See all photos for this story

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Famous actress Marla Gibbs once said that "everything we do, and everyone we meet, is put in our path for a purpose. There are no accidents. We can all be teachers if we're willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our instincts and not wait for some miracle."

Many people at Otterbein University, and within the surrounding area of Columbus, Ohio, are familiar with the story of former Otterbein football player Josh Worthington, who was tragically killed in a car crash early Christmas morning, 2004, when a drunk driver merged onto Interstate-71 highway going the wrong direction in a full-sized SUV.

Many people also know of the annual Cardinal football tradition regarding Worthington's No. 5 uniform, where the coaching staff selects one senior each year to wear the numeral in honor of the hard work, dedication and commitment he displayed. Many people, however, may not be as familiar with the other two boys that lost their lives in the car that night; 19-year old Lucas Carmean and 21-year old driver Brandon Kent, both students at Columbus State Community College studying to become paramedics.

Brandon Kent, a muscular weight lifter, former football player and step-cousin of Worthington, happened to be the oldest of five boys from a family living in nearby Grove City, Ohio. Five police officers unfortunately arrived at the Kent household later in the morning to inform the family of what had happened.

"My wife, Lisa, immediately collapsed and sorrow just filled the room," said Bob Kent, husband and father. "We just went numb. It didn't seem real then, and it still doesn't even seem real now. You're cruising along in life thinking everything is alright, and then something like that happens. I can't think of a word to explain how bad the experience was."

 

There in the front hallway that morning with Bob and Lisa were the couple's four other children, the youngest being 10-year old Tyler.

"I was always trying to hang out with Brandon and his friends," Tyler Kent reflected. "He would constantly pick on me and turn me upside down. It was your classic big brother-little brother relationship."

"Tyler was always the runt of the pack," Bob Kent said with a smile. "He was involved when his older brothers played sports, but would usually just be the little kid out there when the team was practicing or stretching. He definitely looked up to Brandon."

More than a decade later and many Otterbein faithful are now familiar with the name Tyler Kent, watching the junior centerfielder excel as a critical piece of a talented baseball program. An All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) selection, Tyler (known by many as 'TK') set the school's single-season record for runs scored as a freshman and has since blossomed into one of the top players in the Mideast Region. Already a two-time OAC 'Hitter of the Week' this season, he currently ranks fourth in the league with a .444 batting average and leads the team in hits, runs and doubles.

"He is obviously a very talented player, but it's been even more rewarding watching him step up as a leader and come into his own," head coach George Powell said. "He is very direct and seems to have a purpose with everything that he does. You can tell he has a certain mindset with each day and focuses on being a good teammate. I really enjoy being around him."

Choosing a college is no small decision, but not too many get the type of help and direction that Tyler received. It started when the Kent family, just hours after finding out Brandon had been killed, sat out back of their house consoling one another when a flock of cardinals landed on the deck. The cardinal bird, holding spiritual meanings of hope, energy and renewal, began to routinely land near the Kent household throughout the years and appear in Tyler's dreams.

A sought-after high-school player, Tyler visited multiple schools but kept coming back to the possibility of becoming an Otterbein Cardinal. The final decision became easy after former Otterbein assistant coach Bobby Wright randomly texted Tyler a picture of a cardinal bird that had landed on the side-view mirror of his vehicle.

"We knew that was the sign we were looking for," Bob Kent said of the recruiting process. "It's been the best decision of Tyler's life and I don't think he has looked back once. As much as I love baseball and want him to play well, it's been more fulfilling watching his success as a young man. It's a blessing, as a dad, to see him find a path in the classroom, in the community and also on the diamond."

Many outsiders witness Tyler as the vibrant, goofy, laid back, not-so-serious character that he commonly is. Few, however, know and understand the actual purpose with which he lives life.

"I feel like I'm living for Brandon now," explained Tyler, who recently turned 21. "My other brothers didn't go to college, so everything that I'm doing is what he missed out on. This is the life that he wasn't able to live. In a way, I feel that it's my obligation to carry myself well and succeed. I don't want to let Brandon or anyone else in my family down."

Chances are Tyler hasn't let many people down, approaching daily responsibilities and outcomes with wisdom of those twice his age. He is "living the dream" as a junior in college, playing with a great baseball team and understanding that a strikeout or fielding error isn't the end of the world. His experiences allow him to stay level-headed and come through when it matters most, like when he shrugged off an 0-for-5 day to drive in the winning run, in the bottom of the 11th inning, by legging out an infield single against La Roche College. Or, just hours after giving a heartfelt interview for this story, hitting for the cycle and reaching base all six times during Otterbein's home opener, a 10-9 win over Wittenberg University.

 

"Something major like that puts your life in perspective," Tyler said. "I try not to let smaller problems bother me too much and become bigger situations. I've seen that worse things can happen and have been exposed to details that most don't experience until they are older, if at all. It's formed a lot of my decision making."

Marla Gibbs suggested that we can all be teachers, and that's exactly what the Kent family has chosen to do. Not long after that night in 2004, Bob decided to begin sharing their story at local wellness centers and DUI classes on most Friday's, something he still does to this day. Tyler, also wanting to help make a difference, has spoken alongside his father at high schools as part of the "Prom Promise" program, alerting kids of the dangers alcohol can play on prom night.

"People ask me all the time how I can speak so frequently about this, but it's not about us," Bob Kent said. "If we can help somebody else, then there is a purpose behind why it all happened. We don't know why those boys died, but I'm certain that there is a reason for everything going on in your life. We are all so busy with the day-to-day living that we tend to miss the bigger picture. There are messages and purposes everywhere."

Bob, Tyler and the rest of the Kent family have obviously made a difference in the lives of many, right up to the leader of the Otterbein baseball program.

"They are great people that went through a horrible situation, and have somehow always managed to create a warm feeling when you're around them," said Powell, who reiterated how instrumental Bob Kent was in helping him cope with the death of his own father last year. "They never let you focus on negativity or allow you to stray off course. As a coach, they are exactly what you want to see in parents, because they get the big picture and care about our program as a whole."

Bob Kent may know what to say in a lot of situations, but came up empty when 10-year old Tyler asked, before going to bed on Christmas night in 2004, why God would allow such a thing to happen to his oldest brother. When Bob said he didn't know, Tyler responded with a possible answer: "Maybe God is moving to another mansion in heaven and needs Brandon's muscles to help move the furniture."

While that line provides a chuckle nowadays, it goes without saying that Christmas isn't usually as joyful for the Kent family as it is to others.

"Every little boy wants to wake up on Christmas morning and experience the excitement that goes along with it," Tyler said. "It's been a little bit different for me because, from the time I was 10 years old until now, I never really got to enjoy Christmas. It's not necessarily a negative day, but it will never have that positive aspect to it."

Tyler has held onto his feelings from that time and channeled them into what he now wants to do with his future. A frequent Dean's List honoree, he is majoring in Early Childhood Education with a concentration on becoming an intervention specialist. He wants to work with at-risk youth, having seen the effects that drugs and alcohol can play on someone's life.

So, as the Otterbein baseball program (off to a 12-4 start this year) begins to gain exposure and Tyler Kent becomes a household name, remember that No. 9 is playing for much more than himself. He is determined to positively represent his family, and oldest brother, in every way possible. He sprints out to center field with feelings of hope, energy and renewal. He is the sign of the cardinal.