“#DoItForVeezy”: North Shore community mourns death of Jarvon Coles

HOUSTON, Texas – Just three months after appearing in the 6A Division I State Championship game, the North Shore High School football community faced unspeakable tragedy.

On Saturday night, North Shore senior Jarvon Coles was killed in a drive-by shooting near a house party in Humble, Texas.

Coles, 18, played linebacker for the school’s football team. He was a team captain, had a 4.2 GPA and landed offers from multiple colleges across the state to continue his football career. Coaches and teammates said he had decided to play at Lamar University.

Standing at 5-foot-9 and weighing 190 pounds, he didn’t have the size of a traditional linebacker, but he savored the opportunity to prove his doubters wrong and outwork his peers.

“All my football career from little league on I have heard that I was not good enough for one reason or another, too short, too slow, to light etc. [sic],” his Hudl profile bio read. “But I have proved them wrong at every level.”

Defensive Coordinator Garrett Cross knew Jarvon for six years and attested to his desire to lead by example on and off the field.

“He just did everything right,” Cross said. “He took care of business off the field. He never got in any trouble. That’s what we all hope for when we raise our own kids. We want them to grow up to be guys just like him.”

His endless motor and can-do attitude resonated with his coaches and teammates, and many of them have paid tribute to him on social media.

Assistant offensive line coach Kyle Herridge called him a “truly incredible human being” in a Tweet.

Junior edge rusher Cedric Henderson posted a video of Coles’ highlights with the caption “#Doitforveezy”, a reference to his nickname.

Senior linebacker and Lamar commit Dillon Dixon posted photos to tribute Coles and referenced their shared desire to play football together at Lamar after graduation.

Cross said everyone on the team is hurting, but he knows Jarvon’s legacy will live on at North Shore for years to come.

“He was loved by so many,” Cross said. “His spirit is going to live on. I know he won’t be with us physically, but his spirit will be with us for a long time.”