Kansas City Chiefs running back coach Deland McCullough has three sons who all aspire to become professional football players. His oldest son Deland McCullough II plays at his alma mater, Miami (Ohio). His two youngest sons, Daeh and Dasan, are still in high school playing at Blue Valley North in Olathe, Kansas.
McCullough has since found a balance between playing the role of coach and playing the role of dad.
“I play the middle,” McCullough told reporters in late May. “The thing is — and I don’t want to sound like a typical guy — when they told me years and years ago that they wanted to play this game I told them, ‘If you’re going to play it, you’re going to play it at a high level.’ That’s just what the expectation is in this house. If you’re going to participate in something you’re going to try and be the best. Those guys have all embraced that — working hard. My 17-year-old, he just came back from working out and talking with coaches. These guys are just embracing the whole process. We sit up and watch tape together — we watched some Chiefs’ tape last night. They’re always doing things to make themselves better. I always tell them every day, ‘What are you doing to make yourself better?'”
One opportunity that the McCullough boys have taken full advantage of is their proximity to some of the best players in the NFL. They’ve had the chance to meet and learn from many Chiefs players. Dasan, who is a four-star defensive back and sought after recruit, recently detailed some of his experiences learning from Tyrann Mathieu just days prior to Super Bowl LIV.
“Tyrann Mathieu is probably who I’m closest with because he’s on the defensive side. He actually sat down, and we talked for a second – just about the game and football in general,” Dasan told Zack Carpenter of Eleven Warriors. “He’s definitely my biggest one who gives me more advice than anyone else. It was nothing crazy, I would say (the night after the Super Bowl). It was really just teaching me about patience and making the right decisions.
“Obviously, we all know he did some stuff he shouldn’t have done in college, so he was telling me you have to stay focused. You can’t mess up and make a mistake like that, especially now. Coaches will just ignore a player that made that mistake. Luckily, he got a second chance, but he wanted to make sure I make the right decisions and stay on the right track.”
Mathieu still is giving advice to Dasan and is helping him see the game in a different light. But Mathieu isn’t the only player that Dasan had an opportunity to interact with. He’s hit the practice field and worked against some of the running backs in his dad’s room like Darwin Thompson. He’s even lined up against players like Mecole Hardman and Travis Kelce at Blue Valley North.
“I have a really good relationship with them, especially Kelce and the running backs,” Dasan said. “Tyreek, Mecole and Kelce. Those are the real top three. Some of the running backs like Darwin I’ve gone up against. I only guarded Mecole once. He was definitely a real bad dude. Him and Tyreek.”
Then there’s Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes. How many high school athletes can say they’ve had a few passes defended against a Super Bowl MVP?
“I’ve got a couple pass breakups, but I’ve never picked him off. Not yet,” Dasan said of Mahomes. “I mean, it’s pretty cool because you’re basically going against pros – not even basically. You are going against pros. The best receivers and the best quarterback in the NFL. What high schooler can give you that type of work?”
The answer is not many and it’s just a footnote on a laundry list of reasons that Dasan has received offers from schools like Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Oklahoma, Texas, USC, Oregon, and many more. He has a bright future and if he continues to seek knowledge from the players that his dad works with, it will only help him on his own path to greatness.
The commitment, success and growth that Deland McCullough has seen from all of his sons throughout the recruiting process has also created one proud football dad.
“One thing I guess I can say in conclusion during this recruiting process for these guys, the feedback I’ve been getting from coaches has been like, man,” McCullough said pridefully. “These guys are like years ahead of their peers as far as their demeanor and just their football IQ. It’s been good to watch them.”
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