Marcus Dupree facts for kids

Marcus L. Dupree (born May 22, 1964) is a former American football player. He was a running back in two professional leagues: the United States Football League (USFL) and the National Football League (NFL).

Marcus grew up in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His amazing skills in high school football caught national attention. He was a highly sought-after player for college football. He chose to play for the Oklahoma Sooners. There, he earned several honors, including Freshman of the Year. He was also named second-team All-American.

He left college early and later joined the USFL. He played for the New Orleans Breakers for two seasons. A knee injury forced him to stop playing for a while. Marcus returned to professional football in 1990. He played for the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL for two seasons.

Early Life and High School Success

Marcus L. Dupree was born on May 22, 1964, in Philadelphia, Mississippi. He went to Philadelphia High School. He played for the Philadelphia Tornadoes high school football team from 1978 to 1981. Marcus was also good at track & field. He could run 40 yards in just 4.29 seconds!

In 1978, as a freshman, Marcus scored five touchdowns as a wide receiver. He also scored seven more touchdowns returning kickoffs and punts. His very first play in high school was a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown!

As a sophomore in 1979, he became a running back. He rushed for an amazing 1,850 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. Marcus also played basketball and baseball for his high school.

In 1980, during his junior year, he rushed for 2,550 yards. He scored 34 touchdowns, with 25 of them from rushing.

As a senior in 1981, he rushed for 2,955 yards and scored 36 touchdowns. He finished his high school career with 7,355 rushing yards. He averaged 8.3 yards per carry. Marcus scored 87 touchdowns in high school. This broke the national high school record set by Herschel Walker.

Many major college football programs wanted Marcus to play for them. His high school coach, Joe Wood, received over 100 phone calls a day from colleges. On February 12, 1982, Marcus announced he would attend Oklahoma.

College Football Journey

When Marcus Dupree arrived at the University of Oklahoma in 1982, his coach, Barry Switzer, was very impressed. Switzer said Marcus was ready to be the best player on a great college team.

In his freshman season, Marcus didn't start until the seventh game. But he still finished with 1,144 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named second-team All-American. He was also named the Big Eight Newcomer of the Year.

His freshman season ended with the 1983 Fiesta Bowl. Marcus ran for a Fiesta Bowl record of 239 yards. This record still stands today.

Marcus's sophomore season in 1983 did not go as well. He was late to campus and gained weight. He also had injuries. After a concussion, he left Oklahoma. He briefly attended the University of Southern Mississippi.

College Statistics

Professional Football Career

Playing in the USFL

In 1984, Marcus Dupree signed with the New Orleans Breakers in the United States Football League (USFL). He scored a touchdown on his very first play as a professional.

He gained 684 yards on 145 carries and scored nine touchdowns that year. He had two games where he rushed for over 100 yards.

The Breakers team moved to Portland, Oregon for the 1985 season. Marcus started the season well. But during a game, he suffered a serious knee injury. He had surgery on his knee. This injury meant he would not play for the Breakers again.

Time in the NFL

After four years away from football, Marcus decided to try for the NFL. He lost 100 pounds and got back into shape. In October 1990, Marcus signed with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams had drafted him in 1986, hoping he would get healthy again.

In week nine of the 1990 season, Marcus played his first NFL game. He rushed for 22 yards. He wore number 34 to honor Walter Payton, a famous football player. He finished his first NFL season with 72 yards in three games.

In 1991, Marcus missed the first seven games due to a toe injury. When he returned, he played more often. He scored his only NFL touchdown that year. He finished the season with 179 yards and one touchdown in eight games.

Before the 1992 season, Marcus led the Rams in rushing during the preseason games. He even had a 100-yard game. However, he was cut from the team before the regular season started. He then decided to retire from football.

He finished his NFL career with 251 rushing yards and one touchdown in regular season games.

Professional Statistics

USFL Statistics

NFL Statistics

Life After Football

After retiring from football, Marcus Dupree tried different things. In 1995, he worked as a professional wrestler for a short time. He also ran a sports bar and worked as a casino greeter.

In 2011, Marcus was diagnosed with prostate cancer but recovered. He also worked with a pro wrestling promotion organization. Later, he faced some financial issues that were investigated.

About His Family

Marcus Dupree has three sons: Marquez, Landon, and Rashad. He also has a grandson.

Marcus in Books and Films

• The book The Courting of Marcus Dupree by Willie Morris tells the story of colleges trying to recruit Marcus.
• ESPN made a documentary film about Marcus called "The Best That Never Was" (2010). It was part of their 30 for 30 series.