Haiti Thanks USC Punter Kyle Negrete

Sixteen members of the 2012 University of Southern California Trojan football team, as well as several other USC students and Hope Force staff members, recently returned from a Haiti deployment focused on the "Houses of Hope" project. The team built four homes, participated in a gift distribution for children in the Child Sponsorship Program, delivered supplies to local schools and orphanages, and brought the ministry of presence to a nation still recovering from 2010's devastating earthquake. In addition to a number of other players, the Haiti team included past USC football captains and all four current off-season captains: Matt Barkley, T.J. McDonald, Khaled Holmes and Devon Kennard.

Punter Kyle Negrete was among the players who represented the Trojans on the recent Hope Force deployment. "Coming in, I knew that Haiti was the poorest country [in the Western hemisphere]," Negrete said. "I did not imagine it could be this bad. To hear Haitian people say how grateful they are to God in the midst of their pain is incredible. This trip has meant a lot to me. I've seen the most beautiful smiles in my life here. I know the 23 people on this trip were there to change those lives forever."

Negrete made a special connection with a young girl name Micheline whose family is in the Child Sponsorship Program. "I met Micheline on the first day," Negrete said. "When we went to the school, one of the first kids I saw was her. I saw her, and her face lit up. I will always remember her face, with such joy and excitement to see me."

This was Negrete's second trip with the Barkley family. In 2010 he spent 11 days in Nigeria with them visiting orphans, widows, villagers and prisoners, doing construction work, and distributing supplies. Negrete also created the mentoring program "Best Buddies" in San Diego, which allows student athletes to connect with people with autism.

Negrete is from Fresno, California and transferred to USC as a junior from the University of San Diego in 2010. His high school accomplishments included making All-state third team, All-Section first team, MVP of the All-City and All-League teams and MVP of his high school team. During his two seasons as a linebacker and punter at San Diego, Negrete made All-Pioneer Football League honorable mention his freshman year and All-PFL first team his sophomore year.

He was also the team's Special Teams Player of the Year before coming to USC, where he redshirted as a punter and linebacker during his first year. In 2011, Negrete played in 11 games for the Trojans, averaging 40.1 yards on his 39 punts. That year he won the Joe Collins Walk-on Award at USC. Next season Negrete will once again serve as a punter for the Trojans.

The Trojans are an NCAA Division 1 football team boasting 11 national championships and six Heisman trophy winners since the program was established. In 2009 ESPN solidified the team's reputation as a college football powerhouse by rating the USC football program second best in all of NCAA history. Ranked number one for the 2012 season by ESPN, this year's team is expected to live up to the Trojan standard of excellence.