Jones-Quartey to Speak at Fridays at Findlay

Shortly following what promises to be a Super Bowl Sunday thrill ride, the University of Findlay will welcome to the driver's seat NFL powerhouse Harold Jones-Quartey, a starting defensive back for the Chicago Bears and University of Findlay alumnus, for its Fridays at Findlay event on Feb. 10.

The executive speaker series breakfast, sponsored by State Bank, will begin at 7:30 a.m. in Winebrenner Theological Seminary's TLB Auditorium.

Admission is $10 per person and $5 for students. To register, contact Sonja Daniels at danielss@findlay.edu or 419-434-5918; or visit https://www.findlay.edu/offices/advancement/Fridays-at-Findlay

Jones-Quartey began his professional football career with the Bears after graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice. He played in all 16 games for the Bears this season and was a starter for 12 of them (he started in four games during the 2015 season). His record includes 78 total tackles, making him the second-leading tackler on the team. His 66 solo tackles ranks him as eighth in the NFL among players in his position. He had a career-high nine tackles on Oct. 10 against the Green Bay Packers, and had nine tackles on Dec. 4 in a win against San Francisco. This past season he also had one interception and five passes defended.

At UF, he was also a leader on the field and in the classroom. Playing for a Division II university, and enrolling in a challenging academic program motivated him to do his best, he said for a 2015 story in which he reflected on what he did to make it into the National Football League.

"The time management skills of being a student athlete pushed me to get higher grades than I probably would have received if I didn't have my coaches motivating me to keep studying," said Jones-Quartey. "The discipline I needed to obtain quality grades propelled me to keep studying. The discipline I needed to obtain quality grades propelled me to be a better student of the game."

Leadership is also one of Quartey's strengths, explained Philip Lucas, Ph.D., associate professor of criminal justice and forensic science. He always sat in the front row of each class, participated in discussions and served as a mentor to fellow players. "He would take them under his wing and really lead by example of what it took to be a successful student athlete at the University of Findlay," Lucas said.