Dae’Mar Nealy has been making a positive impact throughout his career at Union High School in Tulsa, on and off the field.
A senior captain on the Redhawk football team, Nealy is a four-year member of the program, a leader in the Redhawk Student-Athlete Leadership group and volunteers regularly around the Union community and beyond. His dedication and team-first mentality have earned Nealy the admiration of those around him.
“Dae’Mar has been a running back on the team since his freshman season, he was the ultimate “backup," he was the next guy,” says Union Public Schools Head Athletic Trainer Dan Newman. “However, each year, there was always a guy who was better. However, that never stopped him from working even harder. Staying after practice, working on his skills, in the film room or in the weight room trying to be the “guy.” He even looked for ways to help the team, he went to play linebacker. Dae’Mar is the epitome of what it means to be a Union Redhawk. He embraces everything we do as a program on and off the field. It’s not just two and half hours a day, it’s what he does daily.”
For his efforts, Nealy was honored as the Heart of a Champion by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. The Union student attended the 2023 Champions of Health Gala in Oklahoma City on Oct. 3, where he met and swapped jerseys with keynote speaker and Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
“It’s crazy to think I got to meet him and do a jersey swap with him,” Nealy said. “And we’re still communicating. I was honored just to give him my jersey. It was so cool.”