Marqise Lee is one of a long line of successful football players to come out of USC, winning the Biletnikoff Award as a sophomore in 2012 and going on to have a multi-year playing career in the NFL.
“But besides my kids, I think the next tier on my list is me getting my degree,” Lee said. “My degree literally jumps me and my NFL career, me winning Biletnikoff at USC. It trumps all that.”
After 11 years, the former All-American wide receiver is back on campus and earning the final credits needed to complete his sociology degree. The experience is helping him adjust to a new normal after a lifetime in football, and see a better future for himself.
Making the decision
A second-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft, Lee played for the Jacksonville Jaguars for six seasons, then signed with New England as a free agent but opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the birth of his daughter. San Francisco signed him to a one-year contract the year after, and he was waived four days later.
The former Serra High star and his wife were considering moving their family to New Jersey, where his wife is originally from. They were vetting school districts for their children when his wife looked at him directly and said, “Don’t you gotta finish school?”
Coaches had already brought up the idea to him when he came back for games and practices. Academic counselors had reached out to him. Even a group chat including former Trojans Robert Woods, Hayes Pullard, DJ Morgan, Dion Bailey, TJ McDonald and Devon Kennard – who had all finished college – had provided motivation.
“My mindset is a lot different than what it was 10 years ago when I was in school,” Lee said. “Now that I’ve got kids and me being on my kids about going to school, one thing that dwells on me is you’re telling your kids to finish school and it’s important to finish school, but you never finished school.”
Lee, who grew up in foster care, chose to stick with a sociology degree because he plans to work in player development.
USC strongly recommends that players finish their schooling. Current defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has had experience in his coaching career with players who are intrinsically motivated as well as others who need an extra push or help coming up with a plan.
“It’s a combination of both,” Lynn said. “You stay on guys, but then also there’s also a handful of guys where their parents are on them. The academic advisors are on them. And they know, ‘OK, if I go to the NFL and I have 10 credits left, let’s make sure before you leave we have a plan about how you’re going to get those 10 credits.’”
Lee is taking three courses on campus that end in December and he’ll walk in a graduation ceremony in May. His classmates are a mix of college-aged students and adults, since all of the courses he’s enrolled in are upper-level.
“I’m big on just socialization and making sure I’m being open,” Lee said. “Letting the kids know I haven’t been here for the last 10-plus years, so if we’ve got projects and things like that, just bear with me. I communicate with the teacher as far as just letting her know that it’s been some time since I’ve been back. But everybody has made me feel comfortable.”
Life after the league
In some ways, life as a professional athlete is easy. Convenient. Even making a dentist appointment requires only a simple text message, and it’s arranged for them.
Football can end quickly, however, and leave athletes without direction.
“It’s all we know,” Lee said. “For me, I fell into that depression world where it was like, ‘Damn, Qise, what’s next?’ I don’t know what’s next. I never planned what’s next. For me, it was about playing as many years as I had of football. I didn’t expect it to end that fast.”
That’s one reason why coaches and schools do their best to develop long-term educational plans for their athletes. It also reconnects them with their alma mater as well as the students who are currently there, which can be beneficial for both parties.
“You meet so many people playing ball in college,” Lynn said. “Finishing it off right and getting your degree, whether you get it while you’re playing here or you come back after your NFL career is over, it just opens so many doors because you can’t play the ball forever.”
Even though Lee went through his college football career before the era of name, image and likeness, he still sees enduring lessons. Have a plan for after football. Connect with people who can help you in the long run, or simply to build a human connection.
“Right now, while we’re in football, everybody wants to meet you. Everybody wants to talk to you,” Lee said. “Why not go in there and have lunch with the guys that are actually giving you that NIL money? They really want to meet you. And they’ll understand that 30 minutes can set you up for the rest of your life.”
Returning to school has given Lee a new perspective not just on education, but also on life. He’s canceling trips to avoid missing class time and looking more closely at societal issues. Reading has shifted from being a requirement to becoming an enjoyment. He’s devoured four books since returning to school this summer.
Lee and his wife take turns dropping off and picking up their daughter at kindergarten based on his class schedule, as school continues to be a top priority.
“My focus is just knocking out these three months,” Lee said, “and after these three months, I feel like the doors are going to be open and whatever I want to do is going to be there.”
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