LOS ANGELES -- Although Rashidi Wheeler's skills on the
field did not immediately impress his high school football coach,
he did see something special about the future Northwestern starter
who died during a practice drill this week.
"He was so green when he started, but he had so much natural
talent," retired coach and English teacher Dick Larson said by
phone from his home in Stillwater, Minn., on Friday night. "I just
had to find a place for him."
Wheeler, a starting safety on the Northwestern team that tied
for the Big Ten championship last season, collapsed Friday during
preseason conditioning drills.
There was no immediate information on the cause of Wheeler's
death, but school officials noted the 22-year-old senior had a
history of asthma and had used his inhaler during practice.
At Damien High School in La Verne, about 30 miles east of Los
Angeles, Wheeler started as fullback on the varsity football team
for two years, helping lead the team to the league playoffs both
years, Larson said.
"He came up with some pretty good kids," he said. "It was a
pretty good bunch of athletes."
At his last high school game in 1997, Wheeler rushed for more
than 75 yards to a touchdown in the fourth quarter, although it was
called back to the 25-yard line because of a penalty.
"He was a good size, and had great speed," Larson said. "He
was one of those kids who could run 75 yards easily."
He also was a model student, the retired coach said.
"He worked extremely hard in the classroom, and worked really
hard in the athletic field," he said. "He was a good citizen. He
was the kind of kid you'd like to be around. ... He's a role model,
that's for sure."
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