Those sacrifices began before the 23-year-old Dennis was born.
As a senior at Andrew Jackson High School in Queens, N.Y., in 1987, Lashanna received a dance scholarship to the Juilliard School. However, she never attended the renowned musical arts institution. That's because Lashanna and her then- boyfriend, Derek Sr., who graduated from Andrew Jackson a year earlier, were expecting their first child, Derek Jr.
"She could've had a way different life if she would have accepted that scholarship to Juilliard," Dennis said. "She could have been a very popular, famous dancer, living a wonderful life.
"But she had to give up on her dream to help give me an opportunity. I kind of put that in the back of my mind every day."
Giving up a dance scholarship was just the start.
Dennis said Derek Sr., 44, and Lashanna, 43, who married in 1996, are the reasons he is the first person in his extended family to graduate college.
"I always think about all the sacrifices and stuff that my parents have made to help me," he said. "That's a big reason I am who I am today.
"I had the opportunity to grow up with both my parents and siblings and have the good family life."
It can be argued that his sisters, Deshaun, 18, a freshman at Norfolk State; Shaianne, 13; and Amayam, 12, are also enjoying life.
Derek Sr. and Lashanna moved from Queens to Peekskill, N.Y., when Deshaun was born to provide their children a better living environment.
At the suggestion of his father, Dennis was introduced to football as a junior at Peekskill High. Realizing their son had a future in football, his parents allowed him to transfer to Trinity Pawling School, an all-boys private school with a more-established football program, for his senior year.
Last season, the Dennises traveled to every Temple football road game, even if it meant paying a bill late.
