Michigan State defensive back becomes legal guardian of his 4 young siblings at 21

Shortly before the start of the 2024-25 college football season, Michigan State defensive back Armorion Smith’s mom died of breast cancer.

On Sept. 11, the 21-year-old became the legal guardian for his four youngest siblings.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Smith opened up about what life has been like as a full-time student athlete raising his siblings.

“My cards were given to me,” Smith told the AP. “I didn’t choose my deck of cards.”

Smith and his 19-year-old sister, Aleion, work together in making sure their siblings are looked after. According to the AP, Aleion takes over while he’s in class and at practice.

“Me and my sister got to work together to keep this all afloat,” he said. “While I’m in college sports, she’s got to be able to take care of everything that I can’t do, like pick up where I left off, while I’m taking care of business.”

Smith praised the teenager for her selflessness, promising one day to help her find a way to start taking colleges classes next semester.

Smith and his siblings grew up in Detroit. He played his first two years of college football at the University of Cincinnati.

But when his mom, Gala Gilliam, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, he transferred to Michigan State to be closer to home.

Gala was 41 years old when she died on Aug. 19. “I can feel her living through me,” he told the AP. “Almost like I hear her voice telling me how proud she is of me.”

Smith’s siblings range in ages from 2 years old to 19 years old. “It just puts a smile on my face to see them happy,” he said.

According to the AP, in a typical day for the football star, he wakes up before dawn, making sure his brothers Armond and Avaugn and his sister Arial are up and ready for school.

Aleion stays home and watches over their 2-year-old sister.

As everyone makes their way to school, Smith heads to campus where he attends class, physical therapy, meetings and practice. For Smith’s family, it’s all about working together, as a team.

And Smith’s teammates are in awe over how much he has on his plate. “I couldn’t even begin to imagine if I was in his situation,” linebacker Jordan Hall said of Smith’s commitment to his siblings and his team.

“He’s in a tough spot,” Hall told the AP, “but he is one of the strongest guys I have ever known.”

And Smith has a village behind him and his siblings as well.

Gala’s friend, Yolanda Wilson, whose son is a freshman for the Michigan State Spartans, told the AP that she promised to look out for her kids. “I’m going to be there no matter what.”

“That’s a promise I made to their mother. And they have everybody here backing them up. So, it’s going to be a hard transition as it is, but we’re going to be that tight-knit community and have their back.”

Smith says that despite the hardships they’ve faced, he and his family “are very happy,” and “very appreciative and grateful” for all the support they’ve been given.

“There’s a lot of love Spartan Nation has shown us these past few months. It’s been a rough time, but to be able to take some of the stress off of my shoulders and show me a lot of love is a blessing and has warmed my heart.”