Texas Tech University Athletics
Dual-Threat Talent
August 17, 2011 | Football
August 18, 2011
by Britton Drown
Texas Tech Athletics Communications
Bradley Marquez finally feels as if a weight has been lifted off of his young freshman shoulders. For anyone entering their first year of college, to have made the decisions that Marquez has in the last few months, would be extraordinary.
Simply put, that's what Marquez is--extraordinary.
But now, at last, the native of Odessa, Texas can finally focus on football.
After all, that's what the highly-touted running back, who caught the eyes of a swarm of high school coaches during his senior year, came to Lubbock to do.
That is until the final day of his freshman year at Texas Tech comes to an end in May.
 | "I'm blessed to be able to play Texas Tech football as well as professional baseball. Not a lot of people get that opportunity, and I get that. That's something I'm definitely cherishing." |
Late Sunday night, less than 24 hours before the signing deadline, the young Marquez officially came to an agreement on a contract with the New York Mets. In June, the standout dual-sport athlete was selected in the 16th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year player draft.
"It means a lot," Marquez said with a smile on his face. "It's a dream come true to me. My family and I worked for 18 years on that."
Those 18 years of work during the summer, and the long car rides to a myraid of select baseball tournaments all culminated with a $325,000 signing bonus, and the organization agreeing to pay his tuition in full while he attends Texas Tech.
"To finally be a professional athlete in [baseball] is a dream come true.," Marquez said. "I couldn't ask for anything more. It's a blessing."
And so, once Marquez completes his freshman year as a student, and a receiver for the Red Raider football team, he will report to the Mets organization to become their newest outfielder. There, Marquez will begin his career as a baseball player, then report back to training camp late next summer where head coach Tommy Tuberville and his Red Raider teammates will be waiting.
"I've been blessed with these talents," Marquez said. "And honestly, I'm blessed to be able to play Texas Tech football as well as professional baseball. Not a lot of people get that opportunity, and I get that. That's something I'm definitely cherishing."
 Bradley Marquez will look to make an impact on the football field in 2011 before beginning his professional baseball career. | |
He's cherishing it because he understands he is different. But Marquez has never been the type to focus on a single sport at a time.
And why should he?
The uniquely gifted athlete has excelled at both football and baseball in high school, enough so to grab the attention of the Texas Tech football program along with a throng Major League Baseball scouts.
Both invested in him, and so for now, he will continue to commit to both.
"It's great," Tuberville said. "I'm proud for him and his family. It's something he wanted to do and something we want him to do if he wants to do it. We're 100 percent behind him."
For both the professional and college scouts, it was his speed that caught their eyes. His quickness in both the outfield and as a running back at Odessa High School was unique. Marquez broke out and rushed for an incredible 2,210 yards during his senior year. Following the remarkable season, he became the school's all-time rushing leader with 3,250 during his career.
"He's a good athlete," offensive coordinator Neal Brown said. "He can really run. He has done as well as any of the first-year guys out here."
Yes, he has the skill set to be successful in either professional baseball or college football. But for now, Marquez is both relieved, and focused on beginning his career as a Red Raider.
"I couldn't ask for a better team and coaching staff to be around me and accept me for the decisions that I have made," Marquez said. "They've just been supportive of me all around."
