Clearcover Inspired Underdog: Meet Tailon Leitzsey

Written by Team Clearcover | August 12th, 2021

Embracing the underdog is one of our core values at Clearcover, and we’ve committed to providing a select number of $10,000 sponsorship contracts to underdog or walk-on college athletes through our Inspired Underdog program. Discover why. 

Today, we’re proud to announce our first Clearcover athlete, Tailon Leitzsey.

Meet Tailon

Tailon Leitzsey plays Division I football at the University of Illinois as a defensive back. He graduated in December 2020 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in kinesiology. He is currently working on a second bachelor's degree in communication at the University of Illinois and on a football scholarship. 

In addition to his full academic and athletic calendar—and in addition to working multiple jobs— Tailon and his girlfriend Cherese proudly care for their 9-month-old daughter, Kairi.

Tailon is an inspired underdog: Here’s why 

Tailon lives out the values of grit, hard work, and faith—and has the story to prove it.

Tailon grew up playing football from a young age, but after spending the first three years of high school playing basketball, Tailon switched to playing football his senior year and earned a scholarship to Missouri Baptist University.

Tailon had the goal of playing football on a Division I team while earning a degree in kinesiology. So he made it happen. Missouri Baptist didn’t have his major, but the University of Illinois did, so he started making moves to transfer. 

Folks back home were concerned about Tailon giving up his scholarship at Missouri Baptist because it was risky: He hadn’t talked to any of the U of I coaches before his transfer and didn’t know if he would even make the team. 

But Tailon trusted in himself and his dream. He even lived in his car across the street from the practice facility in hopes of joining the team. Finally, through dedication and confidence, Tailon walked on to the squad in September of 2018.

On meeting his goals, Tailon says, “I have faith and I'm willing to put the work in, and I feel like those are really the two key ingredients . . . . If you have faith and put the work in, then whatever [goal] you set, you'll be able to go do it.”

Here’s why Tailon inspires us

Tailon inspires us because his story shows the dedication and hard work it takes to succeed. (As a new player in an industry full of large incumbents, we at Clearcover know what it’s like to work toward goals that seem a little out-of-reach at first.) 

Tailon began his football career at the University of Illinois as a walk-on with a ton of tenacity—but he’ll finish with the honor of successfully securing a coveted football scholarship at a Division I school and completing a degree in his chosen major, all while working multiple jobs. 

That is resilience.

But Tailon’s dedication doesn’t stop there. Even though he’s had to fight hard to get to where he is today, he still makes time to volunteer in his community. 

“This is why I work so hard. I want a platform where I can truly help make a difference in people’s lives for the better,” Tailon explains about his volunteer efforts. “My parents always taught me to always leave a place better than before you came, so I apply that to my life and encounters with people as well.”

It’s an excellent approach, and one we’re honored to support. 

Calling all inspired underdog college athletes: Apply now. 

Clearcover is proud to sponsor hardworking underdog and walk-on college athletes like Tailon. We believe in underdogs because we ourselves know what it’s like to be the underdog: We’re actively making strides in the car insurance industry as the little guy in a world full of giants. Learn more about why Clearcover made the decision to sponsor inspired underdog student-athletes.

If you’re a walk-on or underdog student-athlete who has demonstrated resilience despite the odds, apply and share your story with us. Athletes who are selected will be given $10,000 directly through our partnership with Opendorse.