Career of FIU safety C.J. Christian has been a winding road and a test of faith
A large tattoo on FIU safety C.J. Christian’s right bicep reads: “Fear.”
A matching tattoo on his left bicep reads: “God.”
It’s safe to say that Christian’s name fits him. He’s a devoted Christian … but that hasn’t always been the case.
Christian, who is from Normal, Illinois, played high school football in his hometown before signing with Augustana University, a Division II school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
However, he fell narrowly short of the score needed for NCAA eligibility, and he was labeled an academic non-qualifier.
Upset, he returned to Normal and took a job in dry cleaning, working from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“When I lost my scholarship, I was depressed,” Christian said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to play football anymore.”
That’s when Judah Cocco — who was one of Christian’s football teammates at Normal Community High School — invited his buddy on a road trip to Penn State. It was early October of 2018, and Penn State was hosting Michigan State on the 13th of that month.
Judah’s father, campus minister Pete Cocco, also made the 10-hour trip that proved to be a turning point in Christian’s life.
At one point during the drive, Pete Cocco asked Christian: “Can I tell you about the best decision I ever made in my life?”
When Christian said yes, Cocco told him that he gave his life over to Jesus Christ.
“C.J. then gave me the best line I’ve ever heard,” Cocco said. “He said, ‘That sounds like something I should do.’
“He asked me how he should get started, which I thought was a great question. I was tempted to say: ‘Repent and get baptized.’ But instead I asked him what he thought.”
Christian said he thought he should talk to the Lord, and that’s exactly what happened. The three men started praying in that car. Soon after that, they started a Bible study class for about six weeks.
After that, Cocco baptized Christian and Judah in his outdoor hot tub.
“I got more spiritually connected,” Christian said of his baptism. “I wasn’t as depressed. I was getting through my day better.
“Ever since I got baptized, it’s just felt right.”
Christian’s mother, Michelle Doage — who is a nurse in Normal — was thrilled that her son got baptized.
She has five children, and she never forced religion on any of them.
“I wanted them to make that decision on their own,” Doage said. “But I was really proud of C.J. and excited for him.
“He reads his Bible all the time. He’s very spiritual.”
Following the disappointment with Augustana, Christian finally got his football career back on track three years later as he played for Iowa Central Community College in 2021.
That led to his recruitment by FIU, and Christian was an immediate hit, starting the first four Panthers games of 2022, making 17 tackles and intercepting one pass.
However, Christian — who is majoring in communications — dislocated his right shoulder during FIU’s fourth game of last season, a 21-7 win at New Mexico State.
Christian got hurt in the third quarter as he tried to tackle the quarterback after a botched snap. Christian — in pursuit of the QB — collided with a teammate.
It was the first serious injury of Christian’s career. But it wasn’t his first setback, including the academic issue at Augustana.
“My whole college career has been about fighting through adversity,” Christian said. “When the injury happened, I said, ‘All right God, I know you have a plan for me.’
“I trust God. He just gives me peace. It’s hard to explain. I’ve just trusted, and it shows me a lot about myself, how I can bounce back from things and keep going.”
Besides getting his mind and spirit right, Christian has had to go through a physical comeback.
“At first, it was hard,” Christian said. “But with all the coaches working with me, I’ve come back bigger and stronger.”
Christian started fall practices by wearing a harness as a precaution. He no longer wears the harness.
“I feel great,” he said. “I’m ready to get back to full go. By the time the season comes, I should be full go.”
FIU coach Mike MacIntyre has said Christian is one of four players on equal standing at the top of the safety depth chart. The other three are Kent State transfer JoJo Evans, Memphis transfer Ladarian Paulk and holdover D’Verick Daniel.
“C.J. started [fall] a little slow,” MacIntyre said. “He was trying hard — just kind of rusty after tearing his shoulder last season.
“He’s going to be a good player. He has the ability to cover and hit. He made some big plays for us last year in his four games. He’s kind of a playmaker back there.”
Fear God?
If all goes well, it will be receivers catching passes over the middle of the field who fear the punishing blows of C.J. Christian.
