Making the plays on the field pales in comparison to the life plays Jesse Wilson, Shakee Shaw and Terrell Roby are making.

All three of the Warren Central High School senior football players are part of Do Better University or DBU, which is a local organization that encourages community outreach, and three weeks ago, these athletes scored big with Linda Hughey’s second grade class at Redwood Elementary.

Wilson, Shaw and Roby’s sole intention was to visit Hugey’s class and try and connect with kids that needed a bit of encouragement when it comes to making good decisions.

“It was a good experience to talk to the kids and give them advice that could possible change their lives,” Shaw said.

Shaw was a former Redwood student, and visiting the school he attended when he was younger, he said, brought back memories. It felt nice to have the opportunity to give back, he added.

Wilson, who was also a student at Redwood, echoed Shaw’s sentiments about the positive feelings he experienced while visiting with the students, and added he also shared with the students that they can change.

“I told the kids some of the things I should have been doing and learning,” Wilson said, in an effort to try and connect with them and let them know things can be different.

“DBU was started by a coach with the Texas Longhorns. It is an elite skills organization based on football,” Ryan Williams said.

Williams is one of the volunteers for the local program.

The singular purpose of DBU, Williams said, was to offer an intensive off-season training program, but the local organization decided to expand on its original intent

“DBU is centered on mentoring and being there for these kids. The coach of these kids spend time with them everyday, their parents spend time with them, but sometimes a child doesn’t want to just talk to their coach or to their parent, so we are there for them to express their feelings, emotions and problems and help them through it,” Williams said.

The local DBU also stresses the importance of faith in God, Williams said, and after every gathering, the group ends with a word of prayer.

Other components the organization stresses include leadership and attitude.

“Attitude is everything. Everybody watches how you act and how you respond to criticism,” Williams said, “and our main focus is to make better leaders and men out of these young men for this community,” Williams said.

“Everybody can be a follower, but somebody has to be a leader,” he said.

DBU is a citywide organization and is offered to whole community.

Williams said Chris Lacey, Larry Walker, Marcus Allen and Vic Tyrone started the local DBU, and that he got involved after seeing what a positive program these men had developed.

“I know there are a lot of people doing a lot of stuff, but we do this because of the love,” Walker said, adding the sacrifice of time and money is well worth the return.

Roby, who joined DBU this year, said being part of the organization has reinforced what he has learned at home, and the visit to Redwood proved it.

“I felt like I had become a leader because I am helping them become leaders,” Roby said.

For those interested in learning more about DBU, Williams said the group is on Facebook or his number is 601-218-8033.