Marcus Easley facts for kids
Easley with the Buffalo Bills in 2011
|
|||||||||||
| No. 81 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver / Special teamer | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | November 2, 1987 Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S. |
||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Bunnell (Stratford, Connecticut) | ||||||||||
| College: | Connecticut | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2010 / Round: 4 / Pick: 107 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Marcus Landon Easley (born November 2, 1987) is a former American football player. He used to play as a wide receiver and a special teamer for the Buffalo Bills in the National Football League (NFL). Marcus played college football for the Connecticut Huskies. The Buffalo Bills picked him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft.
Contents
College Football Journey
Starting at UConn
Marcus Easley graduated from Frank Scott Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut, in 2005. He was accepted into the University of Connecticut. He joined the UConn football team as a "walk-on" player. This means he joined the team without a scholarship.
Playing for the Huskies
Marcus did not play in his first year. In his second year, he played in 10 games. He mostly played on special teams and as a backup wide receiver. On September 8, 2007, he caught his first pass for 10 yards against Maine.
In his third year, he played in 12 games and started 4 of them. He finished that season with 4 catches for 94 yards.
Senior Year Success
As a senior, Marcus played in all 13 games and started 7. He was the team's top receiver that year. He caught 48 passes for 893 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. His first touchdown was on October 10, 2009, against Pitt.
On October 24, 2009, Marcus had his best game for receiving yards. He gained 157 yards in a close game against West Virginia. He also had his most catches in one game (8) on December 5. This was in a win against South Florida. After this great season, he was invited to a special all-star game.
Marcus finished his college career with 53 catches. He gained 997 yards and scored 8 touchdowns.
Professional Football Career
Joining the Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills chose Marcus Easley in the 2010 NFL draft. He was the 107th player picked overall. He was the first wide receiver from the University of Connecticut to be drafted into the National Football League. He was also the only wide receiver the Bills picked that year.
Early Challenges
Before his first season, Marcus had surgery for a knee injury. This meant he could not play and was placed on injured reserve.
In 2011, he faced another challenge. He had a heart problem and was again placed on injured reserve. This caused him to miss his second season in a row.
Making His NFL Debut
On August 31, 2012, the Bills released Marcus. But they signed him to their practice squad the very next day. He was moved back to the main team on November 6, 2012.
Marcus made his first NFL appearance on December 2, 2012. This was in a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He returned his first kickoff for 55 yards. This play helped set up a touchdown for his team. He played again on December 16, 2012, on special teams. He had to leave that game due to a hamstring injury. On December 30, 2012, against the New York Jets, he forced a fumble and made two tackles on special teams.
Key Special Teams Player
Marcus earned a spot on the Bills' team for the 2013 season. He played in all 16 games that year. He led the entire NFL with 22 special teams tackles. On September 29, 2013, he made four special teams tackles against the Baltimore Ravens. On November 10, 2013, he caught his first NFL pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished that game with 2 catches for 13 yards.
In the 2014 season, Marcus played in 9 games. He continued to be a strong player on special teams, making 9 tackles.
Career-Ending Injury
On December 27, 2015, during a game against the Dallas Cowboys, Marcus suffered a serious knee injury. He dislocated his kneecap and broke his knee in three places. He was taken off the field and placed on injured reserve the next day.
On March 8, 2017, the Buffalo Bills released Marcus Easley. He had played for the team for six years.
