If sports didn’t work out, Kayvon Webster, a former USF cornerback who helped lead the Denver Broncos to a Super Bowl championship in 2015, thought he might make a career in medicine.

“I really wanted to be a medical examiner,” said Webster, who also ran track for USF. “But I couldn’t take a lot of the science courses USF offered because they conflicted with my football schedule. So, a health sciences major was the next best thing.”

Webster said he enjoyed the rigor of the coursework and felt fortunate his teammates were pursuing other, “easier” majors. “I took my academics seriously,” he said. “I didn’t want to get distracted by having my teammates in my classes.”

Webster, who grew up near Miami, received his BS in health sciences in 2012. The major moved from the College of Arts and Sciences to the College of Public Health in 2019.

Drafted out of college, Webster played for a variety of NFL teams, including the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans.

But football is a tough and fickle business, Webster noted.

“One day you have coaches smiling at you, telling you they believe in you, and then the next day they cut you. Every week I was putting my body on the line for these guys, but I didn’t always feel like the coaches had my back. I just got tired of the mind games.”

Before he hung up his cleats, Webster was plotting his next move—opening a food truck that could serve fans at the stadium on game day. As a professional athlete, he had access to personal chefs and their wealth of cooking knowledge. Couple that with his health sciences degree, which Webster said gave him some background in nutrition, and the idea seemed like a no-brainer.

VYBE 305, Webster’s Caribbean-flavored food truck, was soon launched. And while it was a hit, not everyone was impressed.

When food blogger Starex Smith gave the truck a negative review, Webster recruited him to help make the food and service better. Together they revamped the food truck and grew their partnership into other ventures, including the brick-and-mortar restaurants Smith & Webster in North Miami and Brandon’s Bistro in Pembroke Pines.

“I would say one of my proudest achievements is being able to give others opportunities to better themselves,” Webster said. “I’ve hired personal chefs and some from chain restaurants and have been able to pay them every week. We’re trying to become the first Black-owned profitable hospitality group in South Florida to give employees livable salaries and health benefits, including vision and dental, all while still being able to deliver fresh, meaningful food.”

Next up for Webster, who was recently honored with a USF Outstanding Young Alumni Award (which, according to the award’s website, recognizes alumni who have demonstrated “creativity and success in their careers”) is building on the success of his hospitality group and venturing into real estate.

“I never took the easy way out,” he said. “In fact, that’s one reason why I decided to major in health sciences. I wanted the academic challenge. I might get back into my degree in the future, but right now other things are calling.”

Alumni Fast Five

What did you dream of becoming when you were young?

I wanted to get into the medical field. I always thought Dr. Webster had a nice sound to it.

Where can we find you on the weekends?

At one of my restaurants.

What was the last book you read?

“Improve Your Conversations,” by Patrick King

What superpower do you wish you had?

Healing others.

What’s your all-time favorite movie?

“Harlem Nights.”

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health