Marcus Vick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marcus Vick

Vick (far right) with Virginia Tech in 2005
No. 5
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1984-03-20) March 20, 1984 (age 41) Newport News, Virginia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:	Warwick (Newport News, Virginia)
College:	Virginia Tech
Undrafted:	2006
Career history
Miami Dolphins (2006)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-ACC (2005) Paul Torgersen Award (2002)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 1
Player stats at PFR

Marcus Deon Vick (born March 20, 1984) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at Virginia Tech, following his older brother Michael. However, due to several off-field issues and unsportsmanlike actions, Vick was dismissed from the school in 2006. He then joined the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent but played in only one game before being released.

Early Life and High School

Marcus Deon Vick was born on March 20, 1984, in Newport News, Virginia. His parents, Brenda Vick and Michael Boddie, later married. Marcus grew up with his older siblings, Christina and Michael, and a younger sibling, Courtney. The children chose to use their mother's last name.

Marcus lived in Ridley Circle, a public housing project in the East End neighborhood of Newport News. His father often traveled for work, and his mother worked in service jobs, like driving a school bus and working at K-Mart.

Vick went to Warwick High School. There, he was coached by Tommy Reamon, a former football player. Coach Reamon also helped develop other future NFL quarterbacks, including Marcus's older cousin, Aaron Brooks, and his brother, Michael.

College Football Journey

Joining Virginia Tech

As a senior in high school, Marcus Vick was considered one of the best young quarterbacks in the country. Even though his brother Michael had led Virginia Tech to a national championship game and had a close bond with Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, Marcus wasn't sure about attending Tech.

Other major universities like North Carolina State, Virginia, Tennessee, and Miami offered him scholarships. Marcus seriously considered NC State and Virginia Tech. By September, it was clear he was thinking about several schools. He had some concerns about Virginia Tech's playing style and how it might prepare him for the NFL.

First Seasons: 2002–2003

When Vick arrived at Virginia Tech, there was a lot of excitement around him. However, he did not play in his first year. Coach Beamer decided to redshirt him, which meant he could practice with the team but not play in games, saving a year of eligibility. During his freshman year, he performed well in practice. He threw five touchdown passes in spring scrimmages and one more in the Maroon-White game. He was recognized for his strong performance and received the Paul Torgersen Award as the top offensive newcomer.

In 2003, Vick played in seven games, sharing time with Bryan Randall. A big moment for him was a 31–7 win against #2 Miami. Even though he completed only one pass, his great running skills and the strong defense helped Virginia Tech achieve one of its biggest wins ever. In the Insight Bowl game against the California Golden Bears, Vick had 82 receiving yards, including a touchdown catch.

Challenges and Suspension in 2004

Before the 2004 college season, Marcus Vick faced some off-field issues. These led to him being suspended from Virginia Tech for the fall semester of 2004. School officials also stated that he would lose that year of eligibility.

Marcus Vick was later allowed back into the school and onto the football team. However, he had to follow strict rules. Any further problems would lead to him being immediately removed from the team.

Successful Season and More Issues in 2005

Coach Beamer first said that Vick would be the third-string quarterback for the 2005 season. But Vick quickly earned the starting role after showing impressive skills in practices. The 2005 season was Vick's best. The Hokies aimed for a national championship and finished with an 11–2 record. They won the ACC Coastal Division title, played in the first ACC Championship Game, and won the 2006 Gator Bowl.

However, the 2005 season also brought more controversy for Vick. During a game against West Virginia University on October 1, 2005, Vick made an unsportsmanlike gesture towards the crowd. He later apologized for this action. Then, during the 2006 Gator Bowl on January 2, he showed poor sportsmanship by stepping on the leg of Louisville Cardinals defensive end Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil was on the ground and couldn't defend himself. Vick said it was an accident and that he apologized, but Dumervil said no apology was made. Virginia Tech's Athletic Director, Jim Weaver, released a statement saying that Vick's behavior was unacceptable and not what Virginia Tech stood for. The referee of the game also apologized for not seeing the incident, saying he would have removed Vick from the game if he had.

Vick also had more traffic issues in Virginia. On December 17, 2005, he was charged with speeding and driving without a valid license. These incidents brought his total traffic-related charges in Virginia to nine while he was a student at Virginia Tech.

Leaving Virginia Tech

In his 24 games at Virginia Tech, Vick threw for 2,868 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He also ran 184 times for 492 yards and six touchdowns.

On January 6, 2006, Virginia Tech announced that Marcus Vick was permanently dismissed from its football program. This decision was made "due to a cumulative effect of legal infractions and unsportsmanlike play."

After being removed from the team, Vick was quoted saying, "It's not a big deal. I'll just move on to the next level, baby."

College Football Statistics

Professional Football Career

Vick announced he was eligible for the NFL draft on January 7, 2006. After the 2006 NFL draft, he told ESPN's Michael Smith that he believed he was a better quarterback than other top prospects like Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler.

Even though some thought Vick might be drafted in the third round, he was not chosen by any team. This made him an unrestricted free agent, meaning he could sign with any team. Many NFL scouts had concerns about his attitude and whether he could avoid future problems. Vick attended a minicamp for rookie free agents with the Miami Dolphins after the draft. The Dolphins then signed him to a contract for the league minimum pay. He was listed as a "wide receiver/quarterback/return specialist."

The Dolphins released him on September 2, 2006, to meet the regular season roster limit. However, they re-signed Vick two days later and assigned him to the practice squad. On October 17, 2006, the Dolphins moved him from the practice squad to the active roster for their Week 7 game against the Green Bay Packers. He was listed as the third "emergency" quarterback. His first time playing in an NFL regular season game was against the New York Jets on December 25, 2006. He played as a wide receiver in the fourth quarter but did not have any recorded catches. After that season, his contract ended, and the Dolphins decided not to re-sign him.