4 years after losing his leg, valley student pursues football dreams

More than four years after losing a leg in a car crash, now 14-year-old freshman Adrian Grajeda is now just weeks away from suiting up for Palm Desert High School.

Read: Student hurt in crash on playground loses leg

“I think it’s something fun I love contact and stuff to do with contact I just love sports and stuff too,” Grajeda said.

His head coach says he doesn’t have to hold him back.

“Some corner back drills with safeties and receivers cut in and out and he was stepping in there sticking the outside receiver, he’s doing really well,” said Scott Gilbert, Palm Desert High School’s Football team head coach.

Adrian is able to play football thanks to a special blade that acts as his foot, but some argue about the blade’s legality in the game.

“The only concern we had, how do we get it padded and covered? So that it’s not considered some sort of weapon,” Gilbert said.

However, Adrian’s best weapon could be his positive thinking.

“No one’s really said anything mean to me, I’ve had some encounters of people being rude to me and stuff. I don’t let that get to me cause you’ll get down and once you get down you won’t get back up and you won’t play again,” Grajeda said.

He wants his play to be an example for other handicapped athletes.

“No one’s going to stop you doing it, you just have to do it within you, you just have to want to do it. Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t do something because you always can,” Grajeda said.

But will he see the field next season?

His coach says he foresees Grajeda getting some playing time this season.