UNC football player goes public about his battle with depression Posted Jun 17, 2019 June 7 is a day UNC defensive end Jake Lawler won't ever forget. It's the day he went public with his years-long battle with depression, posting a deeply personal essay about his struggles since middle school. By letting the world know of his hurt, he's hoping to help others walking the same tightrope. "I wrote it for people like me. I wanted to reach out." (ABC 11)