Oct. 3, 2005

There are 11 starting spots on the Missouri defense. Only two starting spots are available for cornerbacks. Fortunately, the Tigers have more than two talented corners in the secondary. Senior Marcus King may be listed on the depth chart as the third corner, but the Mizzou defense has quickly found out, it sometimes takes three veteran corners to shut down two halves of the field.

When the Tiger's starting lineup is announced, to-date, No. 36 has been absent from the video screen. King is in constant competition with fellow seniors A.J. Kincade and Calvin Washington. Despite this, King remains undaunted and believes that he can make a play every time he steps onto the field.

"It doesn't matter to me, all three of us are good players, obviously coach has us in there for a reason, I'm not mad at anything and I don't regret anything," King said. "It's just the fact that we have three good players on the team that play the same position, and I'm glad I'm one of them."

King is an athletic football player with strong motivation and an attitude that expresses all business to his opponents. As much as he enjoys being on the gridiron, King enjoys playing football for more than just his ability to make plays.

"I enjoy just having fun out there, making plays with your teammates, enjoying the crowd and winning games." King said.

King has grown up with the defensive secondary, now comprised of mostly seniors. Teaming with Kincade, Washington, Jason Simpson and Nino Williams II, King rounded out a fierce secondary that finished No. 3 in the nation in pass defense in 2004.

King tied for a team-high four takeaways in 2004, including two interceptions. He also recorded seven broken-up passes and 33 tackles.

So far this season, he has amassed 12 tackles through three games, tying him for seventh on the team. Two weeks ago, against visiting Troy, King led the team with seven tackles.

Standing at 5-10, the talented King is a playmaker whose 195-pound body allows him to pack quite a powerful punch to opposing players looking to run his way. His ability to hit may be Marcus' calling card but, King believes that his best asset as a player lies in his silky smooth ability to blanket receivers with spandex-like coverage.

A defensive back in the Big 12 Conference often finds they are in a tough spot to make plays. Constantly back-peddling against a speedy attacker, corners are often not seen unless they make a big play or get burned defensively. Living on the wire of highs and lows is no problem for King, who is proof that life on an island of field-turf isn't for the faint of heart or the slow of foot.

"You have to enjoy everything that you're doing. You have to enjoy playing against the best receivers. Making sure that you take coaching well," King said. "You have to make sure that you go out there to have fun, have a great attitude and be willing to practice hard and get better but at the same time, make sure that you make big plays too."

A native of Irving, Texas, and Nimitz High School, King was one of the prized recruits in coach Gary Pinkel's first recruiting class. Coming to Columbia rated as one of the best 60 defensive backs out of high school, King has not disappointed, becoming one of only four true freshmen to play during the 2001 season. Along the way, King has also had a successful career that has its share of great memories.

Personally, King has always found success against the Colorado Buffaloes who have been made aware of King's presence in the secondary. In 2004, King had perhaps his best game as a Tiger, registering a career-high 12 tackles (nine solo), a tackle for a loss, an interception and a pass break-up.

In retrospect, King has fond memories of several other games while donning the Tigers' black and gold.

"Playing in the Colorado game, and being in front of their crowd and beating them at home was great," King said. "Also the Nebraska game when we beat them here really stands out."

While King certainly has the talent and the ambition to play at the next level, he believes that there's certainly more to life than zone coverage and pigskins.

"Obviously, I would like to make it to the next level, if that doesn't work out, than I can always go back to my degree and go back home and enjoy life," King said. "Football doesn't last forever, there are other things out there I would like to do. [I'd like to] travel and have a family."

Now standing 2-1 as they begin Big 12 Conference play, the Tigers will rely heavily on their veteran secondary to make plays against some of the countries fastest and most gifted receivers.

Making big plays in the face of opposition isn't anything new for King, a playmaker who won't buy into the hype and believes success has a simple answer.

"Going out and playing hard, not worrying about the score, having fun and being enthusiastic, [it] will make everything else go our way," King said.

With King lending his abilities to an already loaded secondary, Mizzou will definitely be on the prowl at `the Zou' in 2005, as opponents come to realize that the talent in the Tigers secondary runs thicker than two-deep. - Josh Fowler, Missouri Media Relations Student Assistant