Dante will miss the entire season while he is recovering.
"He has to ride the bus to two or three different gang territories to get here, but he's determined to do what he has to do," said Eddie Jones, football coach.
Jones says Dante's determination is why he promoted Dante to the starting position, passing over a senior.
"He worked all summer long. He had that drive in him that he wanted to be good.
"He won us our first two games," said Darrion Lewis, friend.
On Wednesday, 14 of Dante's teammates left school and went directly to Christ Hospital. Dante's family credits his determination and doctors for what they are calling a miraculous recovery.
"Yesterday, it wasn't looking good. Today, he's looking fair," said Patricia Lewis-Sanders, cousin.
While Dante's condition is improving, his family and friends hope the driver of the stolen vehicle is brought to justice.
"I think it's awful that people in this world take things from people that people that work hard every day, and you got someone that takes someone from someone and then hit an innocent child. That's ridiculous," said Lewis-Sanders.
"He put him in this situation for a reason. We should all come back stronger from this," said Trevon Harrison.
The driver of the stolen vehicle remains in police custody.
While Dante recovers, his teammates will be dedicating this Saturday's game against Calumet to him.
