| Marcus James |
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•2002 Team Special Teams Co-Player of the Year
•2002 Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 30)
•2002 2nd-Team Academic All-Big 12
2003 OUTLOOK
One of the Big 12 Conference’s most dangerous return specialists who also doubles as a receiver on offense ... A speedy and shifty runner who possesses great athleticism and excellent strength for his diminutive frame ... Will lead MU’s punt return efforts, and should contribute to kick returns, as well ... Also could see his role increase in the Tigers’ passing game, with the departure of alltime leading receiver Justin Gage ... With a career punt return average of 10.9 entering the season, could challenge the MU career mark (minimum of 50 attempts) of 11.5 held by Roger Wehrli (1996-68) ... With 92 combined kick returns, needs just 20 more to break the MU record of 111 held by Mike Fink (1970-72) ... With 1,277 career combined return yards entering the season, needs just 415 yards to break Fink’s MU career mark of 1,692.
2002 SEASON
Turned in an outstanding season as MU’s top punt returner, giving Mizzou a weapon it hasn’t enjoyed in quite awhile ... Named the team’s special teams co-player of the year, sharing the award with punter Brock Harvey ... Ranked 6th in the Big 12 Conference, and 25th in the NCAA, with a punt return average of 13.63 yards per kick — the highest single-season average since Niu Sale in 1990 (17.4) ... His average on 24 punt returns ranked as the 3rd-highest in MU single-season history among those with 10 or more attempts (Donnie Smith averaged 23.0 yards in 1960 [10 att.] & John Moseley averaged 16.5 in 1973 [19 att.]) ... His punt return yardage on the year (327) also ranked as 3rd-most in school history, behind only former greats Johnny Roland (430 in 1965) and Roger Wehrli (478 in 1968) ... Made history in game 9 at Iowa State when he weaved his way to an 80-yard punt return TD, marking the 1st time since 1990 that MU had a non-blocked return go the distance (Niu Sale vs. TCU, 52 yards) ... The 80-yard return marked the longest punt return by any Tiger since 1960 ... Earned Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his efforts at ISU ... Caught a career-high 9 passes for 91 yards on offense ... Had 2 catches each against Bowling Green (2 for 34 yards), Troy State (2 for 19) and Iowa State (2 for 19) ... Had a season-long grab of 24 yards at Bowling Green ... Also returned 8 kickoffs for an average of 13.5 yards per kick, with a long of 25 ... Missed MU’s contest at Nebraska after banging up a knee in game 5 vs. Oklahoma ... His absence hurt considerably, as MU was unable to field a punt in 4 Husker attempts ... Came up huge in MU’s opener vs. Illinois, as he helped MU establish solid field position by averaging a solid 12.0 yards on 6 punt returns ... Had a long return of 19 yards in the game, and made one standout catch amongst considerable traffic ... Also caught one pass on the day for 3 yards ... Named team co-offensive player of the week in game 3 against Troy State.
2001 SEASON
Emerged as the Tigers’ top return specialist and a starter at wide receiver each of the final 6 games ... Averaged 9.7 yards per punt return and 18.4 yards per kick return ... Recorded 6 receptions for 75 yards and a TD ... Scored a big TD in the third quarter against Kansas on his first reception of the season, a 25-yard strike from Kirk Farmer ... Also carried the ball twice on reverses for 23 yards ... Returned a kick 47 yards against Iowa State to help set up a Missouri scoring drive ... Made several great tackles on special teams coverage, collecting 7 in all (4 solo).
2000 SEASON
Returned 9 kicks and 9 punts ... Averaged 20 yards per kick return with a long of 29 yards ... Averaged 5.9 yards per punt return ... Caught one pass on the year, a 5-yard reception at Clemson.
HIGH SCHOOL
Outstanding student-athlete who excelled in three sports while obtaining a 4.0 GPA ... A consensus all-state selection in Class 6A ... Scored 20 TDs 5 different ways – rushing, receiving, blocking a punt, returning a punt and intercepting a pass ... First-team all-conference pick and was named Kansas Sports Magazine’s Defensive Player of the Year ... All-conference basketball player and team offensive player of the year ... Also was a star track and field athlete in the high jump (6-6), long jump (22-2 1/4), high hurdles (13.9 seconds) and pole vault (15-6) ... National Honor Society member and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class ... Was the president of his class ... Attended the same high school as former Tiger tight end Garrett Hill ... Coached by Gary Cornelson.
PERSONAL
Son of Edward Cohens and Petita Leon ... Father is an advertising salesman, mother is a restaurant manager ... Aunt Connie James was a basketball and track star at Garden City Community College ... Born Oct. 11, 1981 ... Academic interest – engineering.
CAREER STATISTICS
—————— RECEIVING —–————
SEASON G-GS REC YDS AVG TD LG
2000 11-0 1 5 5.0 0 5
2001 11-6 6 75 12.5 1 25
2002 11-7 9 91 10.1 0 24
Totals 33-13 16 171 10.7 1 25
—–—— PUNT RETURNS ———
SEASON NO YDS AVG TD LG
2000 9 53 5.9 0 14
2001 19 185 9.7 0 21
2002 24 327 13.6 1 80
Totals 52 565 10.9 1 80
—––— KICK RETURNS —––—
SEASON NO YDS AVG TD LG
2000 9 180 20.0 0 29
2001 23 424 18.4 0 47
2002 8 108 13.5 0 25
Totals 40 712 17.8 0 47
