For Kuony Deng it's all about family and football.
 
And even as the San Diego-born  linebacker lived throughout the U.S. growing up, his Sudanese roots did not leave him.
 
Community and family are greatly emphasized among the Sudanese, and even after Deng's parents split and his estranged father returned to South Sudan, the six Deng children and their mother, Nyarok Chan, remained close.
 
In fact, despite his mother spending a lot of time at work, education was heavily emphasized in the Deng household and Kuony, pronounced coin, enjoyed his upbringing.
 
"We all kind of raised each other and learned lessons from each other growing up," Deng said. "It was a really cool experience. We were all really thankful to have each other. I couldn't have asked for a better experience and upbringing. There was struggle, but I got to learn life lessons at a young age and I'm thankful for that."
 
The academic urging of his mother paid off, not just for Deng, but his siblings. His oldest brother, Chuol (32), lives in Palo Alto and works for Google, while brother, Pel (25), works for Amazon. His sister, Nyajuok (26), recently graduated from the notable Howard University School of Law and is now a lawyer in Washington, D.C., Next in line is his sister, Yach (23), and the youngest is Cham (18), who plays basketball and is finishing up his senior year in high school.
 
 Having family nearby was one of the many draws to Cal for the junior college standout.
 
"It was also the people; the people here are great," said Deng, who had offers from schools all around the country. "It's obviously one of the best schools, not only in the country, but in the world. So it's the best opportunity for education.

"People thought it wasn't a football decision," Deng added. "But, it was. I'm enjoying one of the best defenses in the country and have all of the opportunities in front of me to accomplish the things that I want to here."
 
Previously, Deng attended the now well-known Independence Community College in Independence, Kan. The institution's football team is highlighted on the Netflix show "Last Chance U," season 3 (Deng will appear on season 4), which chronicles the Pirates throughout their season as a significant amount of autonomy five transfers seek another opportunity to return to FBS football, often after youthful mistakes and unfortunate circumstances forced them out.
 
Deng's story to Independence, however, was more strategic than happenstance.
 
"In high school I was a multisport athlete," Deng began. "I leaned toward basketball during my time in high school and kind of neglected football. I didn't go to a lot of camps, so I ended up getting under-recruited.
 
"Once I figured out what I wanted to do, I went to Virginia Military Institute for a year and half. There I gained some size and put in a lot of work, so I started to feel out my potential a little bit more."
 

Deng felt destined for great things and that led to his decision to move 1,000 miles west, away from his family, who eventually settled in Virginia, to ICC.
 
"I took the JUCO route and my experience at Independence went as well as I could have prayed for it to go," Deng said. "I went for a year, grew as a football player and raised my stock. I had all of the options I wanted to have, but I put in a lot of work and was able to grow as a person. I had great coaches and teammates to push me to be my best."
 
Yet, while the bright lights and 24-7 camera-holding entourage appealed to many of his teammates, Deng shied away from the spotlight.
 
"The Last Chance U experience was really weird with cameras around, always capturing conversations," Deng said. "You kind of keep your guard up. I didn't like it very much, but some people do, but I didn't want to end up on national TV looking stupid."
 
On the field, however, he made a name for himself.
 
"He's a very cerebral guy and very level headed and knows what he's looking for," said Cal head coach Justin Wilcox. "He's well rounded and understands how important the education and career development are. He appreciates the culture he is going to be in, in our locker room and at our university."
 
 As seriously as Deng has taken football, he also takes his studies. While he is not shy about working to become a first round draft pick in the NFL, he is aware of the risks involved with football.
 
"Not that I want this to happen, but if get hurt, I still want to be able to have a good life," Deng said. "I want to be able to do things after I'm done with football. I plan to play in the NFL, but education still matters to me."
 
Even as his grandiose plans keep him working, Deng is humble and confident. And although the second youngest of his family, he is thoughtful and aware of the struggle of his parents war-torn homeland.
 
"I have a rare sense of hunger," Deng said. "There was a civil war in Sudan that brought my parents to Sudan. Growing up in the household with my mother, we saw that she was a hard worker. She did everything she could for us and always found a way to help our family back home.
 
"She kept us mindful of the struggle in South Sudan," Deng continued. "So we grew up with a mindset of thinking about others and our impact. I try my best to be a role model and use my story to lift kids up."
 
A lot of his awareness has to do with the spirit of his name, which he inherited from his great-great grandfather Kuony Yach, who was an elder of the Nuer Clan of Sudan.
 
Yach, as the elder of his people, would be sought out to settle controversies amongst disputing people in his tribe.
 
"There's power in my name," Deng said with pride. "I think any of my previous coaches or teammates would vouch for me. I really expect the best of myself and try to push others to be their best. I've become a leader for my teams."
 
What doesn't need disputing, though, is that Deng will fit into Cal's notable defense.
 
"He's a very physically gifted guy," Wilcox said of the 6-6, 235-pound newcomer. "The athleticism is pretty apparent, but also is his acumen and ability to pick things up quickly. He's an astute guy. We've got a lot of work to do, and he's going to grow a lot as a player, but we're really excited to have him."