Real story behind viral photo of NC State football players

RALEIGH

It is resonating with people because it appears as an unexpected friendship and act of kindness towards a student who was eating alone.

But that's not exactly what happened.

It turns out that graduate student tight end Asa Watson has been friends with Will Spence, the student in a wheelchair, for quite some time. In reality, it is just a normal lunch for Watson and Spence, and freshman center Cole Blankenship.

In fact, the three said they were unaware anyone took their photo while they were eating, and they're still unsure of who it was.

But Watson is no stranger to doing good deeds. He completed mission work in Jamaica in the summer of 2012 and spent time working with youth on Skid Row in Los Angeles in 2011, according to the N.C. State Athletics website.

Even though it's not the story you may have understood it to be, there's still something to smile about.

The photo has become so popular that even Watson's mother knows about it. She told ABC11 via phone that she had seen the photo.

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