Quadry Jones enrolled at Jones High School last summer, with no expectations to take over the offense. But with the clock ticking down till the first game of the season, Coach Elijah Williams named Jones the starting quarterback at Jones High School.
“He was like you are the next man up, I trust in you to do the job,” said Quadry.
Quadry took advantage of the opportunity, leading the Tigers offense while throwing over 200 yards a game and 28 touchdowns total.
“I held my head high because I left everything on the field.”
While he has obviously proven he has the arm, it’s the quarterback’s mental makeup that he takes the most pride in.
“Mentally you can’t break down,” said Jones. “You have to keep encouraging your team even when you are losing. “
The Tigers only two losses of the season came at the hands of eventual 4A State Champs, Cocoa High School, including an ousting in the regional finals. A hard ending turned into motivation for an incoming senior-heavy squad.
“We’re working way harder. I think this is the hardest we’ve ever worked this summer. We’ve had the whole weight room floor sweaty. I was like wow,” joked Quadry.
The soon to be senior has big goals for his last season in orange and green with dreams of over four thousand passing yards, and a playoff run. But the biggest goal of all is college. Quadry isn’t ranked on national websites, unlike teammates Stacy Kirby and Sevyn Banks who are major recruits.
The scholarship offers may not be pouring in yet, but as the kid with the 3.6 GPA so smartly puts it, he only needs to find the right one.
“Stars? Offers? I’m going to college. Out of all the colleges they have to pick they have to go to one, so that’s how I look at it.”
Jones has one last season at Jones to hone his craft and find his next home.