By Jalisa Bannerman
SMSB Journalist
Dakota Guerrant, the young football star from Harper Woods, has emerged as a rising talent in the state of Michigan.
Recently, he led his team to victory in the State Championship and was named to the prestigious 2023 Detroit News All-East High School Football Teams and the 2023 MLive Metro Detroit Football Dream Team for his outstanding performance on the offensive end.
Guerrant’s impressive stats speak for themselves. The All-Region, All-Conference, and State Champ freshmen stud impressed everyone with 49 receptions for 1,110 yards and 15 touchdowns at Harper Woods.
His incredible skills have not gone unnoticed by college scouts, as Central Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State are among the list of college offers for the 2027 elite athlete.
One of the key factors behind Guerrant’s success is his involvement with the Sound Mind Sound Body program since childhood. The program has taught him valuable lessons about communication, leadership, and being a better person, both on and off the field. He has also been able to maintain a 3.6 GPA in school, while excelling in his sports career.
“Being a part of the Sound Mind Sound Body program teaches me how to communicate and be a better man. I am taught about things outside of just football,” shared Guerrant.
“Coach (Curtis) Blackwell has taught me about being a student-athlete; school is always first, and take care of that before anything.”
Referencing traveling for 7v7 tournaments Guerrant shared, “I liked visiting the Martin Luther King historical monument because we learned more about our history. We always get a chance to separate ourselves from just football, but we get to learn throughout the entire trip, including at colleges.”
Guerrant’s love for learning has been nurtured by the SMSB program, which provides ample opportunities for academic growth and personal development. He recently took the PSAT with SMSB at Detroit Country Day, and his academic achievements have been applauded by his mentors.
Despite his busy schedule, Guerrant has managed to keep his priorities intact. He values education and is already planning to get his real estate license before college. His parents have been supportive of his journey, and they credit the SMSB program for their son’s success.
“On the field, everything about Dakota has improved with being a part of the program. Besides his ball skills, running, route running, and db fields, I like the program because of what it does for his confidence. He’s put in big moments so they are never too big for him when big things happen. They put him in a position to succeed,” shared Gerald Guerrant, father of Dakota.
Guerrant’s confidence has grown leaps and bounds, thanks to the mentorship and guidance of Coach Blackwell and Coach Oden. He has been able to hone his skills on the field and develop his character off the field. With the support of the SMSB program, he has been able to take advantage of many opportunities and emerge as a true champion.
About Sound Mind Sound Body Youth Association:
Sound Mind Sound Body (SMSB) is a proven platform that ensures students matriculate to post-secondary education by successfully prioritizing and balancing a unique curriculum that combines life skills, athleticism, and academics. STUDENT + ATHLETE + SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY + SOUND DECISION MAKING = SUCCESS.
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Jalisa Bannerman
