Reggie Love III, a talented running back at Purdue University, has a story to tell that goes beyond playing football on the field. His journey is deeply connected with the love and care of his family, especially his parents, who raised Reggie in St. Louis, Missouri. His upbringing is marked by both challenges and triumphs, which ultimately shaped him into the player and the person he is today. But do you know he hit a rough patch in his life when he lost all hope?

Everything was going well with Reggie, as he was living a great life with his parents, Reginald Love Jr. and Kimberly Dennis. But as a dark phase hit their peaceful lives, Reggie’s dad, Reinald, faced major hardships when Reggie was just nine years old. So basically Reginald was sentenced to 12 years in prison with charges not known publicly.

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During that time, the father-son relationship faced hardship as they had to communicate through letters and phone calls. “When my pops first went away, I’d cry when I heard he was on the phone,” Reggie said, recalling the unpleasant phase of his childhood. The emotional distance was taking a toll on both of their mental health. “I had to watch him grow up in pictures,” Reggie’s dad once said, reflecting on the pain of missing out on his son’s major life events.

Fortunately, Reggie had the company of his mom and three siblings: a brother named Reginald and three sisters, Sandra, Reginae, and Jordan. During that time, Kimberly single-handedly worked hard to give her children a decent life. “My mom always stressed that school comes first,” Reggie said, highlighting how his mom emphasized the importance of education. Due to that learning, Reggie was able to pursue a degree in marketing at Purdue. And after almost a decade, Reggie finally met his dad.

Reggie Love III’s reunion with his father and collegiate journey

In 2021, Reginald was released from prison, and Reggie could finally meet him. That incident marks another chapter of their relationship. “it felt surreal. I always wanted to have that connection,” Reggie shared. Reggie’s football career nearly began around the time of his father’s incarceration. While he was in high school, he made a name for himself as a four-star recruit. He was known as one of the leading running backs in Missouri. After this, he embarks on his collegiate journey.

Reggie’s love was initially committed to Illinois in 2019, after which he transferred to pursue. Now, he’s raising many eyebrows as a hot player for the Boilermakers. In his junior season at Illinois, he saw action in eight games and started for seven. He completed 567 rushing yards and four touchdowns. After a rocking performance, Reggie was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, honoring him as one of the top running backs in CFB.

Now that he’s entering a phase at Purdue, Reggie is moving forward with the lessons his parents have taught him. “I wouldn’t be here without my family’s support,” Reggie once said, reflecting on how far he has come with the support of his family.