Washington State quarterback Luke Falk hopes to accomplish a lot more than raising his draft status at the Senior Bowl this weekend.
He wants to remember his late friend and backup, Tyler Hilinski, and raise awareness about suicide - the cause of Hilinski’s death.
Falk will wear No. 3 -- Hilinski’s number -- to honor his late friend, but also reminded everyone about the sensitivity of depression and that more needs to be done to prevent suicides and it begins by talking about it.
“We really want Tyler to be remembered and this to be talked about,” Falk said in Mobile Ala. on Tuesday. “I mean, when suicide is the leading cause of death of men from 18 to 45 years old, it should be talked about. And we should do something about it. I feel like at times we feel like we can’t express our emotions because we’re in a masculine sport. And him being a quarterback, people look up to you as a leader, so he felt like he really probably couldn’t talk to anybody. You know, we gotta change some of that stuff. We gotta have resources and not have anymore stigma on people going through that.
Tyler Hilinski, Washington State QB, dead of apparent suicide
Washington State's Luke Falk (l.) will honor Tyler Hilinski by wearing No. 3 in the Senior Bowl.
(Young Kwak/AP)“I just felt like (the jersey switch) is what I needd to do. He needs to be remembered. He was an amazing person and an amazing soul. This guy was one of the most outgoing, bubbly … just a guy you wanted to be around. And people need to know it.”
Falk attended a candlelight vigil last week which he admitted helped give him some closure, but he could not help but think what could he have done differently to perhaps prevent this tragic event.
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“Words don’t describe the hurt we all felt,” he said. “Just kind of go back and ask ourselves, ‘Were there signs? What could we have done?’
“So I think we all felt a little bit of guilt. I wish I could’ve given him one more hug. I wish I could’ve given him a pat on the butt one more time and let him know that he’s loved.”
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Falk said that football has always been an “escape” for him and believes he can put aside his emotions as he prepares to take his first step toward becoming an NFL quarterback.
Falk is projected as a mid-round pick and does not have nearly the amount of hype surrounding him as his North teammates Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield.
Luke Falk: 'We really want Tyler to be remembered and this to be talked about'
(Rick Bowmer/AP)Yet Falk is hopeful he can instill some confidence in teams and scouts as he prepares for the NFL Draft and has big goals, too.
“I’m just here to play football,” he said. “Show what I can do and interview well and show teams I’m the right guy for them, and I’m a franchise quarterback, and I’m gonna win Super Bowls.”