dotun aketepe: from mentee to mentor

There was a moment in the second half of the Guelph Gryphons’ win over the Toronto Varsity Blues in the OUA regular season finale that showed precisely how Dotun Aketepe has developed into a defensive force. With Toronto driving late in the third quarter and in dire need of a score to close a 10-point gap, Blues’ quarterback Clay Sequeira dropped back and threw a ball to the left sideline. Guelph’s fourth-year defensive back broke to the wide receiver and leapt through the air, snatching the ball away with an incredible one-handed grab to get his team the ball back.

Aketepe’s on-field football prowess has never been much of a question. But when the Barrie, ON was a rookie on the 2016 Gryphons, the rigorous demands of balancing being a varsity athlete and a university student proved to be a problem.

“My very first semester of school, I did not do a good job,” says Aketepe, now a Marketing Management major after beginning his university career as an undeclared Business student. “I struggled. I didn’t take advantage of a lot of the resources we had and I wasn’t as focused as I should have been.

“It was an adjustment because it was the first time I wasn’t going to be living at home. And before school even started, the main focus was football, football, football. My expectation was to do well and understand what living by myself would be like, having to do everything on my own.

“I had to get used to that and be responsible.”

Aketepe ended up on academic probation in his first fall at Guelph. But those who know the talented defensive back understand his tenacity. And rather than let his school life spin out of control, Aketepe made an important choice – to get help. It was a relatively easy decision considering that he’s clear he came to the University not just for football but to get a great education.

Aketepe started by reaching out to Gryphon Football’s Academic Coordinator Lindsay Williams. She, along with some veteran teammates, gave the young student-athlete some advice on how to get off his current path and put the focus back on school.

“I had to take things more seriously,” says Aketepe. “I picked up some study habits and I used SAM (Student-Athlete Mentorship program) a lot more in my second semester.

“Being proactive, that was the main theme. If you’re proactive and on top of what you have to do early, then you have a better chance of understanding what help you might need. If you start an assignment well in advance, you can use academic resources or ask your teacher for help.”

It didn’t take Aketepe long to right the ship. There are parallels between football and academics that he was able to recognize, like the need to be disciplined, study, and do things the right way.

Aketepe is now a SAM mentor himself, helping young university athletes who were in the same position he was back in his first year. He uses that experience when meeting with students, trying to make it clear that academic problems can be common. What’s important is the steps that are taken to improve their situation. Aketepe tells them about all the resources available, which he was initially unaware of. Whether it’s about academics, mental health, or even advice with housing, there are people ready to lend a hand.

“Most of what I do is relate back to my struggles,” he says. “Everyone goes through different struggles in university and I have an idea of what they struggle with. I can help them and try steer them in the right direction.

“My position on the team makes some of them more receptive. I’m a captain and have somewhat of a leadership role so I feel they listen to what I have to say. I have a good relationship with a lot of the rookies and I think that makes it easier us to have conversations if they need help.

“I’m always ready to learn from them, as well. They have experiences that I haven’t been in and that might help someone else because now I know somebody who went through a specific situation.

“I try to keep open dialogue.”

While football plays a huge role in Aketepe’s life, he is also immersed in school and is enjoying his Marketing Management program. He specialized in his second year, intrigued by the interpersonal aspects of the subject, like presentations and developing relationships. He’s not exactly sure of the career path just yet but he has some experience as a brand ambassador and is intrigued by how athletes and celebrities market themselves.

“That was more the route I wanted to go,” Aketepe says of his program. “I want to be able build relationships, learn how to get a message across to other people, and understand branding. That’s what really interested me.”

There is also one other aspect of life that he considers critical to success both in the classroom and on the field – enjoying down time. Varsity football players don’t get much of it when the season is on between classes, practices, film sessions, training, and game days. Exams and playoff stretches are particularly difficult.

But Aketepe tries to wind down when he can, usually on Sundays. When het gets some homework out of the way, it’s time to watch his Philadelphia Eagles or play some video games like Dragon Quest. Music wise, he’s currently listening to DaBaby, Juice Wrld and Drake.

Those outlets allow him to clear his mind so he can refocus on school or make a clutch play late in a game, like the pick against Toronto.

“It’s important to have things that are fun,” says Aketepe.

written by: david dicenzo