2020 CTA's Blue Chip Chat: Sto-Rox's Diontae Givens

Sto-Rox’s Diontae Givens is ready for the 2020 WPIAL & PIAA football season, which happens to be his senior year.

SOURCE: (TWITTER | Diontae Givens)

Diontae Givens

School: Sto-Rox

Position: RB, WR, LB

Year: Senior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 219

The Scoop

In 2019, Diontae Givens recorded 14 receptions for 262 yards while rushing for 442 yards. Givens and his Sto-Rox team finished the 2019 season campaign with a 11-2 record as their last game of the season was a 41-19 loss against Clairton in the WPIAL 1A football championship game back on Nov.16, 2019. On defense, Givens is one of Sto-Rox's best linebackers and is expected to help the defense out. This season will be his third year starting for the Vikings.

College Talk

Diontae verbally committed to Duquesne University on June 3, 2020. He also had an FCS offer from William & Mary.

Questions and Answers

So, as we approach closer to the football season, how excited are you for the upcoming season in your senior season of high school?

I’m very excited.

Last year, you played running back, wide receiver, defensive end and linebacker. What's it like playing all of those positions?

I don’t really think about it too much. I’m a ball player, wherever coach tells me I'm going to be playing, that game week I just get my repetitions for the position during the practice week and when it gets closer to game time, it’s so normal to me.

You committed back to Duquesne University in June. What made you make your decision?

The pandemic made me decide a little faster. Ever since I took my visit there, the coaches from the staff kept in touch with me and really made me feel at home. My guy Todd Hill from Steel Valley is one of my friends on Duquesne's football team. That’s my guy he actually plays linebacker.

What do you think you would want to major in at college?

Right now, I’m really locked in on majoring in business, but we will see how it goes once I’m there.

Describe the "1WayOut!" movement at Sto-Rox.

We all got the same one goal in making it out of our situation and we put in the work. Most of us come from nothing and we just want to make a way for our families.

Dream Shots Media has been recently shooting a documentary at Sto-Rox. How has the experience of the documentary being filmed been like for you?

Fun, but really, we're just being ourselves. There are not any shots like Dream Shots Media. Get with him, that’s my guy.

What's it like playing for head coach Laroi Johnson?

Coach Johnson makes us work, there are no shortcuts!! There is no easy way out of it once you are out there working ...but he focuses on our future. He lets us know it’s more than football. To be honest, I don’t know where I would be without him.

Describe the football culture at Sto-Rox.

It’s more than the players that’s playing at the time. We motivate the youth, like I said before, we are the heart and soul of the community, McKees Rocks is a tough area and we want to make it to where kids in the area don’t have to be involved with the bad things but they can have something positive to look toward and push for something better in life.

Who are some of the role models that have helped you out?

Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford (University of Pittsburgh Safeties) They took me under their wing in motivating me to be a better player on & off the field. They are showing me what it’s like to be an NCAA Division I athlete. I really thank those guys. They fought through the same struggles I did. Especially Damar, being that he grew up in the same exact neighborhood. I have nothing but love for those guys.

Your Sto-Rox football team moves up to 2A for the upcoming season. What do you think of your team moving up in classification?

I don’t mind it. A football game is a football game to me. My teammates and I put the work in, we have a great coaching staff also.

AND FINALLY

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

I’m in AP classes, that’s something I was surprised to know about myself.

Brentaro Yamane: bkyamane@gmail.com and Twitter/Instagram @BYHilton13