Today we’d like to introduce you to Quantay Person.
Hi Quantay, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My story is one I feel like a lot of people can learn from. I lived with my mom in Virginia and North Carolina from birth to about 4th grade, until my dad wanted me and my sister to come live with him and my stepmom, Tameka in Maryland. Life was hard before the move, as my mom struggled to raise me and my 4 siblings. We often had to parent ourselves and each other. We didn’t get a lot of new things or nice things, we barely had food at times.
Back then it was easy to fall down the wrong path, even being so young. Even though I know my mom tried her best, I do recognize that’s no way for a child to grow up. We sometimes stayed at other people’s houses for different short periods of time and often moved around. I believe I moved about 5-6 times before I got to 5th grade. I was blessed to be given a better chance in life by moving with my dad, along with my younger sister Armani. But even the move caused hardships because it was all new.
For instance, we moved to Maryland with shoes that stank like garbage and were handed down. Our clothes had holes in them, and stains, and our personal hygiene wasn’t up to par as well. I didn’t understand what it felt like to always have food. I used to steal food because I didn’t know it would always be there. Dealing with traumas from the past, such as my mother’s abusive ex-boyfriend was never easy either.
As time went by, I found a lot of things in life that could be fun, I used to love to dance, and I even wanted to be an actor at some point. So up until high school that’s what I tried to do, until I was introduced to football in 10th grade. I always had a knack for sports, especially football. But I had no idea my life would change while I wanted to chase a dream I didn’t know I could have. I went to Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, Maryland.
I had an exceptional junior varsity year in 10th grade, which was crazy because it was my first year ever playing organized football. I even got to practice with varsity at times. I was pretty good. The next year I moved up to varsity and I had a lot to learn, but I remember having so much fun with my teammates. The bus rides, the wins, the losses. By the time the season was done, I felt a strong passion to pursue football. So I did.
In January 2015, my stepmom Tameka died of a brain aneurysm. I remember a lot about that night because she died in my and my stepbrother, Xavier’s arms. I didn’t know my life would change so drastically after that. Xavier had to move with his dad and I remember how alone I felt after that because we had a strong bond, the both of us. My dad dealing with the pain of a 10+ year relationship physically ending must’ve hurt a lot.
My senior year football season became some of the best football in the country. I became super competitive and played with a huge chip on my shoulder. I was good enough to play D1 football in college, I knew it. Although I wasn’t as serious in the classroom as I was during a game. I remember a lot of people telling me I could play D1 ball and even putting it in my head that I could play in the NFL one day. I wasn’t going to be able to play at big schools that came to see me, like Virginia Tech and The University of Maryland, since my grades weren’t good enough.
So I decided to take the Juco route. I started playing on a semi-pro kind of team in Delaware right after high school. At the time my dad had gotten into trouble with the law and got sentenced to 7 years in Prison. I was on my own at this point and by the time that first season was over, I was homeless. I ended up back in Germantown, where I started off sleeping couch to couch with friends and staying with an ex-girlfriend of mine.
Thankfully I had a friend Jalin, whose family took me in for about a year. After, I decided to try to live with my girlfriend at the time in secret from her family. Things didn’t work out well, and I ended up sleeping at a park outside in the snow, rain, and other various conditions. One day I got a call from a junior college football coach telling me I could play for his team in Minnesota. I left as soon as I could. I even walked miles around the city to give haircuts in order to be able to survive.
Where I’m from isn’t the safest place to be and it’s easy to fall into the wrong path, but I persevered. I thought life was going to be great. A few months into my first year in college, my best friend Stephen, or “Scoop,” was accidentally killed by another friend of ours. I haven’t really been the same since. The friend who killed Scoop went on a high-speed chase with the police and when he finally pulled over, he committed suicide. I would then dedicate my next season to them both. I’ve dealt with a lot of friends who are now dead or in prison.
But again I persevered. I ended up getting a call from another football coach to go to Kansas City, Missouri. I became the man I am today because of the friends I had who helped me find myself, and I am very grateful to have them because I wouldn’t have made it without them. While I was in school in Missouri, I played some football but it wasn’t what I thought it would be. Things just didn’t really seem to want to work out for me.
One day I got a note slid under my door that had a racial slur on it and it caused an uproar on campus. This was the cause of the biggest meeting in school history, as change was amongst us all. Even after everything, I persevered. I ended up graduating from William Jewell College with a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media Communications. The first in my family to graduate from college. I knew from the film I had, the NFL wasn’t really in the talk as much, even though I knew I was good enough to play professionally, so I transferred to Western New Mexico University in Silver City, New Mexico.
Of course, I also faced problems there as well, with my season being cut short due to my academic advisor not signing me up for enough classes, I became ineligible to play. It was a very frustrating and frightening time in my life because I felt like things like the NFL would be out of the picture. Luckily I believed in myself and decided to take a chance at the Podium All-Star senior bowl game, where I could showcase my talents and take control of my own life. I am now in Las Cruces, New Mexico currently training for my pro day in Miami on April 7th.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has never been a smooth road for me. Dealing with loss, homelessness, and other circumstances made me want to fight through it instead of giving up and falling into the streets back home, as easy as it could’ve been.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am training to become a professional football player. That has been the dream that I’ve fought so hard for over the years. I play Inside Linebacker and my job is to make tackles. I have been known for hard hits. I am most proud of my versatility throughout the years, as I’ve played many positions. What sets me apart from others is my drive, my ability to use my strength and speed, and my lack of fear. I’m not scared to run head-up with anyone.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I would like to own my own restaurant one day and maybe even get back into acting. I do have my own clothing brand sponsored by MILLIONS.CO, called “WORQ”.
Pricing:
- Hoodies- $44.25
- Hats- $20.63
- Shirts- $23.19
- Joggers- $50.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://millions.co/quantay-person-athletics
- Instagram: @X.skadoosh.X
- Twitter: @athletic_prince
Image Credits
@shotbymonii
