Longhorn tackles bullying on home turf

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) - A Longhorn football player spent part of the off-week back on his home turf tackling the issue of bullying in schools.

Senior defensive end Alex Okafor gave students at Wieland Elementary in Pflugerville some advice during a pep rally Friday.

"First of all you've got to respect your elders. That's where it starts right there," Okafor told the kids.

He had the attention of hundreds of students who have been working on banning bullying from their campus.

"I think it's awesome because he's a big star and people will look up to him, so when he says it a lot of people will do it," said fourth grader Kelsey Nyandusi.

"It's something special to hear it from someone else -- someone different, someone special," said fifth grader Jordan Castillo.

Kelsey, 9, and Jordan, 10, are on a special leadership team at the school that helps develop ways to spread the anti-bullying message to every student.

"I treat them the way they should be treated and I hope they would treat me that way back," said Jordan.

Both students had the chance to meet Okafor after the pep rally and get his autograph.

"I wanted to come back and give back to the community that helped develop who I am," said Okafor. "It's always an honor to be able to come back and show love to the school and the community that showed love to me."

The pep rally kicks off a series of anti-bullying events next week at all Pflugerville schools.