The562’s coverage of football in 2024-25 is sponsored by The Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
You would be hard-pressed to find a more unique high school football superstar than Deuce Weston.
The Wilson senior sat out the first half of this season in support of his teammates, and he doesn’t feel it necessary to share his many NCAA scholarship offers via social media.
“The college coach’s frustration was that they still wanted to see him play, but they understood what kind of man I’m raising and what kind of man he’s going to be,” said Sean Weston, Deuce’s dad and Wilson defensive coordinator. “That’s going to last longer than football.”
Weston is an elite recruit who has played both running back and defensive back since joining Wilson this season. He was at Lawndale with his dad and head coach Travis Clark before all of them came to Long Beach to revitalize the Bruins program. He was one of a dozen Lawndale players who transferred, and after his teammates were forced to sit out due to CIF rules, Weston chose to sit out the first half of the season with his friends.
“It was a tough decision,” Weston said. “I wanted to stand on my decision. Even talking to a lot of people like my teammates, adults, college players and college coaches, everybody was trying to tell me, ‘You should play.’ But the people who are most important to me told me that they respect my decision. They appreciated me standing up for my teammates because that’s the type of person I am.”
After the standard sit out period was over, Weston returned to the field with the support of his teammates and has been a revelation for Wilson. The running back has averaged over 100 all-purpose yards in the six games he’s played with nine touchdowns. Weston has also contributed key plays at defensive back, including a pivotal pass deflection in the CIF Southern Section quarterfinal win at Village Christian last week.
Weston and Wilson return home tonight for the semifinal against Great Oak.
“He’s a hard worker and a very humble kid,” Clark said of Weston, who he has been coaching since he was a freshman. “I think (his teammates) feed off of that. He’s not running around her like he’s this stud. He’s just one of the guys. His humility is important.”
While growing up in the Long Beach and Inglewood area, Weston played as many sports as he could until his lineage took over.
“I kind of knew immediately that football was my sport,” Weston said. “Track was for speed and in basketball I used to foul out all the time because I was too aggressive.”
Sean Weston was a great defensive back at Serra High School before attending Texas A&M. He went on to play with NFL and Canadian Football teams, but came home to raise his first born son. Deuce also has football pedigree on the other side of his family. His uncle is Daylon McCutcheon, a former All-Pac 10 defensive back at USC, who is the son of five-time Pro Bowler Lawrence McCutchon. His cousin Dyson McCutcheon is currently a defensive back at the University of Washington.
Obviously, playing defensive back has come naturally for Weston.
“I understood it by learning it from (my family) point of view,” Weston said. “But I was always aggressive so that part of the game helped.”
Sean Weston knew early that his son had talent to play any position on the football field, but had him play offensive line for, “Men that I was coached by,” to build his toughness. Eventually Deuce found his calling in the defensive and offensive backfield, and went to Lawndale because that’s where his dad and Clark were already coaching.
Weston helped Lawndale win a historic CIF championship before support waned and forced his coach and family to find a new home.
“We honestly didn’t think Long Beach Wilson was going to be the place,” Deuce Weston said. “I kind of wanted (a change of schools) because I know that’s what it’s going to be like in college anyways. I want to be prepared in that way. It also expanded who I know. I’m definitely glad I came here because the experience is different and more diverse.”
The arrival was sullied by CIF denying the eligibility of Weston’s fellow Lawndale transfers to be cleared, and although he was allowed to play because his dad is on the coaching staff, Weston stayed on the sideline for the first four games of the season.
“I was kind of heartbroken when I found out I was the only one who was cleared,” Weston said. “Every game is for them. I know it’s bigger than me.”
Weston has looked better every week as he’s worked his way back into game shape, so it’s not surprising that his best game was his last. When Wilson needed a late score in the quarterfinals last week, he had his number called on six of the 10 plays that led to the game-winning touchdown. Weston also delivered a clutch pass deflection on the Wilson sideline to help secure the victory, and after he got up his dad just gave him a firm pat on the butt without excessive celebration.
“It’s the standard in his family,” coach Weston said. “You make plays and do things, that just comes with it. I never get too high or too low and he stays the same way. I let him know, ‘That’s your job to play well.’”
“I like to see the look on other peoples faces when I do what I do,” Deuce said. “I like to look at the stands and get them pumped and engaged.”
As for his future in college football, Weston isn’t worried about doing what others want for him.
“I just didn’t want to let it distract me because that’s not my personality anyway,” Weston said of not sharing his scholarship offers. “Now that I’ve gotten the opportunity to play again, every school is back up.”
