By LARRY VAUGHT
(LEXINGTON, Ky.)-Kentucky senior receiver Ja’Mori Maclin doesn’t mind facing obstacles on the field because of what he’s faced off the field during his life.
“It was rough on me growing up (in Kirkwood, Mo.). I have seen a lot of violence with family members killed, mom and dad going to jail and at times not having enough things to eat. I didn’t know how to deal with all that pain at times because there was nobody to look up to,” said Maclin.
He played two years at Missouri before transferring to North Texas for two years, including 2023 when he had a team-high 57 catches for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns. Maclin transferred to UK last year and had 13 catches for 313 yards and four scores while playing in all 12 games. He had one catch for 11 yards in UK’s season-opening win over Toledo.
However, Maclin felt he had to be a “difference maker” for his family and admits it took a toll on him early in his college career.
“I was depressed, even suicidal, before leaving Missouri. I never had internal peace. I felt like I was living in hell,” Maclin said. “I didn’t feel the love. I didn’t have a purpose in my life. I felt something was missing in my life. I turned to women, sex for approval from other people. Football was my outlet to feel good about myself.
“God has given me a lot of opportunities and allowed me to go to college. When I got to North Texas, I started going to FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). I got an itch for God. I learned I didn’t have to be perfect. Christ died for my sins and led a perfect lift for me. That made me want to honor him with the way I live. It gave me peace and changed my life.”
Maclin made an emotional video sharing his life story and faith for FCA because FCA “helped me realize who I am” and he hoped his story might touch others.
The veteran receiver met Aaron Hogue, the multi-area director of FCA in Lexington, after he got to UK.
“I needed someone with more knowledge and experience to mentor me,” Maclin said. “He doesn’t understand how much he’s impacted my life and helped me grow in my faith. Being around his family and spending time with him has been a blessing for me. It’s so good to have them all in my corner.”
Maclin said it was not hard to bear his soul in the FCA video and detail his life struggles in hopes of helping others who might face struggles like he did.
“I know my story can help other people. My life and what I’ve been through since I was a kid was rough. Finding God has been very impactful for me and helped me grow and learn as a man. So hopefully that story can help people out there that are lost,” Maclin said.
“I’m very much at peace in life now. I’ve seen the worst things and been through the worst of things since I was a kid, so I’m thankful that God has covered me. I had the weight of the world on me. I was 18, 19 and trying to take care of my family. We got evicted and were homeless. Those struggles just build up the pain and at times I couldn’t deal with it. Fortunately, God has orchestrated some things in my life to where I moved schools and let me meet God in North Texas.”
Maclin will go on TikTok at times now to share his testimony. Most people are shocked by his story and all he’s been through.
“But that’s the power of God to be able to save somebody like me who was on the brink of taking his own life. I even thought about ways of doing it. I was just tired,” he said.
All he’s been through off the field makes competing in the SEC almost easy. It’s why he did not get discouraged early last season when passes were not coming his way.
“When you go through stuff like that in life, football stuff is nothing compared to what I have already been through,” Maclin said. “Now being able to trust in God despite whatever goes on in the world has made life so much better. I just learned to give it all to God and he’s done nothing but heal me.
“A bunch of teammates have come to me to ask about God and stuff like that. How I live hopefully sets an example for them for more than just football. I love to share my testimony and help anyone that I can.”
PHOTO (L-R): Ja’Mori Maclin, Aaron Hogue
COURTESY: Fellowship of Christian Athletes