At this very moment, somewhere in the country, Quinton Dunbar is working on his craft. As a defensive back for the Washington Redskins, Dunbar is constantly looking for ways to improve himself, to make himself a better play, and to be the best he can be. This work ethic has been ingrained upon him for his entire life and has allowed him to work his way into the starting lineup for Washington this season.

Growing up in football-rich Miami, Dunbar worked hard to make himself standout. Coupling that with his natural speed, agility, and athleticism allowed him to catch the eye of Urban Meyer and the University of Florida. These same abilities carried him to the NFL as an undrafted free agent and allowed him to convert to defensive back in the NFL.

This journey has given him a unique perspective on life and the game of football. This includes reflecting on his time as part of the inaugural U.S. National Football Team. He recently took some time to talk about his experience with Team USA and how it prepared him for the rest of his career in football.

EM: When did you realize that you were good at football, that this sport was something you had a chance to do at the highest level?

QD: Yeah, growing up in the environment that I did, football was a way for me to stay out of trouble. I started playing when I was around four-years old and the game really just grew on me and I loved it after I started playing for a while.

I knew pretty early on that I was good, and I could go far with it. Once I got the hang of football, I really started taking it serious and working at it.

EM: Did you play in any other sports growing up? Do you think it’s important to play other sports aside from football?

QD: Yeah, in high school I also played basketball and ran track. I think playing other sports most definitely helps you with football. I think when you’re a kid, you should just be a kid and play as many sports as you want. Life goes fast, so you should be a kid however long you can and I think that means playing whatever sport you want to play.

EM: How did you decide that you wanted to go to Florida and play for the Gators?

QD: I was pretty sold on them when I met Urban Meyer. I just felt comfortable with him and what they wanted me to be. The best part about going there were the friendships I made beyond football. I haven’t been back there in a while, but I still keep in touch with some of the guys that I met at Florida, both in and out of football.

EM: When you got to the NFL, you obviously had a huge adjustment in switching positions from wide receiver to defensive back. What else was an adjustment to you going to the pros from college?

QD: I think adjusting to the fact that nobody is on you to do what you’re here to do. In college, somebody is always on you to do this or do that. But in the NFL, you have to do things by yourself. You have to prepare every day to be the best on your own. This is your job and it’s your responsibility to do what you have to do every day, every week.

EM: That makes perfect sense. Talking about Team USA now, how did you learn about the chance to play on the team?

QD: They reached out to me and I was very interested in playing in an all-star game like that. You’re allowed to go to two all-star games in high school, and I’m glad I chose this one. Also, since it was in Florida that year, it was close to home and it was definitely convenient for me and my family to come watch me play.

EM: What were you thinking that week of practice, being around all of this great talent? I have to imagine that being around this type of talent just made you want to be even better, right?

QD: Yeah, it was definitely a fun experience. You’re around some of the best guys in the nation, so it gives you a chance to see where your game is at and what you can do to be better. Going against guys like Tyrann Mathieu lets you know where you are at and what you need to work on. It was fun on the field, but it was also fun off the field.

Going to games like this, everybody on the team was the man at their high school. So, when you’re one of these guys and playing in a ‘regular’ high school game, you’re probably going to be more dominant because not every high school has top guys. When you go into a game like [the International Bowl], you know everybody is dominant so you can really see where you’re at and what you need to do to be as good as them.

EM: What do you remember most about the game itself that week?

QD: I remember it was a unique format and I remember those great jerseys that we got to keep. It was a fun overall week, getting to play against guys from all over the world. Also, getting the chance to make relationships. Football doesn’t last forever, but those relationships do. I kept track of some of those guys I played with in college, and now when we’re in the NFL, it’s good to reminisce about the game and talk about our experiences back then.