Tempe, AZ – Research shows that the earliest tattoos discovered are over 5,000 years old. In the 21^st Century, it is estimated that 45 million Americans are now tatted up.

College football is an area where tattoos have become very popular, and it’s not hard to see why. The game is as much cerebral as it is physical, and athletes at the highest level tend to be dynamic people who operate in a culture of constant adversity. They thrive in an environment that requires overcoming mental and physical limitations, and sources of inspiration are an integral part of that culture.

DJ Foster…Like Father, Like Son.

Although they have become more common, the personal significance of an athlete’s tattoos remains undiminished. They tend to represent the most important aspects of the individual’s life, both past and present, things they have no intention of hiding.

In part one of a series on tattoos, we feature players DJ Foster, Jake Sheffield and Marcus Ball. Let’s take a closer look at some of the tattoos worn by members of our own Sun Devil football tribe.

DJ Foster

Foster showed up at ASU media day this year with a brand new left sleeve tattoo covering his entire forearm from wrist to elbow. The main inspiration for the new ink was his relationship with his father.

DJ Ink

Foster explained, “I added “Like Father, Like Son” with the two different masks because my Dad and I have made it through some tough times and been through a lot of ups and downs together. I wanted to have a reminder that he has always been there for me and we are always there for each other.” DJ added, “I got the tiger because my Dad used to call me that growing up.”

Sun Devil for Life.

Jake Sheffield

Big Jake has large guns for arms that provide an open canvas to add artwork. The inspiration for a few of his main tattoos were two very different things: his time in the marines and his grandmother.

On his left bicep, Sheffield has a daily reminder of his sacrifice to our country and all of the hard work, commitment and time he gave to the marines.

Jake Sheffield pays his respects to the Marine Corps.

“When I got back from serving overseas, I got the Marine Corps tattoo with the skull because of my time in the military and to show respect for other soldiers that make that commitment.”

On his right shoulder and arm, Jake paid his respects to his Grandmother by adding a colorful tattoo with an interesting mix of flowers, an angel and an elephant.

When asked about the elephant, Sheffield replied, “The elephant was actually inspired by my Grandmother. We were really close and she loved elephants.”

Marcus Ball

Newcomer Marcus Ball didn’t waste any time adding some Sun Devil ink to his right forearm after his commitment to play football at ASU. However, there were some different reasons for his specific design.

Marcus Ball has a poseidon with the pitchfork on his right forearm.

“I wanted to represent my school well. I chose the poseidon with the pitchfork because I had a cousin that almost drowned to death, but pulled through… I also wanted to throw the pitchfork in there for ASU.”

Ball expanded on his permanent commitment to the Sun Devils.

“Being a part of the Sun Devil family is about being passionate about the sport we play, being humble, serving the community, being part of the tradition, being a scholar baller and all the goals we can achieve in Tempe,” Ball said. “Being part of all of it is an honor.”

Ball now has his badge of honor for the rest of his life.

               You can post pictures of your Sun Devil tattoos on our Facebook page or send them to us directly.

The right arm of Jake Sheffield.