NASHVILLE, Ga. (WALB) \u2014 Two Berrien High School football players signed commitment letters Wednesday morning to continue their football careers at Thomas University.<\/p>\n
Seniors Tre Queen and Jacob Connell signed to play for the Nighthawks after battling adversity and injuries during their high school careers in Nashville.<\/p>\n
Queen said the opportunity to play college football is significant.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really just a great opportunity. I\u2019m really happy because, I mean, I got hurt beginning of the season this year,\u201d Queen said. \u201cAnd so I just had to battle back from injuries and come back. And then, I mean, to even get an offer, just any offer, you know, it\u2019s just a great opportunity. Not many people get to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Queen said the hard work has paid off.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike, it\u2019s kind of like I noticed all the hard work, you know, it\u2019s done paid off now,\u201d he said. \u201cLike, everything I done put in, I\u2019m getting back out now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Proximity to home a factor<\/p>\n
The proximity to home played a role in Queen\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I mean, it\u2019s right down the road, you know, not far from home,\u201d Queen said. \u201cI like the coaching staff, the head coach, Coach Dan Pippin. Great guy. I really like, you know, what he got going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Queen said Thomas head coach Dan Pippin told him he would have an opportunity to play immediately.<\/p>\n
Queen said having family nearby is important.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s really important because I think a support system makes a difference, you know what I\u2019m saying?\u201d he said. \u201cIf you got supporters, that\u2019s going to make you want to go harder.\u201d<\/p>\n
Queen said going to Thomas with Connell was also a factor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s very important. So now I don\u2019t have to like… I know I\u2019m going to go down there and make some new friends, but I know I got somebody down there that I already know, already played with,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Connell said the opportunity is exciting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s exciting. I get to go with my buddy, like I said, to a college close to home and be able to experience college lifestyle and the college football mentality with somebody I\u2019ve been through in high school,\u201d Connell said.<\/p>\n
Building a program<\/p>\n
Both players said they are ready to help build Thomas University\u2019s football program.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve built this program to where it\u2019s at now. I feel like we\u2019ve struggled in the past. I feel like if we step in somewhere new, we have the ability to take it somewhere else, just like we did this program,\u201d Connell said.<\/p>\n
Connell said the coaching staff at Berrien helped prepare him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis coaching staff has built me tremendously. I say I got these offers off of one year of football because I\u2019ve been injured,\u201d he said. \u201cCoach Dean, Coach Kane, Coach Chop, all the coaches, the athletic staff that helped us, they just built me tremendously from the morning workouts to the afternoon workouts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connell said he plans to give everything at Thomas.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m coming for blood. I want everything that I can give. I\u2019m going to give it all, and I\u2019m not going to stop until I get what I want,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Berrien head coach Jackson Dean said the signings show hard work pays off.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose are two kids that they really put in the work for four years. I mean, had a bunch of bumps and bruises along the way in terms of different coaching staffs and different styles,\u201d Dean said. \u201cBut it just shows that if you\u2019re committed to something and truly want it, that it can come true.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dean said he hopes younger players will see the example set by Queen and Connell.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really hope that our younger kids can really buy into that and just understand if they commit to something for four years, that great things can happen for them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Both players went through three different head coaches during their four years at Berrien.<\/p>\n
Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know.<\/a> Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook<\/a> and X (Twitter)<\/a>. For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store<\/a> or Google Play<\/a>. <\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n