Channel 9’s Big Player to Watch, Seth Tillman, wears his heart on his forearm.
The South Pointe senior got a tattoo recently honoring his late father.
Reginald Tillman passed away days before his son was scheduled to announce his college commitment publicly, but not before they shared in the moment privately as a family.
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In a video Seth Tillman posted on social media, it shows their family surrounding his father at his bedside, as he announced his commitment to Clemson University.
The Stallions defensive lineman said everything he does is for his father, whom they called “Big Reg.”
“He kept telling me and having late-night talks with me , saying I have a talent, a hidden talent that he saw before I even saw it,” he said.
Seth Tillman said his motivation this year has gone into overdrive, which includes honoring his late father’s legacy along with his mother’s sacrifice.
“She actually was one of the people who helped make my decision by taking me to all these places when my dad couldn’t because he was in the hospital,” Tillman said.
“That’s her taking time off work, helping me out, going to places even when she had to fly. She doesn’t like planes. So, it was her making sacrifices for me.”
We’re profiling 22 players every weekday until voting for our five finalists on Sept. 4. Tune into Channel 9 each day to see local stars featured.
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