Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence won’t hesitate to tell you what helped make him into the person and the player he is today.
It’s the small town atmosphere he grew up in right here in Aiken.
“Growing up there was great,” Lawrence said. “It showed me how to stay humble throughout the process and showed me that if I want something I have to thrive and go get it. The small city can show you a lot of things. You cant take it for granted.”
Many see him on television on Sunday’s causing havoc for opposing quarterbacks. He’s a 6-foot-3, 200 pound menace — in the positive connotation of the word. His nickname is Tank. He’s usually running over anything in his way.
That’s not the full story, though. Sure, he’s not afraid to speak his mind, but he’s actually as laid back as his Aiken County roots.
Those same roots are what have helped make the kid from New Ellenton and Windsor, who didn’t necessarily take the traditional route to the NFL, one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL. It’s also made him one of the highest paid.
He’s an All-Pro defensive end who’s made two Pro Bowl’s and is coming off a second consecutive impressive season. He made 64 total tackles, and 11 sacks during the 2018 season. That’s on the heels of a 58-tackle, 14-sack season the previous year.
He even has the mega contract to match his talents. He signed a five-year contract extension with the Cowboys worth $105 million this offseason.
What’s all that mean? By all accounts he’s a superstar in the eye’s of many. Fans would agree, and the media coverage would suggest the same.
But the NFL star from New Ellenton doesn’t necessarily see it that way. If you ask him, he’s just DeMarcus — or maybe “Tank” or “War Daddy” if you catch him on game day or in competition.
“I come home and everyone treats me the same, and that’s what I love,” Lawrence said last year in an interview with the Aiken Standard. “They show mad love and watch the games and stuff. As long as they treat me the same, I’ll treat them the same. I’m not a star.”
