A Nonprofit Foundation Dedicated to Improving School Communities

“An underdog story that is still being written”

Will to Win! Those three words have helped transform Prince George’s County native Jaret Patterson. Jaret made the 53 rosters for the Washington Commanders despite being undrafted in 2021. This amazing story began in Bowie, Maryland, and landed at FedEx stadium. It has been a quest filled with adversity.

Jaret started playing organized football for Bowie Boys and Girls Club. He realized early on that it doesn’t matter what people think — it’s what you are willing to do to win. Jaret led his 13u team to a Maryland State Championship. He then decided to attend St. Vincent Pallotti High School. While at Pallotti, Jaret became the school’s all-time leading rusher. In Jaret’s senior year against Riverdale Baptist High School, he accumulated 558 yards in one single game. Despite his high school football performance, he wasn’t heavily recruited. Finally, the University at Buffalo took a chance and offered him a scholarship. Arriving at Buffalo, Jaret was fifth on the running back chart. He found the Will to Win and became the feature back. After three years, he became the second all-time leading rusher (3,884 yards) and its leader in rushing touchdowns (52). He led the nation in rushing yards per game (178.67 over six games) in 2020. He made national headlines when he rushed for 409 yards with 8 touchdowns in a single game against Kent State Unversity. He was awarded MAC Most Valuable Player (2020), MAC Offensive Player of the Year (2020), MAC Freshman of the Year (2018), 2019 Bahamas Bowl MVP, and 2X first-team All-MAC (2019-2020) and Vern Smith Leadership Award.