Hard Work Pays off for Warren County Graduate

By:  Jaamal Rhodes

Note:  Each week Jaamal Rhodes will be updating you on Warren County athletes who have gone on to excel outside of Warren County.  This week, Rhodes shines the spotlight on Quadrez Reese.

He has never been the fastest or the strongest person on the court or the field.  His size is not overly impressive, nor is his athletic ability.  He has never been the star of any team, yet Quadrez "Disco" Reese has managed to take what he was blessed with and become more than many thought he would.  Reese's passion, his dedication, and most importantly his work ethic has allowed him to continue his athletic career and his education well past his days at Warren County High School.

A 2007 graduate of WCHS, Quadrez was a four year member of both the football and basketball teams.  Reese also was the starting shortstop on the baseball team his senior year.  His love for basketball led him to become the starting point guard during his senior year as well.  He led Warren County to the 2nd round of the state tournament where they would eventually fall to the Warriors of Southwest Atlanta Christian.  His true passion, however, lay on the gridiron and that is the place where he would leave his mark.

Coach Brian Wallace was Reese's basketball coach in high school.  He describes Reese as a "grinder."  When asked to describe his dedication, Wallace says, "He may not be the best, but if I have to go to war, Reese is coming with me."  He instilled that idea about himself in everyone he's come in contact with.  He's always going to work hard, he's always going to compete, and he's always going to make those around him better because he's going to push them just as hard as he pushes himself.

Reese's work ethic helped to turn around Warren County's football program in 2005.  During his freshman and sophomore seasons, Warren had won a combined eight football games with only one state playoff appearance that ended with a 35-0 loss to Bremen in 2003.  Over his junior and senior seasons, Warren won 16 games including a playoff win over Commerce in 2005 and a trip to the state quarterfinals in 2006.

Although the 2006 season was filled with highlights and special moments, none was more special than the first game of the state playoffs.  Warren played host to Bowdon at the Brickyard in Thomson for the first game of the state playoffs.  Bowdon had beaten the Devils in the playoffs the previous year.  The game was the first time Warren County had hosted a playoff game since 1968.  Warren County fans filled the home side of the stadium and Quadrez and the Devils gave the fans their money's worth.  Reese rushed for 239 yards and scored three touchdowns on runs of 57, 44, and 33 yards to lead the Devils to a 56-24 victory.

After graduating, Quadrez walked on to one of the top junior college programs in the country at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville.  Not one to be satisfied with just being on the team, Quadrez displayed to the coaches of GMC the same work ethic that made him a high school stand out.  Reese's hard work earned him a vital role as a special teams player and eventually led to a position as a tailback for the Bulldogs.  In his two seasons at GMC, Quadrez helped his teams to a combined 15-6 record and a bowl game appearance.

With no scholarship offers coming his way immediately after his second season at GMC, Reese said he had planned to do what he had always done.  According to Reese, "I figured I'd go somewhere, outwork everyone around me, and earn a spot in someones program."  Fortunately, someone had other plans.  It was one of those hot summer Georgia days and Reese had just wrapped up a day of basketball at the old high school gym in Warren County when he retrieved a voice mail from his cell phone.  The message was from the coaching staff at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois and they wanted to offer him a football scholarship as a defensive back.  The fact that he had not played the position since he was a freshman in high school did not deter Reese one bit.

Reese responded to the coaches by saying, "Yes sir, I do play cornerback.  I would definitely accept your offer.  When do I need to be there?"  Beginning that day, Quadrez began preparing himself for his new challenge.  Reese told himself, "I'm going to be a starter, not just another player."  For the next seven weeks he ran, lifted weights, did footwork drills, and flipped tires alone in preparation to join his new team.

On August 28, 2010, Quadrez stepped onto the field for the Trojans in their season opener.  Even though he had devoted more time than ever to getting himself better, he was still not the fastest, the strongest, or the most athletic.  He was, however, a leader, a captain, and most importantly, a starter.  In his first game as a defensive back since his freshman year of high school, Reese intercepted a pass and broke up three others as the Trojans defeated Iowa's Wesleyan College 16-6.  He finished the season as one of the top defensive backs on the team.

2011 brings new challenges and expectations for Reese as he has been moved back to his natural position of running back.  Reese once again spent the summer training and readying himself for success.  Reese sums up his philosophy on success with one of his favorite quotes, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."  You can be sure that "Disco" Reese will be dancing in the end zone again this year after all of his hard work.

You can listen live to TIU games by going to www.tiutrojans.com/schedule/9/.php.  You can also follow Quadrez on twitter at itsdat_6.