JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Like most 3-year-old boys, Jayden Knighton loves to play catch. But 3-year-olds don't usually play catch with a professional football player.
Terrance Knighton is Jayden's big brother and also happens to be the starting defensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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"He's a handful, but me being the older and always being the older brother, it does help," Terrance Knighton said.
Knighton grew up in Connecticut, the oldest of three boys. His mother, Rochelle Knighton, also cared for foster children. Jayden was one of those children.
"When they brought him to me, it was just a matter of he didn't cry, he didn't do anything at 3 months, and it was just that bond of trying to get him to open up," Rochelle Knighton said.
She and her three boys took to Jayden, spoiling him with love and attention, and eventually he opened up."Once he realized that we were going to give him love, then he just attached to us," Terrance Knighton said.
The Knightons also became very attached to Jayden, and when he was 2 years old, they adopted him out of foster care. Then when Knighton was drafted by the Jaguars, he moved his mother and his younger brother from Connecticut to Jacksonville.
On game days, Knighton's mom and Jayden are in the stands cheering on the Jaguars. And even though Jayden is only 3, he can pick out which player is his big brother.
"He knows that Terrance is next to the guy with the long hair, which I guess is Tyson (Alualu)," Rochelle Knighton said. "So he notices the hair hanging out the helmet, and then he points and says, 'That's Terrance.
'"While fans see Knighton as a hero on the field, he is most concerned with being a positive role model off the field, especially for his younger brother, who he knows looks up to him.
"I went to college, and we're all doing the right things, and hopefully he'll follow in my footsteps," Terrance Knighton said. "Thats why I make sure I'm interacting with him all the time and always coming to see him and making sure he's doing good in school."
"He's been that big brother that's hands on with him," Rochelle Knighton said. "People don't even realize that Jayden is adopted.
"Terrance Knighton is also a huge supporter of the foster care system."
Just think about the child instead of your circumstance really," he said. "Just think about the opportunities you can give the children that don't have the opportunities like I had, having a mom and having a structured family. Just giving kids the opportunity to live the life that all kids want to live."