Marquel Blackwell
Encyclopedia
Marquel Blackwell is a former American football quarterback
. After playing for Lakewood and Dixie Hollins High Schools in Pinellas County Florida, Blackwell was the quarterback at the University of South Florida
for four seasons. From 1999 to 2002, he threw for 9,108 yards and 57 touchdowns, and had 1,235 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns during his career. He set most of the school's individual passing records during his time as quarterback; as of 2009, he is also the Bulls' No. 6 career rusher and No. 3 in rushing touchdowns. Blackwell became a starter three games into his redshirt freshman season and led South Florida to a 30-12 mark during the Bulls' move from Division I-AA to I-A in 2001.
Blackwell entered the 2003 NFL Draft
but was not drafted. He signed with the New York Jets
as a rookie free agent but only saw playing time in 1 preseason game. Blackwell started the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles
. Blackwell threw for two touchdown
s and 111 yards in the first half. He was the Jets' No. 2 qb in Week 1 of the regular season (The Jets releasd backup Jamie Martin so the club did not have to pay his entire season salary if he was not on the roster Week 1), only to be cut again after week 1 when Martin returned. Blackwell would have brief stints, but did not appear, in the Arena Football League with the Tampa Bay Storm, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL and the CFL. He did start one game in Arena Football 2, where former Dixie and USF teammate Glenn Davis served as assistant coach. Blackwell spent two years as the head coach of Freedom High School's football team following his playing career, and in 2009 became a program assistant at the University of South Florida.
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. After playing for Lakewood and Dixie Hollins High Schools in Pinellas County Florida, Blackwell was the quarterback at the University of South Florida
South Florida Bulls football
The South Florida Bulls are a Division I FBS college football program that plays its home games in Tampa, Florida. The team began playing in 1997, holding its first team meeting under a shade tree as the school had no proper football facilities on campus...
for four seasons. From 1999 to 2002, he threw for 9,108 yards and 57 touchdowns, and had 1,235 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns during his career. He set most of the school's individual passing records during his time as quarterback; as of 2009, he is also the Bulls' No. 6 career rusher and No. 3 in rushing touchdowns. Blackwell became a starter three games into his redshirt freshman season and led South Florida to a 30-12 mark during the Bulls' move from Division I-AA to I-A in 2001.
Blackwell entered the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
but was not drafted. He signed with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a rookie free agent but only saw playing time in 1 preseason game. Blackwell started the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Blackwell threw for two touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s and 111 yards in the first half. He was the Jets' No. 2 qb in Week 1 of the regular season (The Jets releasd backup Jamie Martin so the club did not have to pay his entire season salary if he was not on the roster Week 1), only to be cut again after week 1 when Martin returned. Blackwell would have brief stints, but did not appear, in the Arena Football League with the Tampa Bay Storm, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL and the CFL. He did start one game in Arena Football 2, where former Dixie and USF teammate Glenn Davis served as assistant coach. Blackwell spent two years as the head coach of Freedom High School's football team following his playing career, and in 2009 became a program assistant at the University of South Florida.