Caleb Campero is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arizona College Prep for AZPreps365.

Although he cannot play, senior assistant Aidan Deogracias is a true ambassador of Arizona College Prep, especially the football program.

An injury is something no athlete should experience, especially when it keeps someone from participating in a sport he loves. In Deogracias' case, he has not let an injury keep him from participating in football -- or competing in other sports.

Deogracias tore his ACL at the beginning of his sophomore lacrosse season. Any athlete that has experienced this injury will tell you the road to recovery can be brutal. Most cases require surgery and months of physical therapy.

For an athlete, this can be a lot to endure, but if there is one person who has looked at the injury as somewhat of a blessing it’s Deogracias.

“I like to think of my injury as more of a blessing,” Deogracias said. “The injury gave me multiple opportunities to help others and better myself mentally."

Wherever a person might find himself during an ACP practice or game, there is one smiling face waiting to ask if there is anything he can do. On top of that, Deogracias is running around getting anything the players or head equipment manager needs.

“He’s 100 percent dedicated,” head equipment manager Patrick Sylvestre said. “I think it’s more (dedication) when knowing you’re not going to play but you are still here every day."

From washing the laundry to setting up the field with Sylvestre, Deogracias knows how to do it and where to find the things to get the job done. If that means during the week or over the weekend, Deogracias is committed to the team far more than average.

Sylvestre said that some of the injured players take their opportunity for granted by not showing up for practice, but Deogracias has never missed a day besides this past week when he was out of town.

Besides the responsibilities on the field, Deogracias is a person who carries one of the biggest hearts around. Despite the injury, it hasn’t kept him from participating in sports like lacrosse and tennis, or even partially running the school spirit page.

“I would say (he's) an icon,” said senior safety Jayden Diaz, describing his friend. “I would for sure say people look up to him like, 'I want to be like him.' He’s involved with everything."

Deogracias has a servant's heart. If it can impact someone, he is all for it. That spans from friendships to the commitment he has to ACP.

His friends have expressed that Deogracias is the one to go to when something maybe isn’t right. Or when friends need a house, Deogracias' doors are always open. Although he might seem like just a manager, Deogracias means so much more.

“He just goes to show even if you’re not on the team you can still be a big part of us,” senior linebacker Matt Tran said.