Oct. 27, 2003
Editor's Note: This feature ran in the Oct. 25 edition of the Mizzou football gameday program.
by Cory Walton
Senior wide receiver/kick returner Marcus James stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 174 pounds. To the general public, there is nothing eye-opening about numbers like those. On a Division I football field, though, the Liberal, Kan. native routinely stands out as one of the smallest men to strap on a helmet.
James, however, isn't concerned with his diminutive stature. In fact, he sees it as an advantage when he steps between the lines.
"When people call me small, I say, 'You're right, I am small, but there's no total disadvantage to that.' Smaller guys can move a little faster, and smaller guys can get through those holes that a bigger back or bigger receiver can't make," he says.
"Being low to the ground helps you absorb blows, and it's harder to take you down since you're so low. There are disadvantages, but there are even more things that I can take advantage of because I'm small."
James is also quick to point out that his size contributes to what he calls his "aggressive, attack-type mentality" on the field.
"It's natural to think that when you're bigger you might be a little tougher and a little stronger, but I think everyone is equal on the competitive playing field. When you see a little guy go and bang with the big guys, people like to see that. That's the fun of it all. My teammates and the coaching staff respect that about me, and they give me a chance to make plays on the field," he says.
Making plays is exactly what James has been doing for the Tigers during the 2003 season. Through the first six games of the campaign, the senior was leading the team with an average of 12.2 yards per punt return, and was averaging 18.2 yards per kickoff return, good for second on the Missouri squad.
In addition, James has hauled in three receptions for 44 yards and tallied five tackles on special teams.
"I work to get better at every part of my game. I'm always working to get better. The time that I'm on the field is something I've earned, and I try to take advantage of that," he says.
Special teams, however, is what James considers to be his biggest asset he provides to the Tigers on the field.
"I just try to secure the ball and get up the field, look for a big play. When I'm out there punt-returning and kick-returning, my job is to make big plays and take care of the football. It's a great responsibility," he says.
Since beginning his career at Missouri in the 2000 season, James has been compiling return numbers that rank him among the most prolific return men in Tigers history. Through the first six games of the 2003 campaign, he trails former Tiger Mike Fink by only 110 yards for most career return yards in school history. So far this season, James has also become Missouri's all-time leader in career return attempts.
Such athletic prestige is nothing new to James. While attending Liberal High School, the versatile James was a consensus all-state selection in football as a senior, an all-conference basketball player, and a star on the school's track and field team.
After a stellar high school career, the soon-to-be college freshman liked what Mizzou had to offer, on and off the field.
"The coaching staff did a great job with me. They recruited me into a great academic institution, as well as into a program that had the tools to get something started," he says.
"I really like the place, I like the city, I like Columbia. Right away, I felt really welcome here."
James has reciprocated that liking for the Columbia area through participation in various service endeavors. A secondary education major who was named to the 2002 Academic All-Big 12 second team, a combination of fine academic standing and community service earned him recognition as a Lathrop and Gage Student Athlete of the Week for the week of October 12. Not only does the senior donate time to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Restoration Fundraising Project and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, he also serves as the president of the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).
"Everything I've experienced here at Mizzou, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Then again, I'm not going to be able to play football forever. I'm going to have to live and be sociable, and be able to have good relationships with people," he says.
"Everything that I've taken part in with the community has helped me mature into the person that I want to be."
As the 2003 season draws to a close, James' time in a Tigers uniform is becoming scarce. When he leaves, as one of the most prolific kick returners in school history, it will be with a feeling of satisfaction.
"We've done some great things here at Mizzou. It'll be nice to sit back and think about how I was a part of that," he says.
So, watch for James on the field today whenever a kick is in the air. You may have to look hard to find him, but he'll be out there. You'll know him when you see him, he's the little guy out there banging with the big guys.