And it seems like he has been there every since. Unlike many young players, Destefano did not have the luxury of learning the finer points of the game out of the spotlight. The Bears lacked veterans in their secondary, and Destefano was quickly tossed into the mix. Now, whatever mistakes he made would be seen in front of 50,000 fans instead of just coaches and players up on Witter Field during practice. We didn't have anybody, he was a good player and he was thrown out there to learn on the job.
Most people get a chance to sit and develop.
He had to go out there cold and learn by doing it and take his lumps. Now with 21 starts to his credit entering his senior year, he helps give the Bears one of the most experienced defensive backfields in college football. Although the progression was painful at times, Destefano is now recognized as one of the best as his position in the country. This year, I'm trying to fine tune everything. I think I have a pretty firm grasp on how things should be and how things are going.