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. Many colleges wanted him to play for them. He chose to play for the Oklahoma Sooners. There, he was named Freshman of the Year and earned other top honors.

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

Early Life and High School Football

Marcus L. Dupree was born on May 22, 1964. He grew up in Philadelphia, Mississippi. He went to Philadelphia High School. From 1978 to 1981, he played for the Philadelphia Tornadoes high school football team. Marcus was also very fast. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds. He also played basketball and baseball.

High School Achievements

• In 1978, as a freshman, Marcus scored five touchdowns as a wide receiver. He also scored seven touchdowns returning kickoffs and punts. His first play in high school was a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown!
• In 1979, as a sophomore, he became a running back. He rushed for 1,850 yards and scored 28 touchdowns.
• In 1980, as a junior, he rushed for 2,550 yards. He scored 34 touchdowns, with 25 from rushing and 9 from kick returns.
• In 1981, as a senior, he rushed for 2,955 yards and scored 36 touchdowns.

Marcus finished his high school career with 7,355 rushing yards. He averaged 8.3 yards per carry. He scored 87 touchdowns in total during high school. This broke the national high school record set by Herschel Walker.

College Recruitment

Many major college football teams wanted Marcus to play for them. His high school coach, Joe Wood, received over 100 phone calls a day from colleges. Oklahoma assistant coach Lucious Selmon stayed in Philadelphia for six weeks. Marcus first said he would go to Texas. But Oklahoma's head coach Barry Switzer sent former Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims to talk to Marcus. On February 12, 1982, Marcus announced he would attend Oklahoma. He chose Oklahoma over Texas, UCLA, and Southern Miss.

College Career at Oklahoma

When Marcus Dupree arrived at the University of Oklahoma in 1982, coach Barry Switzer was very impressed. He said Marcus was "the best player on the field" as a freshman. Switzer felt Marcus was ready for college and even the NFL at that young age.

Freshman Season Highlights

At first, Marcus didn't get many carries. But for the fourth game, Coach Switzer changed the team's offense. He made Marcus the main running back. Marcus scored his first college touchdown against Texas on a 63-yard fake reverse play.

On October 16, 1982, he ran for 158 yards against Kansas. This included a 75-yard touchdown run. He became the starting running back and was named Big Eight Offensive Player of the Week. He had many other long runs, like an 80-yard run against Kansas State.

Even though he didn't start until the seventh game, Marcus finished his freshman year with 1,144 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named second-team All-American. He was also first-team all-Big Eight Conference and Big Eight Newcomer of the Year.

Fiesta Bowl and Sophomore Season

On January 1, 1983, Oklahoma played in the 1983 Fiesta Bowl against Arizona State. Marcus was not in his best shape for the game. He still 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. He played in only four games. After getting a concussion, he left Oklahoma. He tried to transfer to the University of Southern Mississippi. But NCAA rules meant he would have to sit out for a long time. So, he left after three months.

For every Marcus Allen, Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith, there's an Anthony Thompson, a Paul Palmer and a LeShon Johnson, guys who never matched their college success in the NFL. Some of the unfortunate ones were too small. Others were just a step too slow. But you'll also find a select few individuals who had all the tools. They're the ones who didn't achieve NFL success for reasons of circumstance. Such was the case with Marcus Dupree, a star running back who lit the college football scene on fire as a freshman in 1982.

College Statistics

Professional Football Career

Playing in the USFL

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

He played for the Breakers for two seasons. In 1984, he gained 684 yards and scored nine touchdowns. He had two games where he rushed for over 100 yards. In 1985, the Breakers moved to Portland, Oregon. Marcus got off to a good start that season. But he suffered a serious knee injury early in the second half of the first game. He had surgery on his knee. This injury kept him from playing for the Breakers again.

Playing in the NFL

After being out of football for four years, Marcus decided to try to play again. In October 1990, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams had drafted him in 1986, hoping he might play for them one day. Marcus had to work hard to get back in shape. He lost 100 pounds in just over three months.

In week nine of the 1990 season, Marcus played his first NFL game. He wore number 34 to honor Walter Payton, a famous running back. 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. He returned in week 8 and 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. But he was cut from the team before the regular season started. The coach felt he wasn't versatile enough for their offense. Marcus then retired from football. He finished his NFL career with 251 rushing yards and one touchdown.

Career Statistics

USFL Statistics

NFL Statistics

Life After Football

After his football career, Marcus Dupree tried different things. In 1995, he became a professional wrestler for a short time. He also owned a sports bar and worked as a casino greeter.

In 2011, Marcus was diagnosed with prostate cancer but recovered. He also worked as a licensed truck driver.

Personal Life

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

Marcus Dupree in Media

• Willie Morris wrote a book about Marcus called The Courting of Marcus Dupree. It explored how colleges tried to recruit him.
• ESPN made a documentary film about Marcus. It was called "The Best That Never Was" (2010). This film was part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series.