Marques Colston

Marques Colston (born June 5, 1983 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft as a supplemental compensatory pick. Following the trade of receiver Donté Stallworth, Colston was inserted into the starting lineup for week 1 of the season, becoming one of the few seventh round picks ever to start week 1 for their team. He played college football at Hofstra University. He is nicknamed "The Quiet Storm" due to his reserved demeanor and exceptional talent.

Colston is one of the part-owners of his hometown Harrisburg Stampede of the American Indoor Football Association.

Colston's father, James, played briefly in the Canadian Football League: Marques began playing football at a very young age. James Colston died when Marques was 14. Colston attended Susquehanna Township High School, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and was a letterman in football and track. In football, he won All-Conference honors as a wide receiver/defensive end. In track, he qualified for the 2001 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the javelin with a throw of 187feet (57m), 10 inches. Colston graduated from Susquehanna Township High School soon after in June 2001.

College Career

Colston received a scholarship to the Division I-A Missouri but turned the offer down in favor of Division I-AA Hofstra.

In four seasons at Hofstra, Colston appeared in 40 games (37 starts) and recorded 182 catches for a school-record 2,834 yards and 18 touchdowns. Colston was named to the All-Atlantic 10 first team after making a career-high 70 receptions for 976 yards (13.9 avg.) and five touchdowns.

Colston had 14 receptions for 335 yards (23.9 avg.) and three touchdowns as a freshman. In 2002, he made 47 grabs for 614 yards (13.06 avg.) and three scores. As a junior in 2003, Colston led the team with 51 receptions for 910 yards (17.8 avg.) and seven touchdowns. Colston redshirted the 2004 season due to a shoulder injury.


NFL Career

New Orleans Saints

After a great performance at minicamp and the unlikely trade of fellow WR Donte Stallworth to the Philadelphia Eagles, Colston was thrust into a week 1 starting position against all odds. He is one of a select group of round 7 draft picks who started their teams' first regular season games. He repaid coach Sean Payton for his faith in him by having a starring role and creating an early partnership with Drew Brees. By week 9 of the season, Marques had 54 catches for 869 yards and seven touchdowns through nine games of the 2006 regular season; at this point, he was leading the league in receiving yardage and tied for the lead in touchdowns, and was one of the favorites to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. In the Saints' week eleven game on November 20, 2006, Colston injured his ankle on his team's first possession and did not return to the game. Colston was sidelined until week 14, when he returned to action against the Dallas Cowboys in the Saints' 42-17 win on Sunday Night Football. He helped the Saints to the playoffs and a 10-6 record. The Saints beat the Eagles and made it to the NFC Championship Game with the Chicago Bears. Despite Colston scoring a touchdown, the Saints fell 39-14 ending the team's magical season.

Colston tied for second in voting for Offensive Rookie of the Year, behind Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young, and with Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew. He had more votes than his fellow rookie teammate, the much more celebrated, Reggie Bush, the Heisman Trophy winning runningback out of USC, who was picked 2nd overall by the Saints. Colston was among the NFC leaders in receptions (70), receiving yards (1,038) and receiving TDs (8).

He returned to the Saints for his sophomore season as the franchise's number one wide receiver.

Against the San Francisco 49ers on the 28th of October 2007, Colston caught a career high 3 touchdown passes from Drew Brees and guided the Saints to a victory. For the 2007 season, Colston set a team record for receptions (98), besting the previous mark set by Joe Horn. Colston also tied Horn's record for touchdown receptions in a season (11).

On July 23, Colston signed a 3-year contract extension with the Saints through the 2011 season.

In 2008 Colston suffered a a broken thumb after a hit by Ronde Barber on a quick slant pass in the Saints week 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Bucanneers, this sidelined Colston for 4 weeks and Lance Moore moved up into the starting receiver position.

Colston returned for the week 7 game vs Carolina but did not seem comfortable with his thumb in the cast and didn't play a vital role. That all changed in London, however, as out of nowhere, Colston produced a 54-yard catch and run, eventually brought down by Antonio Cromartie.

As the season was drawing to a close in week 12 of the NFL season, the Saints played a Monday Night Football game vs the Green Bay Packers, who were considered to possess one of the best secondaries in the league. Halfway through the game, Colston hadn't recorded a reception and Lance Moore already had two touchdowns, one of them for 70 yards. On a big 3rd and 7 conversion opportunity, Colston showed New Orleans why he was still the big play threat as he hauled in his first reception of the night and took it 70 yards down the field beating Charles Woodson on a corner route. This added to the Saints victory over the Packers by the score of 51-29.

Despite not playing for the start of the season, nearer to the end Colston displayed that he was still Drew Brees' go to guy as he ended the season with 760 yards and adding 5 touchdowns.

Marques Colston holds the NFL record for most receptions in a player's first two seasons with 168.