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Despite a series of injuries that prevented him from playing football, Paul Pitts III kept his faith in God.

In fact, the 23-year-old, who is pursuing a joint bachelor’s and master’s degree in religion and liberal arts and sciences, says that a torn Achilles only reaffirmed his faith and drew him closer to God.

“That threw a rift in my plan,” Pitts says of the injury that sidelined him from the field for several seasons. “My heart began to change and I began to grow in the church.”

Now Pitts, who is affectionally known as “Pastor Paul” by his former teammates, has aspirations of becoming

an evangelical pastor and was known to organize impromptu Bible study and prayer meetings in the locker room before and after practice and games.

A possession receiver with a wide catch radius and good body control, the 6-foot Pitts appeared in 11 games for the 2015 Mountain West Conference Champions.

In 2011, he caught the attention of San Diego State University (SDSU) as well as other schools when he was recruited to play for the Aztecs.

A New Track: Fostering Diversity and Equity in Athletics
American sport has always served as a platform for resistance and has been measured and critiqued by how it responds in critical moments of racial and social crises.
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A New Track: Fostering Diversity and Equity in Athletics