USF's Rashad Cheney walks away from football to prioritize being a father

Amid all the questions about quarterback Byrum Brown’s health and then the approach of Hurricane Milton, a newsworthy item about USF football didn’t get the attention it deserved.

Defensive lineman Rashad Cheney announced on the site formerly known as Twitter that he is “retiring from football” for medical reasons.

He called it “one of the toughest choices I’ve faced, but ultimately, it’s the best decision for my future and my role as a father.”

He transferred to USF from Minnesota in 2021 and immediately earned respect in the locker room.  Injuries kept him from having the impact on the field that his talent would have projected, but he made his presence felt in many other ways.

“Rashad, man, I give, I give Rashad so much credit. When we got here, he had the really, really bad ankle, fought like crazy, and, I thought, had a really good year a year ago,” USF coach Alex Golesh said.

“He got hurt again this spring in our first full padded practice and fought like crazy all summer to get back. He was really limited through camp and went through it. Physically and emotionally, he's a leader on this team, the guy that that the D-line really has counted on to lead, but to just his presence. He's played so much football at a really high level. My emotions with Rashad are really heavy, just because he's a leader.”

Had he been able to stay healthy, Cheney dreamed of playing professional football. While his decision to walk away was emotional, he sees the bigger picture.

“This game has brought me so far in life, to places I never could have imagined,” he said. “As I reflect on my journey, I realize that prioritizing my health is crucial for being the best dad I can be for my little girl. Though I’ll miss the game, I know that stepping away now is a step toward a more fulfilling life as a parent.”

Golesh said Cheney played “absolutely lights out” against Alabama.

But injuries struck again, and it was time to make a decision.

“We sat here after the Tulane game, and he didn't play in the Tulane game, just the pain was too much,” Golesh said.

“You know, he's old enough that he knows his body. He knows when it feels right, when it doesn't, and it just hasn't felt right. Going into that game, it didn't feel right, and he's fought it like crazy. We sat down and between the medical personnel and just how he was physically feeling, felt like man, it I just can't go anymore. And you talk about a guy that left it all out there, he left it all out there, and so he's, he's ready to start life.”

For a truly committed player like Cheney, it’s about walking away without regrets. He can do that because he has nothing left to prove on the field. But just because he’s not putting on shoulder anymore, it doesn’t mean he won’t stay involved in the game.

“I joke with him all the time, but I think it's so true. I think he's going to be coaching on a football field sooner than later, just because that's his passion. And man, a lot of credit to him,” Golesh said.

“I think he's going to be such a success in life. He's taken this time right now to kind of figure out what's next for him in terms of his next step. And like I said, we're here for him. He knows that we've talked a bunch, and we'll see what's next for him. But I bet you he will be uber, uber successful.”