The words “they never knew” are tattooed on the top of his left wrist. One tattoo, three simple words and an infinite amount of reasons behind it. They never knew he could grow up to be a running back for the Michigan State Spartans. They never knew he could grow up without his mother or grandmother. They never knew he could graduate from a Big Ten university with a degree in studio art. They never knew a kid from Flint, Michigan, could overcome such adversity.