Keep going. These few simple words were coached to senior Terrance Plummer by his uncle, the late Quincy Pedew.

Pedew coached high school football in North Carolina with his family but always did his best to watch his nephew’s games on television. He’d call №41 each week to share a few critiques, yet he always told him one thing before he hung up the phone.

“Keep going.”

Just 24 hours before kickoff against BYU, Plummer’s uncle lost his ten-year battle with leukemia. The message was still the same.

“Go until you can’t anymore and then, go one more time,” Plummer said. “That’s what he taught me.”

Putting together arguably his greatest game in black and gold, Plummer amassed a personal-best 17 tackles and notched 4.5 tackles for loss including one sack in the Knights’ 31–24 overtime victory over the Cougars. UCF’s leader on defense also recorded a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and one pass break-up.

“Football is something that teaches us life lessons. It teaches us that when we’re down and out, we still have a chance. When things aren’t going right, you can still make a play,” Plummer explained. “In terms of life, things can change and that’s what he taught me. I dedicated that BYU game to him. I push everything at the line because any given second life can be over with.”

As Plummer rode the emotions of his uncle’s passing, he hauled in the impressive honor of being named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against BYU. The recognition marked the second time in Plummer’s career he received such an award.

When Plummer accepts the challenges of coaches and teammates, he responds by putting his heart and soul out on the gridiron.

But he believes that’s the UCF way of doing things.

“I have to live to that standard every day because there can’t be any letdowns. I’m a leader. I can’t be a guy who goes out there with a good day, then the next have a terrible day,” Plummer said. “That’s just the standard that we live by. I have higher expectations than anybody of my self and since I tell them what my expectations are, they are of course going to expect that also.”

Heading into his senior season, Plummer aimed at improving his ability in finishing at the ball. He wanted to tighten up his technique and work on reading the opposing team’s offense. As each game passes and the season pushes on, the senior believes he is moving in the right direction as a leader of this team.

“Being a leader isn’t always about talking. It’s just wordplay if you’re not doing it yourself,” Plummer said. “So, I always try to lead by example too.”

His mother, Beatrice, instilled his lead-by-example mentality at an early age, encouraging the young man to push hard.

“My mom really didn’t know anything about football, but she said when you’re on the field, you’re going to give 110-percent. That’s always what she’s told me,” Plummer said. “But she’s learned the game now, so she’s giving me tips and pointers on things I can do.”

The two also share a family motto that Plummer says has defined not just his play the past three seasons but also who he is off the field.

“Take it one day at a time. You can’t worry about the future. You don’t know what’s in it, and you can’t control the past. All you can control is the right now, how you attack the right now. We always say take it one day at a time and that’s what I’ve been doing,” Plummer explained. “In football, you can equate that even further by saying one play at a time. One play at a time and that’s all you can do. You can’t worry about the next play, only the play right now. So that’s what I do.”

Plummer’s mother has yet to miss a home game and is usually joined by a crowd of Plummer’s extended family. Aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends take the time to ensure the senior linebacker that they will always be there to support him and the game he loves. Their presence is a motivating factor for the Orange Park, Fla., native who is grateful of his family’s ability to travel.

“They’re always up in the stands and if I look up during the game and see them, I know I can push that extra effort because they’re willing to come watch me play,” Plummer explained. “It’s a big deal to have your support system there, always. I don’t take it for granted, and I love it so much.”

Family is the reason football is important to Plummer. His Uncle Quincy motivated him to stick through the tough times while family in the crowd cheer him on from the stands. The brothers he plays with have shared in his UCF experience and, most importantly, his mom encourages him to keep going.

One day at a time.

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