Cal LB Kuony Deng takes long journey from Virginia to ‘Last Chance U’ to NFL
ALDIE, Va. (BVM) – Not all journeys to the NFL are the same. Some are predictable and straightforward as top prospects go to top programs before jumping to the sport’s top league. For others, it is a matter of hard work as an underrecruited prospect or a low selection or undrafted free agency to make their dreams come true. For former University of California-Berkeley linebacker Kuony Deng his difficult football journey began before he was even born, but he was able to reach his dreams when he signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons on April 30.
“He’s an amazing person, mentally tough,” Deng’s high school head football coach Jason Dawson said. “I think the people that make it in that world and in most worlds who overachieve there’s no plan B, this is what they’re going to do and they’re going to attack it like that. That’s the kid that they’re going to get. Yes sir, no sir, coachable, smart, not just athletic but tough and smart.”
The big man is joining @jhawko6 in Atlanta!
@Kd_2Three ▶️ @AtlantaFalcons #GoBears | #ProBears pic.twitter.com/GtZkpxfEb9
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) May 1, 2022
Deng’s story begins with his parents, two South Sudan natives who moved to San Diego after civil war in the country forced the family into refugee camps in East Africa before heading to the United States. The fifth of six children, three of Deng’s older siblings being born in Africa while he and two other siblings were born in the United States, Deng moved a lot in his youth across the country. There were stops in California, Minnesota and Iowa before the family finally settled in Virginia. While his dad returned to Africa, Deng and his siblings were raised by their mother who pushed family values onto her children.
“The amount of pride he has in himself, his family and his culture, I think he believes he represents more than himself,” Dawson said. “He represents his family. He represents his name. When you play with a deeper purpose you always achieve more and that’s what they’ll find with Kuony. This about his family and representing his culture as well.”
Tb 1994 before I was even born. My family was blessed enough to escape Sudan's civil war alive and find a new home here in the United States. Wouldn't be in the position I'm in today if we weren't taken in with OPEN ARMS 🇸🇸 #WorldRefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/ywPlK5zbsZ
— Kuony Deng (@CoachKD__) June 20, 2018
It was during his time in Virginia that Deng would find his home on the gridiron. Deng would play two varsity seasons at John Champe High School in Aldie, following a couple of years playing in Iowa, and would quickly become a standout.
“He played defensive end, outside linebacker and safety for us on defense and wide receiver for two years,” Dawson said. “I never met a kid in my life who is 6-foot-6 and that tough. He was rare.”
A 6-foot-6, 190-pound two-way player, Deng was named the 4A Conference 22 Region Player of the Year and the Loudoun Times Defensive Player of the Year while also being a first-team Loudoun Times selection as a senior in 2015 recording 33 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two sacks, one fumble recovery and one blocked punt for a team as well as 16 receptions for 334 yards and one touchdown catch for an 11-1 Knights team that reached the quarterfinals of the Group 4A state playoffs. Also an elite basketball player, Deng would earn All-State and 4A Conference 22 Region Player of the Year honors as a senior when he averaged 19.2 points per game for a team that finished 23-5 overall and reached the semifinals of the Group 4A state playoffs.
“Where he really shined was on defense because he was so aggressive and could cover so much ground,” Dawson said.
Thanks to his elite athleticism, Deng earned a scholarship to in-state Virginia Military Institute, an FCS program. At VMI, the coaching staff would switch Deng’s position from defensive end to linebacker where he played in nine games and recorded 16 tackles as a 2016 freshman before adding 11 tackles as a 2017 sophomore in two contests before redshirting. Unfortunately for Deng, coaching changes would convince him to transfer.
However, he would land at Independence Community College, a top JUCO program set to be featured on the hit Netflix series “Last Chance U”.
“I never had a Netflix membership until I found out he was there,” Dawson said. “He wasn’t a featured person on there, in my opinion, because he wasn’t dramatic. He went, he played ball, he did his job. But it’s just an amazing story.”
Though not a heavily featured player in the series, Indy allowed the linebacker to improve his craft and show off his ability on a national stage as he recorded 48 tackles, six pass breakups, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a 2018 sophomore in his lone season in Independence, Kansas. This earned Deng a ranking as the No. 1 JUCO outside linebacker in 247Sports Composite JUCO rankings and numerous scholarships from top programs including Texas A&M, UCLA and Virginia Tech to name a few.
“He had no plan B, this was going to work and he was going to make it work,” Dawson said. “We always talk about betting on yourself and he’s just such a great example of betting on himself.”
Pirates always take shxt!! Indy Gang 🏴☠️ @_CoachMartin_ https://t.co/FBKkUgWLJ3
— Kuony Deng (@CoachKD__) May 1, 2022
Ultimately, Deng chose to join the program at Cal where he quickly established a strong 1-2 punch with Golden Bears’ standout linebacker Evan Weaver. Over three seasons at Cal, Deng started all 19 games he played in from 2019-21 where he recorded 154 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, eight passes defended, six quarterback hurries, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in his career. Though a Butkus Award Preseason Watch List member and named to numerous preseason all-conference lists, Deng missed the final 10 contests of his 2021 senior campaign due to injury which threw a wrench in his rankings and likely impacted his draft stock.
Though he had an opportunity to opt-in to a seventh and final college football season due to the COVID-19 impacted campaign, Deng decided to make the move to the next level. Though the decision didn’t pay off on draft night, Deng will still get the opportunity to prove himself to the decision-makers of the Atlanta Falcons.
“Again he’s betting on himself because technically he could go back another year,” Dawson said. “Instead of going back and trying to make sure he gets his draft status up, he’s betting on himself.”
This weekend, one of my best friends who also happens to be my brother signed with the Atlanta Falcons, making him the 1st South Sudanese athlete in the NFL
Words cant even describe how proud of this you I am KD, you truly deserve it all 🇸🇸🥺❤️ 8:18 pic.twitter.com/j3PQrmFrMp
— Please find attached: (@MsNyajuok) May 3, 2022
While Deng may be facing an uphill battle to make an NFL roster, he has overcome plenty of obstacles during his football journey so what is one more. Given his dedication, attitude and ability, Deng has as good a chance as anyone. After hearing his story, he will also have plenty of support as well.
