BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – The distance from Philip Simmons High to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia isnt that far.
But the journey it has taken Gunnar Yocum to get there sure is.
“A lot of scans, going to doctors’ offices every day and really just monitoring everything.”
The Iron Horses senior long snapper was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor in his sophomore year.
He unenrolled for treatment to fight the cancer causing him to repeat the grade.
“But then I had to sit back and think everything happens for a reason, try to stay positive through everything and just make the best of it.”
Now in remission, Gunnar made the best out of his extra year of eligibility for Philip Simmons under head coach Eric Bendig.
“Him being able to play his fifth year knowing that he lost an entire year to cancer diagnosis. Then him going through this process to get a power five opportunity, you just kind of see the perseverance. You see the level of commitment; you see the character,” said Bendig.