BURLINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) — The family of 15-year-old Cummings High School varsity football player Malik Mebane is remembering his life. Malik’s mom Kalicia Mebane described her son as a gentle giant. She said he was excited to play football this year since it was his first year on the team. “Just meant the world to me. So full of life. Smiled all the time. Kept us laughing,” Kalicia said. Kalicia said her son loved his family, giving hugs, school, art and learning to cook new recipes. He was in the 10th grade, and it was his first year on the varsity football team. He just recently joined the team. His first practice was on Sept. 9. “He just wanted to share the field with his teammates and be out there with them,” Kalicia said. Malik is the middle child of three. He has a younger sister and an older brother. His mom says he looked up to his older brother who had played football and decided to join the team. He was a lineman and played on the offensive and defensive line.  Kalicia said Malik was dedicated.  She was so proud and often reminded Malik to pace himself. “He just wanted to prove himself so bad, and that he could do it ... and he was doing it,” Kalicia said. Malik’s family was heartbroken when they found out he collapsed after running sprints at practice. His mother said she never expected this. “I do not want my son's life to be misrepresented ... He died giving his all ... on the field," Kalicia said. She got a call from Malik’s father, telling her what happened. “He was like, 'Malik’s not breathing. Get to the school' ... I just dropped everything and just ran out the door, and once I got to the school, the ambulance was already leaving with my baby ... I just was in shock,” Kalicia said. His family is deeply feeling the loss. Malik's 16th birthday was just one month away: Oct. 27. “It wasn’t even a month ago, me and him were talking, and he was talking about graduating," Malik's grandmother Tonya Mebane said. His family is turning to their faith to find comfort at this time. “I have faith. I know that my baby's in a better place now ... Even though he's not here in the physical, he's here in spirit with me,” Kalicia said. Malik had just selected the number 63 for his football jersey. Family members say he was looking forward to wearing it with pride at CHS’s Varsity game was scheduled for Friday. That game has been postponed due to weather. It will be held on Monday and will be dedicated to Malik. The family is thankful for the community's outpouring of support and has a GoFundMe for burial expenses.