Lafayette's Stone Commits to USD
By: Matthew Tritten
Updated: January 23, 2013
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) An injury-riddled senior season at Lafayette did not deter D'Treal Stone from looking to advance his football career beyond high school.
The Irish safety fought through two injuries trying to catch a team's eye, and now it is paying off.
Stone verbally committed to the University of South Dakota Tuesday night. He will sign his letter of intent on February 6th - National Signing Day.
His college pursuit set him back during the summer before his senior season at Lafayette. Stone suffered a Jones Fracture - a break in a small bone in the foot - during a football camp.
Then in week five against Smithville, he strained his MCL.
"Especially with the knee injury coming, the MCL, it took a long time to heal," Stone said.
Suffering multiple injuries made him doubt whether or not he might get a scholarship offer at all.
"All the injuries, not playing that many games, I didn't think I had an opportunity, not at this level that I'm playing at."
Stone played through the pain, and amassed 27 solo tackles to go along with 22 assists and an interception for the Irish who finished 7-3.
Now he moves on to play safety in a 4-2-5 defense at South Dakota.
The Coyotes are coming off a 1-10 season, and play in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The University of South Dakota is located in Vermillion, SD.
