Durham senior finding new identity on a different type of team

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Satterfield, a Southern High School senior, dreamed of this day. Dreamed of playing college football.

But concussions forced the 17-year-old to hang up his shoulder pads and helmet.

He was forced to the sidelines after the second game of the season. Southern later won its first state championship.

The injury also forced him to reexamine his identity.

“You lose football, the thing that you fought so hard for, being a leader and being a captain,” he said. “It’s like where do I fit, not only on the football team but in the community? How do people view me now as losing everything?”

On Wednesday, he sat alongside his teammates in the school gym.

They committed to college teams. N.C. State University. N.C. Central University. Shaw University.

Satterfield committed to the Marines.

“It fits his character,” said his coach, Darrius Robinson. “He’s just a true leader. He can take anybody and get them to follow him, and going into the Marines, going to the military, the armed forces, it’s perfect for him.”

Satterfield’s leadership skills were key in Southern’s state championship run, Robinson said.

“He was there every moment with us, to be able to be there to support us with our mission,” he said.

Joining the Marines was a simple decision for Satterfield.

“To me, there’s no other branch,” he said. “If you’re going to do it, you got to be the best.”