Going into its game against Utah State University on Saturday, San José State football players might have their minds off the field and instead, on late running back Camdan McWright.
This Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of McWright’s death.
He died at 18 years old when a school bus hit him while he was riding an electric scooter, according to an Oct. 21, 2022 ESPN article.
The accident occurred at South 10th and East Reed Streets, a couple blocks away from campus, according to an Oct. 21, 2022 NBC Bay Area article.
“What we've been echoing with our team (is) how do we best honor Camdan by living like he did,” SJSU head coach Brent Brennan said after practice on Wednesday.
Brennan said McWright was a hardworking, diligent and motivated young man. He said he always came to practice on time, worked hard in the weight room and prioritized his academics alongside football.
Assistant head and running backs coach, Alonzo Carter, said saying “one, two, three ... get right” when the players break, has a whole different meaning after the tragedy.
“Everything about him felt right,” Carter said. “He wasn't perfect, but everything about him as far as the mentality and effort just felt right and that's something that I will never forget.”
Carter said he saw McWright on the day of the accident after he was looking for him. He said the football player was late to practice, which had never happened in the past.
McWright was a two-time Camino Real League MVP and a first-team all-league member at St. Genevieve High in Panorama City, Calif.
Carter recruited McWright into SJSU’s football program, according to the NBC Bay Area article.
“It's just something that you don't erase,” Carter said. “He was such a wonderful young man with a great spirit and great effort and I remind our current group ... about how to represent him.”
Carter said his favorite memories of McWright were when he recruited him and saw him commit to SJSU.
He said when McWright and his family visited the SJSU campus, they fell in love and knew it was the place for him.
“His mother’s wonderful,” Carter said. “She just loved her son and his dad, Cleve, they’re wonderful parents. Just knowing they had to let go and pretty much put him in our hands, that's something that I remember.”
McWright’s death came just one day before SJSU’s matchup against New Mexico State, a game which was ultimately postponed.
The Spartans paid tribute to McWright in the following game against the University of Nevada, Reno by wearing shirts honoring him and forming McWright’s number six before the game according to a Nov. 2, 2022 article by The Spear.
The Spartans upset the Wolf Pack 35-28, coming back from a 14-point deficit with junior running back Kairee Robinson scoring the game-winning touchdown with just a minute left in the game.
Now in his senior season, Robinson said he drove past the intersection McWright died on before Wednesday’s practice and took a moment to reflect.
“I just remember ... not to take every moment for granted,” Robinson said. “You never know when (it) could be your last time. Just have gratitude for the day, for this game (and) for everything.”
Carter said people easily gravitated towards McWright and that he not only hung out with younger crowds, but with coach Carter himself.
“He was just a coach's dream,” Carter said. “(It’s) those types of kids you want to coach and he's a 4.0 student on top of it. He was special.”
Brennan said his favorite memory was simply his big smile.
“Coming out to work every day, he had great energy about him and I think everybody that got to meet him, got a chance to feel that,” Brennan said.
