TJ Lester: Leading the Milton Eagles to victory with clear eyes and a full heart
MILTON, Ga. — You may not know TJ Lester is in the midst of building a legacy. But if he has it his way, you soon will.
The current Milton High School senior and starting running back for the Milton Eagles was offered a full scholarship to attend and play for Eastern Kentucky University, a Division One school. Just 3% of high school football players in the nation are offered packages like this, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
It may seem straightforward, but building legacies is complex work.
Tim and Natalie Lester moved with their 2 kids, Edward and TJ to Milton in 2007. Tristan and Toni Rae Lester were born shortly after in 2008.
The family was living in Miami Lakes, Fla., after Tim Lester, also an alum of Eastern Kentucky, retired from the NFL after stints with the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys. Tim was best known for playing fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the mid-1990s. Nicknamed the 鈥淏us Driver,鈥� Tim opened the field on the regular for legendary Steelers running back Jerome Bettis to reach the end zone.
It was time for a change, and the Lesters looked north. 鈥淭im fell in love with the community,鈥� said Natalie Lester, who empowered her husband to house hunt without her. 鈥淚 saw the house for the first time on the day we closed.鈥�
Tim Lester instilled a love of sports – and faith – into his kids. Growing up, the alarm was set at 5 a.m. so Tim could have the kids run hills. He taught basketball, lacrosse, and of course, football. 鈥淗e pushed us hard from a young age, and I didn鈥檛 like it as a kid, but I appreciated it as I got older,鈥� said TJ.
The valuable lessons reverberate today. 鈥淗e taught us to never shy away from things. He would always say: 鈥淐lear eyes, full heart, can鈥檛 lose.鈥�
In 2021, when TJ was just 14 years old, Tim unexpectedly died from complications of COVID-19, and Natalie was suddenly a single mother of three.
The family was shattered.
Natalie put her faith in God, and the Milton community surrounded her and her family with support. 鈥淚t was humbling. The community of Milton just poured love into us,鈥� Natalie said.
As for TJ, he made a commitment. Just days before Tim died, he shared his hope that Tristan and TJ would attend Eastern Kentucky. TJ began to focus solely on football, and promised himself to uphold his father鈥檚 legacy by working hard enough to earn a full ride.
鈥淚 told [TJ], your setbacks are waiting for a bigger comeback from you,鈥� Natalie said.
Today, TJ spends most afternoons on the field, strengthening his physical game and preparing for the Eagles to make a deep playoff run this season. On the weekends, you鈥檒l find him with his family, shoring up spirituality.
鈥淭o see his hard work paying off, it makes me so happy for him,鈥� said Natalie.
Milton High School Football Coach Reaves has known Lester since middle school and knowing his family – and his journey – gives him a level of satisfaction that only a coach can feel.
鈥淗e鈥檚 one of the ones that you鈥檒l always root for,鈥� Reaves said. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad he landed at a quality program and a quality home.鈥�
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