When Londen Bickham arrived at Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) in the summer of 2019 as a sixth grader from New Orleans’ 9th Ward, he was a “little shrub” on the JV team, confused and adjusting to an unfamiliar world. Seven years later, the senior signed to play Division I football at the University of Texas at San Antonio—a testament to faith, mentorship, and perseverance.

“I was so confused—it was a different environment,” Bickham recalls. But even so, he found an MCH family, that includes teachers from UT University Charter School (UTUCS).

Bickham’s path took him through six-man football, starting on varsity in eighth grade and playing every position imaginable—running back, linebacker, quarterback, center, even kicker. As captain his junior and senior years, he learned leadership extended beyond the field. Living with his teammates meant he couldn’t switch it off.

“I’m the oldest in the house with six different boys. I was the youngest in my family—never experienced being an older brother,” he says. “It has taught me patience.”

When Bickham talks about MCH, he doesn’t mention statistics. He talks about people, including math teacher Leisa Patterson. She has taught him every year since sixth grade and saw his potential right away.

“From the beginning, I could see there was something worth fighting for in him,” Patterson, a UTUCS 20-year veteran, says, “He was very rough around the edges, but with the right support from many people, and his dreams, I had hope that he could make the changes needed to achieve great things.”

Bickham’s largest transformation came sophomore year. “He became very serious about his academics, particularly in math,” Patterson recalls. “He took very detailed notes, requested extra work to take home and practice.” By junior year, he won the Financial Math award for his diligence. Now he attends morning tutorials three days a week to improve his college entrance scores.

Former MCH head coach Matt Rodgers, now at Baylor, shaped him into a better man. House parent LeAnn Cumby became like a mother to him.

But most importantly, there was O’Teman Vincent, a house parent who became a father figure. “He told me, ‘Doesn’t matter where you come from—it’s in God’s hands. He’ll take care of you,'” Bickham says.

Choosing UTSA over potentially bigger programs was deliberate. “I don’t want to go too high,” he explains. “I chose somewhere where I could make myself known, learn everything the right way.” Coming from six-man football, he wanted to develop properly rather than get lost in a massive program. UTSA football coach Jeff Traylor has a philosophy that centers on what he calls the “210 Triangle of Toughness.” It focuses on developing tough, high-effort student-athletes, with a core mission to turn “boys into men.” He emphasizes a team deeply rooted in faith and integrity which suits Bickham.

Beyond football, Bickham plans to pursue fashion and photography. “I want to visit new places, meet new people, see their views on fashion,” he says. “Hopefully be in the NFL and tie photography and fashion together.”

Perhaps most importantly, Bickham sees his journey as bigger than himself. He’s thinking about younger kids at MCH who might be where he was seven years ago.

“I can tell them more about my story and show them the way,” he says. “It doesn’t matter who you are and where you come from, but God will be on your side.”

It’s the same message Vincent gave him, now being passed forward. From “little shrub” to scholarship athlete, Bickham’s journey proves that with the right people and environment and hard work and faith, success is possible. As Patterson says, “His story is not finished.”