Marcus Nash
Encyclopedia
Marcus DeLando Nash is free agent wide receiver
, formerly of the Dallas Desperados
of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos
30th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Tennessee
.
Nash has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins
, Baltimore Ravens
, Detroit Fury
and Las Vegas Gladiators
.
. During his rookie season, he appeared in eight games and caught four passes for 76 yards.
In 1999, Nash appeared in two games for the Broncos including one start, but recorded no statistics.
in exchange for running back John Avery - another 1998 first-rounder. However, he was waived by the team just one week later.
on October 25. He appeared in one game but did not catch any passes.
. During his rookie season, he led the team in all receiving categories with 69 receptions for 866 yards and 24 touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 11 tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception and five pass breakups. He also returned two kickoffs for 19 yards. On February 14 against the Carolina Cobras
, Nash earned team MVP honors with eight receptions for 86 yards and three touchdowns.
in 2004 and subsequently experienced his most productive season as a professional. He set an AFL record with 154 receptions and racked up 1,771 yards and 46 touchdowns. He also rushed 12 times for 21 yards and three touchdowns. For his performance, Nash was name the AFL's Offensive Player of the Year. On defensive he recorded five tackles.
Nash continued to produce for the Gladiators in 2005 as he caught 129 passes for a career-high 1,787 yards and 41 touchdowns. He was named AFL Offensive Player of the Month in May after catching 36 passes for 415 yards and 13 touchdowns. Nash also carried the ball four times for four yards and scored two touchdowns on the ground. He recorded one tackle and returned three kickoffs for 10 yards.
In his final season with the Gladiators in 2006, Nash caught 122 passes for 1,281 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also rushed four times for five yards, recorded two tackles and returned two kickoffs for five yards.
in 2007. He caught 78 passes for 1,090 yards and 20 touchdowns. In a game against the Kansas City Brigade
, he surpassed career milestones of 500 receptions and 6,000 receiving yards. Additionally in 2007, Nash rushed four times for five yards and three touchdowns.
In 2008, caught over 100 passes for the fourth time in his career as he made 109 receptions for 1,318 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also rushed six times for seven yards on the season. In the team's playoff loss to the New York Dragons
on June 28, Nash suffered a career-threatening neck injury.
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, formerly of the Dallas Desperados
Dallas Desperados
The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
30th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
.
Nash has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, Detroit Fury
Detroit Fury
The Detroit Fury were an Arena Football League team. The team began play in 2001 and was based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, at The Palace of Auburn Hills, also the home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. The team was co-owned by William Davidson, who owned the Pistons, along with...
and Las Vegas Gladiators
Las Vegas Gladiators
The Cleveland Gladiators are an arena football franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio which plays in the Arena Football League. The team is part of the East division of the AFL's American Conference. The Gladiators play all of their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they share with the NBA's...
.
Denver Broncos
Nash was drafted by the Broncos in the first round (30th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. During his rookie season, he appeared in eight games and caught four passes for 76 yards.
In 1999, Nash appeared in two games for the Broncos including one start, but recorded no statistics.
Miami Dolphins
On September 21, 1999, Nash was traded to the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in exchange for running back John Avery - another 1998 first-rounder. However, he was waived by the team just one week later.
Baltimore Ravens
Just over a month after his release from the Dolphins, Nash was signed by the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
on October 25. He appeared in one game but did not catch any passes.
Detroit Fury
In 2003, Nash made the transition to the Arena Football League with the Detroit FuryDetroit Fury
The Detroit Fury were an Arena Football League team. The team began play in 2001 and was based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, at The Palace of Auburn Hills, also the home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. The team was co-owned by William Davidson, who owned the Pistons, along with...
. During his rookie season, he led the team in all receiving categories with 69 receptions for 866 yards and 24 touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 11 tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception and five pass breakups. He also returned two kickoffs for 19 yards. On February 14 against the Carolina Cobras
Carolina Cobras
Not to be confused with the Los Angeles Cobras, who played in the 1988 AFL season.The Carolina Cobras were an expansion franchise in the Arena Football League...
, Nash earned team MVP honors with eight receptions for 86 yards and three touchdowns.
Las Vegas Gladiators
Nash signed with the Las Vegas GladiatorsLas Vegas Gladiators
The Cleveland Gladiators are an arena football franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio which plays in the Arena Football League. The team is part of the East division of the AFL's American Conference. The Gladiators play all of their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they share with the NBA's...
in 2004 and subsequently experienced his most productive season as a professional. He set an AFL record with 154 receptions and racked up 1,771 yards and 46 touchdowns. He also rushed 12 times for 21 yards and three touchdowns. For his performance, Nash was name the AFL's Offensive Player of the Year. On defensive he recorded five tackles.
Nash continued to produce for the Gladiators in 2005 as he caught 129 passes for a career-high 1,787 yards and 41 touchdowns. He was named AFL Offensive Player of the Month in May after catching 36 passes for 415 yards and 13 touchdowns. Nash also carried the ball four times for four yards and scored two touchdowns on the ground. He recorded one tackle and returned three kickoffs for 10 yards.
In his final season with the Gladiators in 2006, Nash caught 122 passes for 1,281 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also rushed four times for five yards, recorded two tackles and returned two kickoffs for five yards.
Dallas Desperados
After three seasons with the Gladiators, Nash joined the Dallas DesperadosDallas Desperados
The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
in 2007. He caught 78 passes for 1,090 yards and 20 touchdowns. In a game against the Kansas City Brigade
Kansas City Brigade
The Kansas City Command is a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. The team was founded before the 2006 season. Former Kansas City Chiefs Strong safety Kevin Porter served as head coach...
, he surpassed career milestones of 500 receptions and 6,000 receiving yards. Additionally in 2007, Nash rushed four times for five yards and three touchdowns.
In 2008, caught over 100 passes for the fourth time in his career as he made 109 receptions for 1,318 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also rushed six times for seven yards on the season. In the team's playoff loss to the New York Dragons
New York Dragons
The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...
on June 28, Nash suffered a career-threatening neck injury.