Escape from the Back Forty

Aubrey Rozzell knows about hardship.

The child of sharecroppers, Rozzell grew up in poverty in the Mississippi Delta. But the love of family and God's grace made for a rich life.

Rozzell escaped from plowing with mules on the back forty to find success in college sports. He made it to pro football but suffered a career-ending operation a few years later. That wouldn't keep him down.

Rozzell, who later went on to coach the sport he loved, now dedicates his life to his prison ministries and serves as a role model to troubled adolescents. He shares how he went from playing pro football to coaching the game-and how he persevered through the hardships of his youth.

Days chopping cotton while dining only on corn bread and buttermilk taught him about survival. It taught him to dream-and to keep dreaming no matter what stood in his way.

The first player from Delta State University to play professional football, Rozzell's experiences on the gridiron are an inspiration. And through it all, his determination-the one essential skill to persevere in life-has always shined through, lighting the way for others.