Chicago Bears players mentor high school athletes while helping food bank; ‘They realize they’re normal people who play the same sport’

North Chicago freshman and varsity football player Dyzhir Usher was in awe looking at Darnell Wright, the Chicago Bears’ top draft pick this year, but soon they were smiling and talking to each other like old friends.

‘We talked about football and he told me you ‘have to keep up your grades,’” Usher, who hopes to play college football, said. “He pushed me hard to keep up with my grades.”

Usher was one of 27 Warhawks and Wright among 24 Bears packaging tangerines, potatoes and butternut squash May 25 at the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Lake Forest location, joining forces to battle food insecurity.

For approximately an hour, the football players combined for a volunteer shift at the food bank packing food and getting it ready for shipment. Matt Simoene, the Bears’…