The boys (big and smaller) in my house are all about football. Me…not so much. However, I am always on the lookout for personal stories within the football community that my son can connect with. Most important is that connecting him with those who can be an example in the faith and their walk with Christ.

We just had the chance to review a book that meets all of my criteria. In Walk On: From Pee Wee Dropout to the NFL Sidelines- My Unlikely Story of Football, Purpose and Following an Amazing God, Ben Malcolmson shares a fascinating story.  He shares about finding God’s purpose for his life. Mr. Malcolmson also finds out that God works in unusual and expected ways.

Ben had a brief career in football that ended at age 10, (he was a Pee Wee football dropout) that is until he tried out for the Southern California Trojans football team in college. His goal wasn’t to on the football team. He wanted to get firsthand experience for an article he was writing for the school’s newspaper.

He had written articles about the football team before; along with its head coach, Pete Carroll. His goal was to secretly join the walk-on try out. He only weighed about 165 pounds and assumed that the “experience” would be just about all he would get.

He made the team! He was a fast runner and made the roster as a wide receiver.  It certainly wasn’t what he expected. Throughout the book, Mr. Malcolmson shares how he was able to be a witness for Christ, despite the setbacks and challenges. At one point, he experienced a shoulder injury and couldn’t play.

One of the more poignant stories involved his attempts to introduce Bible studies into the team dynamic. He even gifted all of the players with Bibles at Christmas. He found them strewn all over the locker room and even in the trash can. He was broken-hearted. However, a tragic incident revealed God’s purpose a short time later.

We loved the message of overcoming the odds with God’s help.  It also reignited my son’s hope that there is hope for him to play college level or pro football. The boy is 16 and weighs about 120 pounds. His momma is hopeful that there is another plan! Nevertheless, this is a terrific story of God’s plans and purposes for His children. There are also great little thoughts and scriptures at the end of every chapter.

It’s also fascinating to know that Ben Malcolmson is currently the Special Assistant to Coach Pete Carroll…who happens to be the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.  That is some career for a little kid who was a Pee Wee football dropout!

We recommend this book to football fans and casual observers, alike!

-Product review by Rebekah Teague, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, October, 2018