Walter H. Dyett High School seniors David Maddox and Zaire Tobar, co-captains of the school’s football team, have officially signed athletic scholarships to play at the University of St. Francis (USF) in Joliet, Illinois.
Tobar, a dual-threat quarterback, and Maddox, a standout wide receiver and record-breaking track star, were celebrated by classmates, family, and coaches during a signing ceremony last week that highlighted not only their athletic talents but their academic commitment as well.
Tobar, “I’m excited about heading off to college and pursuing my dreams. My mom has been my biggest cheerleader. Football is fun and I intend to go as far as I can with it because sports gave me the tools, like self-confidence, leadership, and teamwork that I can use for the rest of my life.”
His teammate, Maddox, had multiple scholarship offers from top schools, including the University of Illinois, Jackson State University, Norfolk State, and Morgan State University. Ultimately, he chose the USFs because of the scholarship package, its proximity to home and the opportunities they have both on and off the field.
“I’m excited to take the next step in my journey at the University of St. Francis,” Maddox told the Crusader. “I’ve worked hard in the classroom and on the field, and I’m committed to staying focused on my goals — in sports and in life.” The 6-foot-3 senior, who lives in South Shore, has his sights on playing in the NFL. He will major in athletic training and sports management.
“I’m thankful to my parents, grandmother and coaches for investing and believing in me,” Maddox said. “I’m somewhat nervous of leaving home, but I’m glad to be there with a teammate, and we’ll both be on the field doing what we do.”
Tobar, known for his leadership under pressure and sharp decision-making on the field, will major in business. His contributions as quarterback helped lead the Dyett Eagles to one of their strongest seasons in recent years, only losing two games.
Marques Reed, Dyett’s head football coach and a computer science teacher, emphasized the significance of sports in urban communities and highlighted its role in providing opportunities for young men to experience new things and succeed. Coaching for five years, he led the Eagles to a 7-2 record, which qualified them for the state playoffs for the second consecutive year.
“Of course, we want to win and stuff like that, but the results of having these young men move on to college, playing a sport they love, is the biggest thing for us,” said Reed. It’s important that they make it to the next level, either that be that be football or regular academics, but our biggest thing is making sure they can get their higher education funded through a solid sports program.’
About Maddox, he said, “David was a huge contributor for us. He didn’t miss a day of practice; he worked day in, day out and gave us everything that he had,” Reed said. “We saw him grow, condition himself by playing other sports, and develop a winning attitude. Tobar was our leader on the field as quarterback. He’s smart, he’s focused, and I have no doubt he will also make a huge contribution to the USF.”
In addition to his football success, Maddox broke school records in track and field under the guidance of Coach Darien Williams, who has been the head coach for three years. The Eagles won the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) relays and set several school records, including David Maddox’s 11.35 seconds in the 100-meter dash and Calvin Moore’s 16.95 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles.
Williams, a former track athlete, emphasized his coaching strategy of trusting the process and the importance of sports in CPS for personal development and academic success. Several team members received track scholarships to colleges such as Georgia State, Roosevelt University and Olive-Harvey City College. He said the team’s accomplishments were considerable when factoring in that they finished citywide in the top 10, where nearly 500 kids competed during the indoor season.
“I’m proud of the entire team—they are great athletes and developing into great men,” Williams said. “Maddox has the fastest time in Dyett history, along with Moore, who set the record in hurdles. This demonstrates how sports continue to be an access point to higher learning for CPS students. All of my guys are strong in academics, exhibit great character and will no doubt return from college as leaders in society.
“Sports gives our youth another outlet to express themselves, to make friends, for them to just elevate in life, social skills, and independence,” Williams told the Crusader. “My strategy has always been to trust the process. I’m just proud of their resilience that they showed throughout the whole season and I’m excited for next season.”
Several other Dyett students earned athletic scholarships to colleges and universities this year, including VeKingston Young (defensive back/wide receiver), Kevin Martin (quarterback/track), Justin Macklin (running back/track), Noel Owens (offensive and defensive line, discus, shot put), and Kobi Tate (linebacker/fullback).
With strong mentorship from their coaches and support from the Dyett community, these student-athletes are poised for success beyond high school. Their collective achievements mark a milestone for Dyett’s growing athletics program and serve as an inspiration for younger students aiming to balance books and sports with equal passion.
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