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00:00I'm Cam Smith, host of Ebony's Amplify, presented by Nationwide.
00:05I sat down with HBCU grad Deshaun Dixon, an NFL defensive end who chases quarterbacks on the field,
00:11but off the field, he spends time chasing opportunities to impact the community.
00:24What's up, everybody? I'm Cam Smith, host of Ebony's Amplify, presented by Nationwide.
00:29And I'm sitting with a very special guest. He is none other than Mr. Deshaun Dixon of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
00:36Defensive end, so chasing down some quarterbacks and some running backs and making sure that your presence is felt on the field,
00:41but also HBCU graduate, Norfolk State University. How you doing, Deshaun?
00:45I'm doing good. Doing good. How about you?
00:47I'm doing great, man. I'm very excited to have this conversation because you're great on and off the field.
00:52I think the off-the-field aspect of your life is what's making the biggest impact,
00:56and that's something that will travel for years to come.
00:58So let's get into this conversation because you're very active in the community in Jacksonville,
01:03but it's your home state of Virginia that you're really active in, especially with your organization when it comes to Keep VA Warm.
01:10So tell us about that experience. And I just want to know the origin story of how that started and what everything's been like for you.
01:16First of all, thank you for having me. This is a great opportunity to be here.
01:21Keep VA Warm was an organization, a friend of my mom's, that started.
01:26There's a lot of homeless people around Norfolk, and so we were just providing clothes, food,
01:31just some other things in need for anybody just walking by and like, hey, do you need this, this,
01:38or just putting together a care package just for people around the area.
01:42Now that I have this platform, I can try to do more with it.
01:47Like I said, I've always just wanted to help people in need. Now it's like, hey, let's do an event, handing out care packages.
01:53Even with the Jags now, any opportunity like, hey, we need a couple guys, whether it's like visiting a school,
02:00going to a military base, passing out resources in a low-income neighborhood or something like that,
02:07like you got me, like I'm available.
02:10Not only do you have Keep VA Warm, which is impacting the state of Virginia and also, you know, where you're from in Norfolk,
02:15but also you have My Cause, My Cleats and that initiative.
02:18So how does that impact the community?
02:21My Cause, My Cleats, players have the option to choose whatever organization or support their own foundation,
02:28just to give more awareness to whatever that cause is, you know what I'm saying?
02:33And then show their support on, you know, on TV.
02:36Like I said, they can wear it in game or they can donate it to that organization or something like that.
02:41So most of the time it's like a pamphlet or something like that during game day where it shows what they're supporting.
02:47First year I chose the YMCA.
02:51Just working with kids and doing these summer camps and being, just being, you know, just working there.
02:58Whatever they needed help with, I was there.
03:00And so them, that's who I wanted to show my support to.
03:05So I chose them for my first pair of cleats.
03:08Thinking back on your time at Norfolk State University, how did attending the HBCU prepare you to be the man that you are today?
03:16I felt comfortable there already.
03:18Like I felt the environment, felt the culture.
03:22You know, going there, as far as like going to class, football, I feel like the coaches that we had, the professors that we had,
03:30I feel like they try their best to prepare you for the life, you know, life afterwards.
03:35You know, once you graduate, like what's next for you?
03:37You know what I'm saying?
03:38It also feels like football is just a bonus for you.
03:42Because it feels like you're your direct kind of motive and your motivation is to be involved in community work.
03:49Again, with keep VA warm and my calls, my cleats and just everything that you're involved with.
03:53You talked about the YMCA as well.
03:55So how much do you think that having that NFL platform helps you just be able to connect to people and help people draw, get drawn to you?
04:05And what you're doing?
04:06It's like a huge supporting system.
04:07Now that I have that, you know, you got, you know, you can network.
04:10There's so many people that can help you out in that field.
04:12Like, here's the steps you need to take if you want to take that path.
04:16So I've met a couple of people who started their own foundations and stuff like that.
04:21And, you know, they're doing stuff with the community.
04:23It's like, you know, how can I get to that point?
04:26How can I host these events?
04:28How can I help people in needs and stuff like that?
04:31When I do have this platform, it's not really all about the cameras.
04:35It's just like, you know, just making a difference.
04:40Well, I appreciate the time Deshaun, man.
04:42You are truly HBCU excellence.
04:45He is Deshaun Dixon, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end.