At the lowest point of his depression, Ricky Sapp was a recluse who wouldn't even answer phone calls from his mother, father or close friend Da'Quan Bowers.
He couldn't sleep and was so itchy that he thought he had bed bugs.
Only after he sought help did he learn that there were no bed bugs, but a monster of a battle as he tried to figure out who he was after his football career ended.
Sapp found himself by stumbling onto his passion for speaking to kids.
It totally changed who he was as a person.
Where he once used to be terrified of public speaking, Sapp now loves having the most public persona imaginable as he posts daily inspirational videos that include a lot of dancing and joyousness.
"I'm just a naturally happy person, which I learned when I got older," he said.
Sapp spent a year-and-a-half at his alma mater, working in Clemson's football strength and conditioning program.
But in August of 2023 he made the difficult decision to leave and pursue his all-consuming passion: Traveling the world and helping its youth.
On his web site therickysappfoundation.com, Sapp "encourages youth to make positive changes within themselves, their schools and communities."
"A single action can make a difference in the community; collective action can greatly impact the world. Ricky Sapp is driven by a single goal: to do his part in making the world a better place for all, one child at a time."
Ricky Sapp interview
And here are the previous two in case you missed them:
Viktor Lakhin
Patrick Sapp
