- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,208,293
- Reaction score
- 59
Before Isaiah Hazel developed his love for football, his mother had a different vision for his future.
“I honestly thought that he was going to be a minister because that was his thing,” Brenda Hazel said. “He knew how to minister people, minister to individuals just because that’s just what he wanted to do. You didn’t have to ask him for advice. That’s just who he was.”
Yet football monopolized Isaiah Hazel’s attention to the point that the Upper Marlboro native and Henry A. Wise graduate played collegiately at Maryland and Charlotte. The wide receiver-turned-defensive back was eyeing a chance to try out for the United Football League before dying in a three-car accident on July 6, 2024, with friends Khyree Jackson, a Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback, and Anthony Lytton, Jr., a Florida State and Penn State cornerback.
In the aftermath, Brenda and Aaron Hazel launched the Isaiah Lee Hazel Foundation to provide financial support via scholarships to students battling financial and learning difficulties. On June 26 — 11 days after what would have been Isaiah’s 26th birthday — the organization presented its first scholarship to Terps redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Joshua Simmons.
The scholarship, valued at $2,000, will help cover meal expenses for the 2026-27 academic year for Simmons, who said he only learned he was the recipient a few days before the announcement.
“It means so much to me,” he said. “What really means a lot to me is being able to represent Isaiah’s name and represent his legacy. That means the most to me knowing that the family chose me to serve and live his legacy out.”
Maryland coach Michael Locksley was away on vacation, but he provided a statement through team spokesman Jerry Rodriguez.
“Isaiah was one of my first recruits at Maryland, and from the moment he arrived, you could feel the energy he brought to the program,” Locksley said. “What his family is building through this foundation is a powerful reflection of who Isaiah was, and we’re proud to support their mission.”
Monday marked the two-year observance of when the car Hazel was driving was struck by another vehicle abruptly changing lanes at a high rate of speed. Cori Clingman, 25, was sentenced in February to three years in prison after pleading guilty last fall to three counts of negligent homicide while under the influence.
Time has barely dulled the family’s pangs of sadness.
“I don’t like to think of my son in the past tense, and I don’t speak of him in the past tense now,” Brenda Hazel said. “But starting this foundation and being able to talk about who my son is, it’s been healing. It was really hard getting it going just because I knew I’m talking about someone who’s no longer with us.”
The Hazels said Isaiah recognized how fortunate he was and often wondered why his classmates and peers endured challenges. After pledging to take care of his family, Isaiah often discussed giving back to the community.
“We just have an opportunity to fulfill his dream,” Aaron Hazel said. “It’s something that he always spoke about, and we were in a position to honor our son and have a scholarship presented in his name.”
The Isaiah Lee Hazel Memorial Scholarship — which Simmons received — will be awarded to a student from Wise or Maryland encountering financial adversity and learning difficulties. The Hazels said they knew Simmons was the perfect candidate after meeting him.
“We wanted someone that would exemplify faith, perseverance, strength, knowing how to navigate different situations,” Brenda Hazel said. “And this is a godsend because we were sitting there with him and I got so emotional. I was just sitting there talking to him, and I felt like I was just talking to my son.”
Simmons never met Hazel. So he asked coaches and former teammates about him.
“They would tell me that he was a leader and he would always show humility,” Simmons said. “His character was really good. So it’s a blessing that I can exemplify some of that character in me.”
Simmons, a walk-on, said he has a little financial aid, but his family has borne the brunt of costs for tuition, room and board. He said the scholarship means he does not have to worry about how he will refuel his body after a long day of classes and practice.
“It definitely relieves a lot of my worries when it comes to food,” he said. “It means a lot to me that they chose me to receive that.”
The Hazels plan to announce on Aug. 11 another scholarship — this time for a student from Wise. Brenda Hazel said the family is enjoying making donations in Isaiah’s honor.
“We do believe that he is definitely proud of what we’re doing and he’s satisfied,” she said. “I believe that he is saying, ‘Well done.’”
This is just the beginning, Aaron Hazel pledged.
“At the end of the day, we’ve still got a lot to do,” he said. “There are a lot of students and student-athletes that need support, and there’s a lot of ground to cover. We’re just getting started at the ground level.”
Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at [email protected], 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun.
The Isaiah Lee Hazel Memorial Scholarship — which Maryland's Joshua Simmons received — will be awarded to a student from Wise or Maryland encountering financial adversity and learning difficulties. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics) The Isaiah Lee Hazel Memorial Scholarship — which Maryland's Joshua Simmons received — will be awarded to a student from Wise or Maryland encountering financial adversity and learning difficulties. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics) The Isaiah Lee Hazel Memorial Scholarship — which Maryland's Joshua Simmons received — will be awarded to a student from Wise or Maryland encountering financial adversity and learning difficulties. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics) Show Caption1 of 4The Isaiah Lee Hazel Memorial Scholarship — which Maryland's Joshua Simmons received — will be awarded to a student from Wise or Maryland encountering financial adversity and learning difficulties. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics)Expand
Continue reading...
“I honestly thought that he was going to be a minister because that was his thing,” Brenda Hazel said. “He knew how to minister people, minister to individuals just because that’s just what he wanted to do. You didn’t have to ask him for advice. That’s just who he was.”
Yet football monopolized Isaiah Hazel’s attention to the point that the Upper Marlboro native and Henry A. Wise graduate played collegiately at Maryland and Charlotte. The wide receiver-turned-defensive back was eyeing a chance to try out for the United Football League before dying in a three-car accident on July 6, 2024, with friends Khyree Jackson, a Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback, and Anthony Lytton, Jr., a Florida State and Penn State cornerback.
In the aftermath, Brenda and Aaron Hazel launched the Isaiah Lee Hazel Foundation to provide financial support via scholarships to students battling financial and learning difficulties. On June 26 — 11 days after what would have been Isaiah’s 26th birthday — the organization presented its first scholarship to Terps redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Joshua Simmons.
The scholarship, valued at $2,000, will help cover meal expenses for the 2026-27 academic year for Simmons, who said he only learned he was the recipient a few days before the announcement.
“It means so much to me,” he said. “What really means a lot to me is being able to represent Isaiah’s name and represent his legacy. That means the most to me knowing that the family chose me to serve and live his legacy out.”
Maryland coach Michael Locksley was away on vacation, but he provided a statement through team spokesman Jerry Rodriguez.
“Isaiah was one of my first recruits at Maryland, and from the moment he arrived, you could feel the energy he brought to the program,” Locksley said. “What his family is building through this foundation is a powerful reflection of who Isaiah was, and we’re proud to support their mission.”
Monday marked the two-year observance of when the car Hazel was driving was struck by another vehicle abruptly changing lanes at a high rate of speed. Cori Clingman, 25, was sentenced in February to three years in prison after pleading guilty last fall to three counts of negligent homicide while under the influence.
Time has barely dulled the family’s pangs of sadness.
“I don’t like to think of my son in the past tense, and I don’t speak of him in the past tense now,” Brenda Hazel said. “But starting this foundation and being able to talk about who my son is, it’s been healing. It was really hard getting it going just because I knew I’m talking about someone who’s no longer with us.”
The Hazels said Isaiah recognized how fortunate he was and often wondered why his classmates and peers endured challenges. After pledging to take care of his family, Isaiah often discussed giving back to the community.
“We just have an opportunity to fulfill his dream,” Aaron Hazel said. “It’s something that he always spoke about, and we were in a position to honor our son and have a scholarship presented in his name.”
The Isaiah Lee Hazel Memorial Scholarship — which Simmons received — will be awarded to a student from Wise or Maryland encountering financial adversity and learning difficulties. The Hazels said they knew Simmons was the perfect candidate after meeting him.
“We wanted someone that would exemplify faith, perseverance, strength, knowing how to navigate different situations,” Brenda Hazel said. “And this is a godsend because we were sitting there with him and I got so emotional. I was just sitting there talking to him, and I felt like I was just talking to my son.”
Related Articles
- Maryland native’s winding path has him on verge of MLB dream
- Maryland football’s Dontay Joyner avoids additional jail time after guilty plea
- Arkansas transfer DJ Wagner embraces ‘fresh start’ with Maryland basketball
- Spalding WR Myles McAfee details why he chose Maryland football
- Another Cav becomes a Terp as Spalding WR Myles McAfee commits to Maryland
Simmons never met Hazel. So he asked coaches and former teammates about him.
“They would tell me that he was a leader and he would always show humility,” Simmons said. “His character was really good. So it’s a blessing that I can exemplify some of that character in me.”
Simmons, a walk-on, said he has a little financial aid, but his family has borne the brunt of costs for tuition, room and board. He said the scholarship means he does not have to worry about how he will refuel his body after a long day of classes and practice.
“It definitely relieves a lot of my worries when it comes to food,” he said. “It means a lot to me that they chose me to receive that.”
The Hazels plan to announce on Aug. 11 another scholarship — this time for a student from Wise. Brenda Hazel said the family is enjoying making donations in Isaiah’s honor.
“We do believe that he is definitely proud of what we’re doing and he’s satisfied,” she said. “I believe that he is saying, ‘Well done.’”
This is just the beginning, Aaron Hazel pledged.
“At the end of the day, we’ve still got a lot to do,” he said. “There are a lot of students and student-athletes that need support, and there’s a lot of ground to cover. We’re just getting started at the ground level.”
Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at [email protected], 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun.
The Isaiah Lee Hazel Memorial Scholarship — which Maryland's Joshua Simmons received — will be awarded to a student from Wise or Maryland encountering financial adversity and learning difficulties. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics) The Isaiah Lee Hazel Memorial Scholarship — which Maryland's Joshua Simmons received — will be awarded to a student from Wise or Maryland encountering financial adversity and learning difficulties. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics) The Isaiah Lee Hazel Memorial Scholarship — which Maryland's Joshua Simmons received — will be awarded to a student from Wise or Maryland encountering financial adversity and learning difficulties. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics) Show Caption1 of 4The Isaiah Lee Hazel Memorial Scholarship — which Maryland's Joshua Simmons received — will be awarded to a student from Wise or Maryland encountering financial adversity and learning difficulties. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics)Expand
Continue reading...
