Josiah Price Feature: Faith, Family & Football
11/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Drew Beadling, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- So often in sports, we see can athletes that are successful in their craft become somewhat individualistic, egocentric, or even conceited. Sometimes, people who enjoy such levels of success lose sight of where they came from and the people who may have helped them along the way.
When it comes to the case of senior tight end Josiah Price, none of the preceding sentiments could be further from the truth.
Price was a three-sport athlete during his high school days at Eastern High School in Greentown, Indiana, where he earned All-State honors as a member of the football team.
He has played a major role in the Michigan State offense ever since his redshirt-freshman year, earned All-Big Ten honors for his play in 2015, and now ranks first in school history among tight ends with 21 touchdown receptions. He has been named to the Academic All- Big Ten team every year since 2013, and has been nominated year after year for awards that recognize his commitment to community service.
Price is certainly no stranger to success both on and off the field, but that hasn't changed who he is as a person; a man of great faith, compassion, and loyalty.
"Probably the biggest reason I committed to Michigan State was the people here," Price said, reflecting on the decision he made more five years ago. "Some of the players I met, some of the commits that I met, and then of course the coaching staff. Coach Dantonio and really most of the staff â€" they're men of faith. That was a big thing. I take my faith very seriously, so that was such a big factor for me."
Although Price was so successful on the field in high school, as it does for most young players, it took some time for him to find his way at the collegiate level.
"It was a big adjustment for me going from high school to college," Price said. "Coming from a small town in Indiana, I was pretty much All- State in everything I did. I was always successful in my sport. Then, when I came up here all of a sudden I was terrible by comparison. It was tough, it was a definite wakeup call. I really had to learn a lot about what hard work and extra work really meant. Not just on the field, either. Waking up at 6 AM and not getting back to your place until 9 at night. Full days of classes and then tutors and football. Going from such a small, quiet town where you know everyone to here where I still meet someone new every day. It was kind of a culture shock for me. There was a definite learning curve."
When things got tough, however Price knew that he could rely on strong relationships, both old and new, for motivation and support.
"My family was huge for me. My parents, my little brother â€" they were so important during that transitioning process. Then, just some really quality friends that I had made early on. Guys like Evan Jones who I lived with back then. Usually most freshmen get redshirted, so we were all going through that process together. Guys like Riley (Bullough), Tyler (O'Connor), Benny McGowan and Jack Conklin â€" we were all stars in high school. Then all of a sudden it's like, ‘dang, we stink.' We were all able to vent to each other. If I wouldn't have had those guys beside me, I don't think I would have made it," Price said.
One relationship in particular, though, stands out above the rest if you ask Josiah. Barak Price is Josiah's younger brother, best friend, and undoubtedly his biggest source of motivation.
"Another huge motivator for me is my little brother. He has cerebral palsy. We have such a close relationship. I refer to him as my best friend all of the time. That's my guy. The joy that I get to see on his face every time he comes up here and hangs out with the guys â€" the happiness that he has been able to experience through me being a part of Michigan State and having the success that I've had â€" that's such a huge motivation for me. I just want to keep doing great things and giving him the best life possible," Price said.
Life isn't always easy, and everyone at times experiences difficult situations or painful processes along the way.
Barak Price may idolize and look up to his older brother, but because of the way that Barak has handled his own struggles throughout his life, it is Josiah that now looks to Barak for endless inspiration.
"To see what he went through â€" when he was born, he lived in the hospital for about a month," Price said, talking about his younger brother's early life. "All of these tubes and needles sticking out of him, and he was still the happiest little guy in the world. I was homeschooled at first, and then started at public school because my mom was always traveling to Indianapolis to meet with doctors with Barak. Brace fittings, hearing aids, just everything you could think of that kids like him have to go through."
Throughout the battle with his condition, though, Barak's attitude would never sour. And if you ask Josiah, that is a lesson that all of us could stand to learn a little from.
"That's why he's such a big motivation for me. His attitude and the way he caries himself. He always had a light. He was always bringing happiness to everyone around him. If you were ever to meet him, he would just light up your day," Price said proudly. "He was born with so many things against him, and he won't let that slow him down. He lives life to the fullest. I think all of us could learn to live a little more like Barak. We all get so caught up with the negative things in our lives. There are always people that have it much worse than you. I draw so much inspiration from him and his attitude.
"I remember when they said that he might not ever talk. I remember when they said that he might not ever walk. Now, he's 14 years old and every time I see him he wants to play football or shoot hoops. He talks his brains off to every person he meets. He's just a normal 14-year-old kid who loves life. Seeing him struggle and then persevere, seeing him becoming the person that he is today â€" he's such a big inspiration for me."
Over the years, Barak has become a fixture in the Michigan State football program just like his brother Josiah. When he visits, he plays video games with Josiah's roommates and plays catch with the guys on the team. Also, amazingly, he has only missed one of Josiah's games in his time at MSU.
"He missed one game my redshirt freshman year at Nebraska. He was so mad at my dad for not taking him. They left him with my aunt and uncle, and the first thing he did at their house was check the schedule for the next year to look at the away games. First thing he said to my dad when they got back was ‘I'm going to Oregon next year. You're buying me a plane ticket'. That kind of shows you the support he has for me, and how much he loves being a part of all of this. It's been really cool â€" the support he has gotten from everyone here."
Although certainly known for his play on Saturdays, Price stays busy off of the field, as well.
"Just a lot of outdoors stuff," Price said when asked about what he does when not wearing the pads. "I didn't grow up around a lot of water, so up here in Michigan I've really enjoyed boating and living life by the lake in the summers. I like hanging out at friend's lake houses and stuff. I also have an awesome girlfriend, Christine Wilson. I spend a lot of time with her."
Price's time with Michigan State has allowed him to grow as an individual and explore personal interests in a capacity that he never thought possible. He is an avid member of multiple community service organizations, and through Michigan State has been able to combine this with another passion of his: travel.
"When we were growing up, we'd take these long motorhome trips," Price said, reflecting on the roots of his love for travel. "We'd just go for a month all throughout the West Coast. Now I think I've been to 41 or 42 states, as well as four continents. I did a study abroad in Australia, I went on a mission trip to South Africa, I've been to Europe, and I've been on mission trips to Honduras twice now. I just love to see all of God's beautiful creation. There are so many other cultures and ways of life. There's just so much diversity across the world. My interest and love for travel has only increased through the opportunities I've had here at MSU."
As a brilliant collegiate career works it's way to a close, Price looks forward to a hopeful career at the next level. Although the thought of what is yet to come is exciting, he finds himself looking back fondly on the memories and relationships made in his time at Michigan State.
"My time here has meant everything to me. It's meant an opportunity to compete, and an opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream of playing in the Big Ten. It's meant an opportunity to get a great education, and an opportunity to be a light in the community, serve a community, and use my platform to honor God. I've made friends here that will be with me for the rest of my life. I'll be in their weddings, they'll be in my wedding, and I'll never lose contact with them. It's meant an opportunity to travel the world and do something that I love. I could go on and on about the opportunities I've gotten through Michigan State. It all means so much to me, and this place will always be a huge part of my life. I'll always love the Green and White."
