Frankie Telfort

College: University of Southern California (USC)

Rare disease connection: Not long after reporting to USC for his freshman year as a highly touted linebacker out of Florida, Telfort was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during a routine physical. This condition results in an enlarged heart and makes prolonged exertion potentially fatal.

In his own words: “I didn't even know at the time that my last high school football game was the last game I would ever play. I try to always tell my teammates to think about what they would do without football.”

» Read Frankie’s full story on our blog

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