Ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship game, defensive linemen Kayden McDonald and Caleb Downs of the Ohio State Buckeyes took a trip down memory lane.
Growing up in metro Atlanta, the two shared a football field and a classroom. McDonald attended North Gwinnett, while Downs went to Mill Creek. Downs later played for the University of Alabama before moving to Ohio State following the retirement of head coach Nick Saban.
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However, before they met on the field in Columbus, Ohio, they were close childhood friends at Parsons Elementary in Suwanee.
Cheryl Bonds had both boys in her 3rd-grade class. Another teacher at Parsons Elementary in Suwanee, Rob Arrington, taught McDonald in 5th grade and had both boys in recess, where they played some epic football games. Arrington was elected to be the quarterback in these games because Kayden, Caleb, and Bonds’ son AJ just “wanted to play football.”
She told 11Alive, “I think about them, and they were standouts then, just like they are today. When I think about Kayden, if you know Kayden he is a big guy, but he has an even bigger heart. He just always had that warm smile, always kind, always respectful. Caleb Downs is a leader like no other. Even in the third grade he could organize those classmates whether it was in the classroom or on the playground to do anything.”
Arrington added, “We would be out there playing, and they would compete, but it was on another level. They competed with respect for one another, and they encouraged one another, and when one would be successful, they would all be happy for each other. They’re going to move on from football eventually and they’re going to go out and do a lot of really good things for other people.”
He added, “If they reach the National Championship and they win like I think they will, they’re going to have stories to tell, and it’s just a beautiful thing to share that with someone you have a history with. This year, it’s Ohio State’s turn, and it couldn’t happen to two nicer and better people.”
Not too long ago, McDonald surprised both Bonds and Arrington with tickets to watch him and others play at the National Championship.
In a recorded video that 11Alive showed to the teachers, McDonald excitedly expressed, “What’s up, Mr. Arrington?’ ‘What’s up, Mrs. Bonds?’ I appreciate y’all for being mentors and great teachers when I was growing up. I just want to give a special shoutout to y’all. Y’all had so much of an impact on my life, and Mr. Arrington, I know I always wanted you to come up to ‘the Shoe’ and come watch me play the team up North, but Mr. Arrington, Mrs. Bonds, I have something bigger. I have two tickets for y’all to come to the National Championship and watch me go win it.”
McDonald and his team also arranged for a car to pick them up and transport them home after the game.
Bonds remarked, “It just brings you joy as a teacher and this is amazing, thank you for this opportunity.”
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