A year ago, Quinton Dunbar entered training camp as a rookie wide receiver. He starts his second year as a cornerback and new father.
Redskins cornerback Quinton Dunbar made his training camp debut on Saturday after missing the first two days to see the birth of his daughter, Denim.
The Washington Redskins conducted their third day of training camp walkthrough practices Saturday, July 30, 2016, at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Va.
Her due date was originally set for July 22, Dunbar's birthday, "but she held out a week later," he laughed speaking with reporters after morning walkthroughs.
"It was an amazing experience to see something come out my girl that's mine. Amazing," he said. ""Honestly I wasn't nervous, I was ready to see it. It had been a long time, a long nine months, so I was ready to see it.
"It's just an amazing feeling, the motivation. I mean, I got a mouth to feed so it motivates me even more. Not that I'm not already motivated, I am motivated, but I'm turning it up a notch."
The unexpectedness of Denim's arrival, which prompted a quick trip down to Miami to be with his girlfriend, resembles how much of the last year has gone for Dunbar.
Signed as an undrafted wide receiver out of Florida, then converted into a cornerback midway through training camp last year, then thought of as one of the team's best assets in the secondary late in the season, Dunbar's life, especially with a new addition in tow, has changed dramatically from last August.
"It's definitely a dream, man," Dunbar said. "Like I said, I wouldn't have imagined playing DB, but now that I made the switch, coming out here very comfortable, confident, ready to compete, ready to be with my teammates."
As for his progression within the defense, Dunbar believes he's "100 percent" better than where he was last season and that the competition and camaraderie within the defensive backs group continues to get better, too.
Dunbar said that they bond together outside of the practice facility – in group chats and over dinner – but the battles in camp don't breed any bitterness. He just looks to continue his progression in his second year in the league, and has Josh Norman this year to help him.
"I always pick his brain, I'm right behind him at left corner, so I always pick his brain even out there in the walkthrough I ask him questions," Dunbar said. "I'm trying to learn from him, learn from a great cornerback."
