DEVALLS BLUFF, Ark. — It seems like freshman Quincey McAdoo can do it all. He switched from wide receiver to defensive back, and he's excelled.
The Holly Grove, Arkansas native started playing football at four years old.
"The PeeWee football field was across the street and they'd get in trouble going over there because they were too young to play. Until finally the PeeWee coach said let them come." McAdoo's mother, LaTonya Love Larkin said.
Like many young Arkansans, McAdoo dreamed of playing for the Hogs, so he trained to achieve that goal. His mother would see him training at various hours of the day, before and after school.
"I used to work at a factory and sometimes we'd have to be at work at three or four in the morning. They'd make me get there at two. He would be in the garage with his weight set working out," she said. "When I'd come home in the evening, it would be about four, and he'd be running in the yard with his parachute. He has a little brother and sometimes they'd race."
At first, McAdoo was committed to Florida State, but being close to family was also important to him.
When Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman got on the recruiting trail, he gave the former Clarendon star and his mother a call.
"He handed me the phone and I was like who is this hey said it's Pittman. Here I am, with no other choice but to talk to the man. I was happy he was staying home," LaTonya added.
Quincey was recruited as a wide receiver, but he switched to defensive back this year. Throughout his childhood football career, he played in almost every position. Moving spots was not foreign to McAdoo.
"He called and said 'mama what do you think of me going to defense?' I said that's not what you were recruited for. He said 'as long as I'm okay mentally everything is alright. I'm not okay mentally on the sideline I know I can help on defense.'"
"Our DB room. Everyone was hurt. I played defense in high school. I felt like I could contribute, so I asked coach Pitt what he thought of me playing defense for the remainder of the year, and we're here." McAdoo said.
The former Clarendon star made his college cornerback debut against Liberty. The Hogs lost that game, but he shined.
He blocked a punt for a safety, broke up a pass in the end zone, and intercepted Liberty Quarterback Jonathan Bennet.
McAdoo wants to show other small-town kids that they can play at the highest level too.
"I come from Clarendon. We don't get people to make it into college. Not even just football, just make it into college. It was a dream come true for me for sure. That's what really pushed me, coming from a small town. Everyone in the stands made me feel at home," the freshman said.
Being a parent of a dedicated athlete isn't easy with traveling, practices, and games, but LaTonya said to stick with it.
"For every single parent, and I know it's hard and I know we're tired. Just do it. You don't know what you're raising. There would be time we'd be getting off of work and we'd have to be somewhere and well just did it and it worked out."