Firm but kind. A consummate team player and yet considerate to a fault. 

“As an athlete he has the drive and always been a great athlete. He puts in 1,000% effort in everything he does,” said his mom. “For example, he is not afraid to put in the extra hours–-often running drills in the rain and on hilly slopes.”

What’s surprising to most is that Peoples, a two-sport star at Bingham, has only been playing on the varsity since last season. 

It is a spot the Bingham senior has earned. 

As a junior, Peoples played in 10 games for the Miners. He announced himself on Aug. 16, 2024 against Lone Peak in a regionally televised game. He had four tackles, one solo, in a 21-0 loss. 

In another game on regional TV, Peoples had four tackles, two solo and a tackle for loss in a 34-23 shootout setback at Lehi last Aug. 30. Utah State commit Kadiyon Sweat might have been the feature attraction that night, but in the shadow of the Lehi Roller Mills, Peoples had his moments. 

By the time his junior year was over as a football player, Peoples had four or more tackles in five of Bingham’s games and finished the 2024-25 season with 28 tackles and two interceptions. 

It is that leadership that helped Peoples retain his spot at defensive back after the Miners brought in some new blood, including a highly touted player in the secondary from Summit Academy and another who was an All-Conference selection back in Alaska during Peoples’ junior year. 

According to his mom, Peoples has always been the kind of leader that others gravitate towards—without being overly boisterous. 

“He is a great role model to other athletes by offering support and motivation to the entire team on and off the field,” his mom said. “You always catch him with a smile on his face.” 

With so many players on the football team from all walks of life, Peoples’ mom said he prides himself on working with everyone regardless of their skin tone and beliefs. 

“He prides himself on being a bridge between cultures, bringing everybody together under the “One Love Philosophy,” his mom said. 

His twin sister Stacia, who herself is also a two-sport star in volleyball and basketball, serves as Bingham’s football team manager. 

“The number one thing we stress as a family for Denzel is education first,” his mom said. “He has always been a good student and has maintained a 3.8 GPA throughout high school.” 

Those grades, along with a desire of Peoples to go to college and receive a degree in either law or computer programming, offer Peoples an opportunity to continue his studies. 

But, should the Bingham senior so choose, Peoples may also have a better than average chance at continuing a football career in college; he currently has athletic scholarship offers from Southern Utah, Utah Tech, Weber State and Idaho State. 

“He is happy to get the opportunity to achieve that goal with offers to play at several colleges with all expenses paid,” his mom said, who said her son expects to make his decision sometime in October. 

As Peoples’ senior year continues, his numbers are improving, too. He racked up a career-high seven tackles, five solo, in Bingham’s 23-13 loss to Alta. 

And yet the high school football story of Peoples may begin and end on television. At nationally ranked Corona California Centennial Saturday Sept. 6, he had the game’s lone interception and deflected a pass during the Miners’ 42-6 setback on the field where Jake Retzlaff played his high school football. 

In the eyes of his family, witnessing what might happen from here on out is just a result of all the hard work he’s put in, according to his mom. 

“His future is very bright and we are excited to see what a strong man he will become.”