DeSoto High School athletes get college ready during Gear Up Week

(The Dallas Examiner) – Life is more than just a game.Tell that to the DeSoto High School community, where the Eagles are known for its rich tradition of producing professional athletes such as NFL players Von Miller, Cyrus Gray, Tatum Bell, Patrick Crayton and Jalen Mills.In fact, the school has produced 22 NFL players, according to Pro Football Reference. Also, Marques Bolden, an NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks, graduated from DeSoto High School and led the Eagles to the 2016 6A state championship in basketball.Related Stories More important than pursuing a professional career in sports is the importance of seeking an education and developing the whole student, according to Eagles head football coach Claude Mathis.Mathis, along with other teachers, administrators and staff at DeSoto High School worked together to recruit students to participate in National Gear Up Week, Sept. 23-27.GEAR UP – the acronym for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs – aims to increase the college and career readiness of low-income students in communities nationwide, according to the National Council for Community and Educational Partnerships.The three goals of GEAR UP include:Increasing the post secondary expectations and readiness of students. Improving high school graduation and post secondary...