Marquez White was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. On Monday, he was back in Dothan talking to Beverlye Magnet School students about his experiences and making the right decisions.
That’s just the kind of guy he is.
White, a former Beverlye student, told the students the same things their teachers and other adults tell them every day. Make goals. Work hard. Surround yourself with the right people. It’s a good message, and White is a great megaphone for it.
“I’m not a public speaker,” White said. “But when I get a chance to give back, I try to do it.”
White spoke simply, but earnestly to the students. He answered their questions about his shoes. They’re Christian Louboutin. He told them about his 3-year-old daughter. They aw-ed at that. He told them a little about his own days playing football at Beverlye and then Northview High.
“I was there in their shoes,” White said before his talk with the students. “Same class, same lunchroom, some of the same teachers.”
White said when he was playing football for Beverlye, where he once caught a 98-yard touchdown pass, he never imagined he would play in the NFL. The dream felt far away even Saturday, when he was unsure of what the draft had in store for him.
“I was upset at the way it was playing out, then I got the biggest call of my life,” he said.
Beverlye Middle School coach Brandon Brown said he isn’t at all surprised by White’s success.
“To be honest, Marquez had it from the beginning,” he said. “He was one of those kids whose work ethic was unbelievable,” he said. “Whenever I gave him something to do, he kept at it until he got it. He had a great support system. You knew his crowd when you saw them in the bleachers. He also was very humble and always gave thanks to his Lord and savior.”
White said he hopes his success will provide a good example for others.
“I’m excited about making my family proud and impacting my community in a positive way,” he said.