Outside linebackers and special teams coach Jovan Dewitt joined the Husker Sports Nightly radio show Tuesday night and shared some big news. He is cancer free.
“Long term, I should be able to make a full recovery,” Dewitt said. “I’m in the process of going through different therapy — occupational therapy, speech therapy, I’ve got to get these lymphatic massages so the lymphatic fluid gets flushed out of my body because my face looks pretty swollen right now.
“I’ll be able to make a full recovery. I’ve got a couple more weeks of therapy I’ve got to go through, but the prognosis is really pretty good to be able to live a long and normal life.”
Two days later, Coach Scott Frost was part of a Big Red Blitz tour that took him to Norfolk, Fremont and Ashland in Nebraska alongside other Husker coaches. Frost spoke about Dewitt’s news prior to the event in Ashland at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.
“Our football program is a family and we’re getting closer and closer as a family, but the coaching staff is as close of a group that I’ve been around,” Frost said. “He’s a brother to all of us and we’ve been praying for him and trying to stay with him and support him. That’s just great news, not even from a football perspective. We’re just happy for him individually and his family.”
Dewitt was back on the recruiting trail for Nebraska this week, but his participation in the Huskers’ summer camps will likely be limited. However, he’s continued to find his way to the practice field and to the stadium—even despite doctor recomendation—because of the players. That never surprised Frost because of the relationship Dewitt has with his players.
“To be honest with you, players love and respect coaches that respect and love them,” Frost said. “Jovan and the rest of the coaches at Nebraska are those type of guys and everyone of them have relationships with guys they coached five, 10, 15 years ago and longer. We’re excited to keep building our family at Nebraska and I hope some of the guys we’re coaching now we have relationships with for the rest of our lives.”
As he continues to recover, Dewitt is now in the process of putting on weight. He lost 95 pounds since his Jan. 20 diagnosis. On Thursday, he took to Twitter seeking places to try in Lincoln.
https://twitter.com/Coach_Dewitt/status/1134198101890260992
Does Frost have any suggestions?
“I’m not sure it’s kosher for me to pick a couple of places but there are some good places to eat in Lincoln,” Frost said. “Especially if you like meat and most of us do.”
Erin is the Deputy Editor and Digital Marketing Strategist for Hail Varsity. She has covered Nebraska athletics since 2012, which has included stops at Bleacher Report, Cox Media Group’s Land of 10, and even Hail Varsity (previously from 2012-2017). She has also been featured on the Big Ten Network, NET’s Big Red Wrap-Up, and a varsity of radio shows nationwide. When not covering the Huskers, Erin is probably at Chipotle.
