David Tabakovic isn’t too proud to admit that he’s considered walking away from football.
The senior fullback for the Durant Cougars is no stranger to facing hardships and tough situations. But what sets him apart from many people, in his and his coaches’ eyes, is his willingness to pick himself up when he’s down and work harder than before.
His never-say-quit attitude comes from a childhood marked by a lot of changes and not a lot of family income. Whenever Tabakovic is feeling lost, he knows just what to focus on to get back on track.
“I like to look back at a moment in my life that was really tough for me — for me and my family,” he said. “It was when my parents got divorced and we had no money, we were living in apartments and stuff.”
Tabakovic was born and raised in Russia, but he left the country in 2008 after his father took a job in America and his parents separated. Adjusting to a new life was tough — though it did help that Tabakovic learned to speak English while in Russia — but made easier that same year when he began to play football.
It didn’t take long for Tabakovic to enjoy the sport, as he had been a fan of rugby before discovering American football. But learning the game proved to be difficult enough that he sometimes wondered if it was the right fit for him.
“My dad signed me up for football and, every time I wanted to quit, I was like, ‘No, I want to make it in the league or even in college just to make (my parents) happy and give them what they want,’” Tabakovic said. “That’s not me, to quit. I just keep pushing and pushing because that’s what I want.”
Though Tabakovic wasn’t always completely sure of his abilities, he developed a sense of patience to couple with his work ethic. That carried over to Durant, where he began to get meaningful varsity playing time in 2016 and made it a point to prove to the coaching staff that he wants to be on the field more than anything.
“I always give it my full 110%,” he said. “I would never quit, no matter how hard it got. I would show the coaches I’m out here grinding. ‘Give me a chance. Let me show you what I can do for you.’”
Though he played well in 2016, once scoring three rushing touchdowns in one game (against King), Tabakovic said he didn’t fully realize he could be a starter until the offseason. He lost weight after 2016 to improve his mobility out of the backfield and worked hard in camps to prove his worth to the coaches.
His efforts were not in vain. Tabakovic impressed the staff and got the starting job.
“That big ol’ son of a gun can rumble,” head coach Mike Gottman said. “He’s the unsung hero because he blocks, he does everything that a physical fullback’s got to do. He’s got to stick his nose up in there and block them linebackers, wham block the defensive linemen, he’s got to protect the quarterback and he’s got to release out and catch the ball … he busts his butt in the weight room and in workouts. He’s got great habits as far as his work ethic goes. That’s what’s really impressed me.”
Going into his senior season, Tabakovic feels he’s reaping the fruits of his labor. He’s become an important part of the offense, has helped his team make the playoffs and is drawing attention from college coaches. Getting to that point was tough for him, but the patience and work ethic he developed when his family fell on hard times did the trick.
“Patience leads to success,” Tabakovic said. “I wouldn’t think I would ever start, and then I waited and grinded and look at me now. I’m starting. I’m making the best of it.”