Estimated duration: 1-2 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah soccer star has decided to step away from the sport after suffering mental health issues.
Known as one of the best goalkeepers in the state and nation, at just 16 years old, Jeffrey Dewknapp signed a contract to play for Real Salt Lake and the Monarchs.
“It’s definitely difficult to play professionally at such a young age,” he said.
He said the pressure of playing professional football at a young age started to affect his mental health.
“On the field I felt like I was doing well, but off the field it gave me a lot of anxiety and depression,” Deucnap said.
Anxiety and depression continued to worsen, and last February he reached a point where he knew he needed to make a change.
“You haven’t lived long enough, so what are the steps I need to take to be happy?” he asked himself.
He quit soccer and decided to focus on what brings him joy.
“I found a lot of hope through music,” Deucnap said.
He said he wrote the song about his struggles off the field. His passion led him to form a band called The Johns.
“Music was a way to soften the blows in football,” he said.
He hopes to start breaking down the stigma by talking and singing about men’s mental health.
“Men must be vulnerable because they cannot grow without accessing their problems. You cannot ignore problems and expect growth,” he said.
If you’re into the music Dewsnup wrote, you can find The Johns on any music streaming platform.
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Ayanna LikensAyanna Likens is an Emmy Award-winning Special Projects Reporter for KSL-TV.
