Former Indiana Football Star’s Life Transformed by Fellow Hoosier’s Generosity
POLICY WIRE — Austin, Texas — Earlier this year, Jasper Steinmetz encountered a man on a path in Austin who seemed both familiar and out of place. Steinmetz soon discovered the man, Sampson James,...
POLICY WIRE — Austin, Texas — Earlier this year, Jasper Steinmetz encountered a man on a path in Austin who seemed both familiar and out of place. Steinmetz soon discovered the man, Sampson James, was from Indiana and had been homeless for eight months.
A Google search revealed that James was once a four-star football recruit from Avon High School in Indiana. He joined Indiana University’s football team in 2019 as a freshman running back, later transferring to Purdue in 2021, and briefly returning to Indiana University as a walk-on in 2023.
He was an amazing athlete, a standout star, Steinmetz remarked. However, James’ football career ended due to a severe knee injury and a bipolar disorder diagnosis. He dropped out of Indiana University in 2023 without graduating, losing everything except his red school backpack.
Their shared Hoosier connection inspired Steinmetz to take action. In June, he launched an online fundraiser for James, which successfully raised $17,000.
The fundraiser was just the start. Steinmetz then secured a home for James. We prepaid a bunch of rent and got him everything he needed for the apartment, Steinmetz explained.
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Now, as James and Steinmetz walk the same trail where they first met, the future looks much brighter. “Now that all these people donated and you got the apartment, they really want to see you succeed,” Steinmetz told James this week.
“Oh yeah, and I’m big on not letting them down,” James responded. This fresh start underscores the powerful connections that can arise when people find common ground.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
