DB Nephi Sewell Not Letting Broken Neck Deter His College Recruitment

REDONDO BEACH, California — As the sun set last Sunday, Nephi Sewell reminisced about the 10 athletes who earned golden tickets to participate in The Opening finals this summer in Beaverton, Oregon. Four defensive backs were invited. He wasn't one of them.

And yet, Sewell may have been the biggest winner of the entire 400-plus-player roster at Redondo Union High School. He was on the field, competing, running and reading routes as a safety.

For the first time since August, Sewell was doing what he loves to do.

On Aug. 21, Sewell—a promising athlete from Desert Hills High School in St. George, Utah—suffered a broken neck during the first game of his junior season. Prior to the start of the season, he was considered one of the top players in the state of Utah in the 2017 class, as he played a myriad of positions for Desert Hills.

With one hit gone wrong, his junior year was over. But with the help of last Sunday, Sewell's smiles are brighter, and his dreams of returning to the football field remain intact.

"The doctors have cleared me to do this ... but no contact," Sewell said, referring to non-contact camps and combines such as The Opening regional. "I will have an appointment with a doctor in June to see if I'm able to do any summer hitting.

"Just being out here, it's kind of overwhelming and a blessing to know that the time I put in the weight room and on the field really shows."

Credit: Damon Sayles/Bleacher Report

Remembering the day

It was the opening game, and Sewell—a 5'10", 183-pound athlete who saw time at running back, wide receiver, cornerback, safety and on special teams as a returner—was pumped up as any athlete would be. Desert Hills played Jordan, and the first two plays of the game were routine.

That third play, however...

"I remember every single detail," Sewell said. "We were in man [coverage], and I saw the quarterback throw an out [route]. I broke on the ball, and the guy was in the air. I lowered my shoulder, and he was coming down, so my neck was positioned in a weird spot. When we hit, my neck went down.

"I hit the opponent, and my body stiffened up. I fell straight down; I couldn't get up."

Sewell made a jarring hit on a receiver, resulting in an incomplete pass. The play, however, also resulted in Sewell suffering injuries to his C4 and C5 vertebrae. He was only 16.

Originally, Sewell was thought to have a concussion, as he actually walked off the field minutes after the hit. By the start of the second half, Sewell complained about neck strain to a point where the pain became unbearable. He was brought to a nearby emergency room where he ultimately was diagnosed with the neck injury.

Sewell suffered the injury on a Friday night. The next day, he had surgery to fuse the C4 and C5.

"At the time, I honestly was thinking maybe it's just a concussion," said Gabriel Sewell, Nephi's father. "After the hit, he had some strength, but as the game went on, in the third quarter, my wife took him to the hospital. They checked him over, did X-rays and an MRI, and the worst happened. It took a toll on him, and it took a toll on our family."

The surgery was successful, but significant down time was in order for an athlete who wasn't used to being still for an extended amount of time. That, and watching Desert Hills play without him, was the hardest part for Sewell. 

"The first couple of months was really boring," he said. "I couldn't do much. All I had to do was lay in bed and watch TV. I really don't like being lazy. I like to be active; I like to get out. I was just glad to get my brace off and put in work.

"As a few games passed, we lost a couple. It hurt because you know you can make a difference in the game."

"It was hard on him, especially with the losses," his father added. "He was one who tried to carry more than his load with the team. He prepared long and hard in the offseason, and to see it end in the first series of the first game was hard."

Doing what he loves again

For six months, Sewell was confined to a neck brace, limited movement and, worst of all, no football. The good news was that Sewell was told he didn't need major rehabilitation.

And, perhaps the best news of all, the idea of playing football again—chances are still closer to minimal than high at this point—was never dismissed by doctors.

Sewell said he was medically cleared to participate in light workouts, which included non-contact activity. Competing at The Opening Los Angeles regional was the perfect opportunity for him to get back on the field.

In addition to participating in drills, Sewell was seen as the guy who was first in line. He was active and showed little signs of rust in coverage and reading routes in one-on-one and seven-on-seven situations. He displayed great footwork and hip movement. He also showed no issues with keeping his head on a swivel.

In short, Sewell was back. And he was happy.

"After I got my brace off, I knew after I was cleared I wasn't going to take the injury lightly," he said. "Me being me, I went straight to the weight room. I think I overdid it and was sore for a good week, but after that I was feeling pretty good."

Sewell's father watched last Sunday with pride as the 2017 athlete competed well against some of the best California, Nevada, Arizona and other West Coast states had to offer.

He's watched his son overcome adversity on a level he once never imagined.

"It's a testament to his hard work and determination," the elder Sewell said. "I know some parents and friends of mine look at me sideways asking why I'm letting him do this. It's his journey, it's his dream. I can't imagine stopping him from doing what he loves. If a doctor officially clears him to play, then so be it. We'll let the dominoes fall as they may."

Sewell's final combine rating scores showed that he's not as far off from being the electric athlete he was before the injury. He finished with a combine rating of 94.5, which included a 4.72-second 40-yard dash, a vertical jump of 32.4 inches, a 4.2-second 20-yard shuttle time and a throw of 36 feet in the power ball toss.

He gave his efforts "an 8 on a 10-scale."

"Last year was my first time doing this," he said. "It just felt good being out here again working out and taking reps."

College plans still a go

Sewell's next goal is to secure his college future—whether or not that includes playing football. He's been fortunate to stay in touch with a handful of colleges since the injury.

Sewell, however, will always remember the coaches he once spoke with but who chose to move on to other athletes following the injury. He understands it's a business move, but he's also using it as a form of incentive.

"When I was playing, I talked to a lot of coaches and connected with them," he said. "When the injury occurred, it was rough. I didn't really talk to any coaches. Some coaches kind of strayed away or went on to another kid. To me, that's motivation to keep going."

Weber State, both Nephi and Gabriel said, is one of the schools that has decided to keep an offer on the table regardless of what doctors say about his football future. Nevada and Southern Utah are two other schools looking to honor their scholarships.

Nephi said Weber State linebackers coach Lance Hunsaker called Desert Hills coach Carl Franke after the injury and said the offer would be good no matter that. An offer from Nevada would be equally special for him, as his older brother, Gabe Sewell, is a linebacker for the Wolf Pack.

"Just to have offers whether or not I'm still playing, that's a real blessing," Nephi said. "When an injury like that happens, you really don't know if you can carry on with what you love to do. I love to play football."

"They all pretty much said he doesn't have to play another down," his father added. "He just has to pass the physical, which he will. I'm so appreciative of the coaches who have been so supportive of him and my family."

Playing college football is still up in the air for the 2017 athlete, but playing seven-on-seven and competing in camp settings like The Opening helps in erasing the mental adversity and stress that Sewell dealt with a little more than six months ago.

In his mind, he's on his way back to being the guy Desert Hills relied on as a playmaker.

And as he takes random glances at the neck brace he once wore, he's reminded of an athlete who simply wouldn't accept defeat.

"I can only imagine a kid who can pretty much do anything at any given time he wants all of a sudden not be able to do anything," Gabriel said. "But I watched him do all the right things and follow the doctor's orders. Just to see him back, given the hand he was dealt, I'm happy to see him happy."

"I broke my neck...but I'm still here," Nephi said.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter @DamonSayles.