Steelers’ Dwayne Haskins Jr. is mourned in his native N.J.: ‘Rest in heaven, Seven’

Mourners entered Christ Church in Rockaway, N.J. for a memorial service simply earlier than midday on Saturday. Dwayne Haskins Sr. wore a black Ohio State jersey with the No. 7 stitched into the back and front, and his spouse, Tamara, complemented his in crimson. They had been joined by their daughter, Tamia, as they paid tribute to her brother, Dwayne Jr., two weeks after he was struck by a truck in Florida and killed. He was 24.

“Loss of life has no victory,” Pastor Steven Shearod mentioned. “Not right here.”

Academics and teammates remembered Haskins Jr., who was born in New Brunswick, began his profession with the Edison Jets and turned heads as a youth along with his throwing accuracy en path to incomes a scholarship to Ohio State, the place he was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Seats contained in the worship house had been crammed with relations and buddies who wore T-shirts from his NFL Draft celebration in 2019, in addition to his duplicate jerseys from his stints in Pittsburgh and Washington. All of them spoke of an outdated soul with a straightforward smile who demonstrated an unusual means to carry them collectively inside and out of doors the huddle.

“He taught me about what it was prefer to be an actual buddy,” mentioned Terry McLaurin, a receiver who performed with Haskins in faculty and the NFL. “Meaning being sincere with any individual. Meaning supporting them when they’re down. And meaning loving them of their valleys and their mountaintops.”

McLaurin and Haskins Sr. shared an emotional embrace by the altar, which featured framed pictures of Haskins Jr. and mementos from his profession.

“He was a person making an attempt to turn out to be the most effective model of himself,” McLaurin mentioned.

Coaches reminisced about Haskins Jr.’s preternatural expertise for making the soccer spin completely, and his means to face out on the youth stage. He received the back-to-back championships with the Edison Jets after which performed in Somerville with the United Bulldogs. He moved to Maryland in highschool, the place he starred for Bullis College and earned a scholarship to Ohio State, his dream faculty. He was the Buckeyes beginning quarterback in 2018, and threw for 4,831 yards and 50 touchdowns. The Buckeyes received the Massive 10 championship, in addition to the Rose Bowl. Individually, Haskins Jr. was a Heisman Trophy finalist, however didn’t win. In a lightweight second Saturday, the pastor famous that wanted to be rectified.

“Sure, he ought to have received the Heisman Trophy,” he mentioned as the gang applauded.

It was a celebration of life amid a darkish fortnight. On April 9, Haskins’s spouse, Kalabrya, referred to as 911 from her residence in Pittsburgh and knowledgeable a dispatcher that Haskins Jr. had contacted her to let her know that he was stranded and searching for fuel. Whereas crossing Interstate 595, close to Fort Lauderdale Worldwide Airport, he was struck by a dump truck. He had promised he would name her again when he was completed.

“I simply need any individual to go within the space and see if his automotive is there, if he’s okay and if something occurred to him,” Kalabrya Haskins instructed the dispatcher. “… That’s simply not like him for him to not name me again and for his telephone to go useless. He was stranded by himself. He was strolling, although.”

Kalabrya Haskins grew emotional as she spoke to the dispatcher.

“All proper, so I don’t need you to panic, however I’m going to be sincere with you,” the dispatcher instructed her through the name. “We do have an incident.”

Information unfold to buddies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio. Saturday’s service was the second of three such memorials scheduled in three states.

Wideout Steven Sims shared a narrative about Haskins Jr. opening his residence to Sims when he was looking for a spot to remain whereas each had been with Washington. Haskins Jr. declined any cost when Sims provided. One in every of Sims’s final reminiscences with Haskins Jr., who he reconnected with in Pittsburgh as teammates, was having drinks collectively and laughing in Florida.

“He actually had a coronary heart of gold,” Sims mentioned.

Parris Campbell, who performed wideout for Ohio State, recalled Haskins Jr.’s convening energy, noting how he introduced members of the Buckeyes collectively for exercises and hangouts.

“I’ll be taught to not stay with out you however to be taught to stay with the love you left behind,” he mentioned. “Relaxation in heaven, Seven.”

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Kevin Armstrong could also be reached at karmstrong@njadvancemedia.com.