Marcus Forrest seeing health improvement more than three years after heart transplant

DANVILLE (WCIA) — Danville Head Football Coach Marcus Forrest is feeling his best in years after a major health scare more than three years ago.

“Where I’m at now is something they see in the movies because they really don’t expect most heart transplant recipients to be anywhere close to where they were,” Forrest said.

It’s been a long road to recovery for Forrest, more than three years removed from congestive heart failure and a subsequent heart transplant.

The former Vanderbilt football player says he’s 85-90% back to where he was pre-diagnosis, re-gaining about 70 lbs of weight since getting sick, a plan he’s always had in mind.

“For me, it was an expectation, but I think for a lot of others they were like, ‘Man I hope he does,’ so, I’m really happy with where I’m at.”

Forrest is a living reminder for his players to not take any day for granted.

“I always remind them that you’ve got to take advantage of each opportunity because you don’t know when something could happen, whether you’re getting hurt, whether a situation arises where you that causes you not to be able to be there,” Forrest said.

The latest opportunity for the Vikings to seize is a Big Twelve matchup with Centennial in our Friday Football Fever Spotlight Game of the Week, a matchup they won last season.

“It’s a very exciting matchup. We match up with them every year,” Senior JaVaughn Robinson said.

“It’s a good game. They’re a good team, but I feel like if we’re able to prepare, we should be able to beat them.”

The 1-2 Vikings have battled ineligibility at times this season feeling like their roster is back to full strength.

“We’re very excited because we can really show what we have as a team on offense and defense,” Senior Darius Jay said.

“We got a lot of learners,” Senior Tayvion Diltz said.

“We got a lot of young people who are becoming really good. Got a lot of people stepping up with who they are as a teammate. We’ve got a great group of guys who have been adapting to what we got.”

The team is also grateful to have their coach near full strength as well.

“Having him around just really helps us a lot. Get that energy around our practice and in the game,” Jay said.

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