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 the path of his older brother, Michael Vick. However, Marcus faced some challenges during his time at Virginia Tech, which led to him leaving the school in 2006.

Later that year, Vick joined the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL) as a player who wasn't chosen in the draft. He played in only one game before being released. After his football career, he continued to face various personal difficulties.

Early life

Marcus Deon Vick was born on March 20, 1984, in Newport News, Virginia. His parents were Brenda Vick and Michael Boddie. Marcus had three older siblings: Christina, Michael, and Courtney. Even after their parents married, the children chose to keep their mother's last name.

Marcus grew up in Ridley Circle, a public housing area in the East End neighborhood of Newport News. His father often traveled for work. 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. Coach Reamon was a former football player himself. He had also helped train Marcus's older cousin, Aaron Brooks, and his brother, Michael, who both became NFL quarterbacks.

College career

Recruitment to Virginia Tech

When Marcus was in his final year of high school, he was one of the best young quarterbacks in the country. His brother Michael had led Virginia Tech close to a national championship. Michael also had a strong connection with Virginia Tech's coach, Frank Beamer.

Despite this, Marcus wasn't sure he wanted to go to Virginia Tech. Other top schools like North Carolina State, Virginia, Tennessee, and Miami offered him scholarships. Marcus thought seriously about North Carolina State and Virginia Tech. By September, he was still considering several schools. He was concerned if Virginia Tech's playing style would prepare him for the NFL.

2002–2003

Marcus arrived at Virginia Tech with a lot of excitement. However, he did not play in his first year. Coach Beamer decided to "redshirt" him. This meant he could practice with the team but not play in games. This allowed him to develop his skills without using a year of his college eligibility.

During his freshman year, Marcus showed great promise. He threw five touchdown passes in practice games. He also had a 57-yard run in another practice. In one game, he completed 6 out of 7 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. For his strong performances, he received the Paul Torgersen Award. This award is given to the best new offensive player.

In 2003, Vick played in seven games. He shared playing time with another quarterback, Bryan Randall. A big moment for him was a 31–7 win against #2 ranked Miami. Even though he completed only one pass, his amazing running skills helped Virginia Tech win. The team's defense also played a huge part. In the Insight Bowl game, Vick caught passes for 82 yards, including one touchdown.

2004

Before the 2004 season, Marcus Vick faced some challenges off the field. These issues led to him being suspended from school for the fall semester of 2004. School officials also said he would lose that year of eligibility to play football.

As a result of these events, Virginia Tech set clear rules for Marcus. He was allowed back into the school and onto the football team. However, any future issues would lead to him being immediately removed from the team.

2005

Coach Beamer first announced that Vick would be the third-string quarterback for the 2005 season. But Marcus quickly earned the starting role. He showed impressive skills during spring practices and scrimmages. The 2005 season was his most successful year. The Hokies aimed for a national championship. They finished with 11 wins and 2 losses. They also won the ACC Coastal Division title. They played in the first-ever ACC Championship Game. The season ended with a win in the 2006 Gator Bowl.

However, the 2005 season also had some difficult moments for Vick. On October 1, 2005, he upset fans in Morgantown, West Virginia. He made an inappropriate gesture to the crowd during a game. Vick later apologized for his actions. During the 2006 Gator Bowl, he stepped on the leg of a player from the University of Louisville. The player was on the ground and couldn't defend himself. Vick said it was an accident and that he apologized after the game. However, the other player said no apology was made. The referee who missed the incident also apologized. He said he would have removed Vick from the game if he had seen it.

Marcus also had issues with driving rules. On December 17, 2005, he was charged with speeding. He was also charged with driving when his license was suspended. These incidents brought his total driving-related issues to nine while at Virginia Tech.

Dismissal from Virginia Tech

In 24 games at Virginia Tech, Vick threw for 2,868 yards. He also had 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He ran the ball 184 times for 492 yards and six touchdowns. However, during the same time, he faced nine driving-related issues. He also had other challenges off the field.

On January 6, 2006, Virginia Tech announced he was permanently removed from the football team. This decision was made "due to a cumulative effect of team rule violations and sportsmanship issues."

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 career

Vick decided to try 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 players like Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler.

Many people thought Vick might be chosen in the third round of the draft. However, he was not drafted by any team. This meant he became a "free agent." He could sign a contract with any team he wanted. Many NFL scouts had concerns about his behavior off the field.

Vick attended a special camp for new players with the Miami Dolphins. After the camp, the Dolphins signed him to a contract. He was listed as a "wide receiver/quarterback/return specialist."

The Dolphins released him on September 2, 2006. This was to meet the team's roster limit for the regular season. But they re-signed him two days later. He was then assigned to the team's "practice squad." On October 17, 2006, the Dolphins moved him to the active roster. He was listed as the third "emergency" quarterback.

His first NFL game was on December 25, 2006, against the New York Jets. He played as a wide receiver in the fourth quarter. However, he did not catch any passes. After the season, his contract ended. The Dolphins decided not to sign him again.