claim Shadrack's life on May 20, 2002.

    "I remember everything," Elijah said, who was just seven years old when his father passed away. "When you're young you don't remember much, but with something like that I think about it every day. You could still see the fight in him. He didn't act like he was sick."

    It was an unimaginable tragedy, but the Nkansahs managed to come out the other side closer than ever. Even now, Elijah says he talks to at least one member of his family every day. He calls his mother Amy the family's rock. 
 
    "She's been the main focus of all our lives," Elijah said. "She's the most selfless person I know. She's always putting people ahead of herself. When my dad passed she didn't bat an eye, she didn't let it stop her. She provided everything for us even when she couldn't. She found a way to do it. I can never thank her enough. Hopefully one day I can repay her."

       His mother may be the center of his life, but it's no secret that Elijah and his brothers Isaiah and Roman are the focus of hers. For example: "Football Mom" is in her Twitter handle. Her page is a constant stream of pictures and the same three emojis: a heart, a football, and a rocket. 

        Of course, some people show affection in different ways. Elijah's brother Isaiah is a sophomore linebacker at Grand Valley State, and the two talk often and work out together when schedules allow. One such exchange came after a Saturday of football.

    "I told him about a linebacker that tried to blitz us and I blocked him and he just said, if that was me I would've put you on your butt," Elijah says with a laugh.

    Friendly ribbing aside, it's abundantly clear that family is everything to Elijah. Everything he does on and off the field is with family in mind, knowing that he carries with him a legacy put in place by his father. He says he owes his success in football and in life to his mother and father, and he knows Shadrack is watching over him every day.

    "Whenever I'm at practice I know this is what I have to do to make a name not just for myself, but for my family," Elijah said. "Being able to say I've contributed to this family and to be able to say they're proud of me is everything."

    Finding ways to praise Elijah Nkansah isn't hard to do. He is a terrific left tackle. He is a hard worker, a bright young man, and a great leader. He's someone who cares deeply for those closest to him. To put it another way, he is all of the things he described his father to be. That may be the highest praise of all.