Willis Thurman Marshall III (born August 12, 1975) is a former

arena football Arena football is a variety of gridiron football designed to be played indoors. The game is played on a smaller field than American or Canadian football, designed to fit in the same surface area as a standard North American ice hockey rink, an ...

wide receiver A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...

defensive back In gridiron football, defensive backs (DBs), also called the secondary, are the players on the defensive side of the ball who play farthest back from the line of scrimmage. They are distinguished from the other two sets of defensive players, the ...

. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

Youngstown State Youngstown State University (YSU or Youngstown State) is a public university in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1908 and is the easternmost member of the University System of Ohio. The university is composed of six undergradu ...

. In his career, Marshall has played for the

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium a ...

Grand Rapids Rampage The Grand Rapids Rampage was an arena football team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team began play in 1998 in the Arena Football League as an expansion team. They were last coached by Steve Thonn. Their home arena was the Van Andel Arena ...

Colorado Crush The Colorado Crush were an arena football team based in Denver, Colorado. They began play as a 2003 Arena Football League expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspen ...

, and

Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional arena football team based in Dallas, Texas. They played in the Eastern Division of the Arena Football League from to . The franchise began as an expansion team and posted a winning record in all but o ...

. He was teammates with

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...

quarterback The quarterback (QB) is a position in gridiron football who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the Lineman (football), offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually consider ...

Jeff Garcia Jeffrey Jason Garcia (born February 24, 1970) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). After attending high school and junior college in ...

in 1998, when the Stampeders won the

86th Grey Cup The 86th Grey Cup (Canadian Football League championship) was held in 1998 in Winnipeg. The Calgary Stampeders won the game over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a score of 26–24. Game summary Calgary Stampeders (26) - TDs, Jeff Garcia, Kelvin And ...

Early life

Marshall attended Brother Rice High School in Detroit where he competed in

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

and track. He was a member of the football team that won the state championship in 1990.

College career

Marshall attended

Youngstown State University Youngstown State University (YSU or Youngstown State) is a public university in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1908 and is the easternmost member of the University System of Ohio. The university is composed of six undergrad ...

, where he played for future

Ohio State The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one of the largest universities by enrollme ...

head coach A head coach, senior coach, or manager is a professional responsible for training and developing athletes within a sports team. This role often has a higher public profile and salary than other coaching positions. In some sports, such as associat ...

Jim Tressel James Patrick Tressel (born December 5, 1952) is an American politician and retired college football coach who has served as the 67th lieutenant governor of Ohio since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Tressel previously was the president ...

, as well as lettered in

. Youngstown State won the

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

Division I-AA The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA, is the second-highest level of college football in the United States, after the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Sponsored by the National Collegiate A ...

national championship in 1993, 1994 and 1997. As a freshman, Marshall recorded four tackles, one forced

fumble A fumble in gridiron football occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled), scoring, or going out of bounds. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful h ...

and one fumble recovery as a

Defensive back In gridiron football, defensive backs (DBs), also called the secondary, are the players on the defensive side of the ball who play farthest back from the line of scrimmage. They are distinguished from the other two sets of defensive players, the ...

. As a sophomore, he switched from defensive back to wide receiver, and recorded 10 receptions for 97 yards. As a junior, he recorded 24 receptions for 305 yards and one

touchdown A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchd ...

as a junior. As a senior, he led the team in receiving with 40 receptions for 490 yards and one touchdown en route to the Penguins third Division I-AA Championship in four years. He finished his college career with 74 receptions for 892 yards. He also graduated with

Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

Advertising Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a Product (business), product or Service (economics), service. Advertising aims to present a product or service in terms of utility, advantages, and qualities of int ...

and

Communications Communication is commonly defined as the transmission of information. Its precise definition is disputed and there are disagreements about whether Intention, unintentional or failed transmissions are included and whether communication not onl ...

Professional career

Canadian Football League (1998–1999)

Marshall played the

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

and

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

seasons in the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

with the

. The Stampeders won the

in 1998, with

as their

Arena Football League (2001–2010)

Grand Rapids Rampage (2001–2003)

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

, Marshall signed with the

of the

Arena Football League The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...

. In seven games as a

rookie A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year). In contrast with a veteran who has experience, a rookie is typically considered needing more tra ...

, he recorded 35 receptions for 440 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 14 tackles. In

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

, he was named Second Team

All-Arena An All-Arena Team, an all-star team consisting of the best players of their position was selected every season in the Arena Football League (AFL). Teams * 1987 All-Arena Team, 1987 * 1988 All-Arena Team, 1988 * 1989 All-Arena Team, 1989 * 1990 Al ...

after leading the Rampage in receptions with 80, receiving yards with 973, kickoff return yards with 813 and all-purpose yards with 1,791 in addition to recording 15 receiving touchdowns in 14 games. He recorded a season-high 118 receiving yards on five receptions with one touchdown on the road against the

Arizona Rattlers The Arizona Rattlers are a professional indoor American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area that competes in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team in the Arena Football League ...

. In

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

, he recorded team highs in kickoff returns with 31 and kickoff return yards with 732, and ranked second on the team in all-purpose yards with 1,741. On offense, he recorded 75 receptions for 904 yards and 15 touchdowns in 16 games. He recorded a season-high 11 receptions for 98 yards with three touchdowns on the road against the

Colorado Crush (2004–2006)

On November 11, 2003, Marshall signed with the

. For his first

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

with the Crush, he recorded 86 receptions for 854 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in 16 games. He ranked second on the team in receptions and scoring among non-kickers with 120 points. He recorded one net recovery for a touchdown in his Crush debut against the Las Vegas Gladiators. He recorded a season-high 10 receptions for 93 yards on the road against the

San Jose SaberCats The San Jose SaberCats were a professional arena football team based in San Jose, California. The SaberCats had been members of the Arena Football League (AFL) since 1995 (the year in which the team was founded); and until 2015, they belonged to ...

. In

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

, he recorded 79 receptions for 890 yards and 13 touchdowns in addition to recording five yards on 15 carries and six touchdowns on offense in 15 games. He also recorded 42 kickoff returns for 932 kickoff return yards, and 29.5 tackles, four passes defensed and one forced fumble on defense. For his performance that season he was named to the AFL's All-Ironman Team. He recorded 11 receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown in addition to two carries for two yards for two touchdowns on offense against the

Nashville Kats The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to A ...

, and was named Ironman of the Game. He was also named

ArenaBowl The ArenaBowl was the championship game of the Arena Football League (AFL). Originally hosted at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena based on home attendance during the inaugural 1987 season, save four years (2005–2008) the game was hosted by the team w ...

MVP, after the Crush won

ArenaBowl XIX ArenaBowl XIX was the 2005 championship game of the Arena Football League (AFL), and was played at the Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada. The first neutral-site title game in AFL history drew 10,822 fans to see the Colorado Crush defeat t ...

over the Georgia Force, 51-48. In

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

, he recorded career highs in receptions with 100, receiving yards with 992, rushing attempts with 22, rushing yards with 72, kickoff returns with 79 and kickoff return yards with 1,580 in 16 games. He ranked third in the league in all-purpose yards with 2,6674, which set a new franchise single-season record and was named to the AFL's All-Ironman Team for his performance. He recorded seven receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns on offense against the

Chicago Rush The Chicago Rush were a professional arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. The team was founded in 2001 and played in the Arena Football League's Central Division. The Rush qualified for the playoffs in 11 of 12 AFL seasons, during w ...

in addition to recording 5.5 tackles on defense, he earned Ironman of the Game for his performance. He was named Offensive Player of the Game and Ironman of the Game against the Gladiators after recording 126 kickoff return yards on five attempts, and eight receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns on offense. He recorded 275 all-purpose yards against the Rampage by recording 198 kickoff return yards on seven attempts and 77 receiving yards on four receptions and one touchdown. He was named Ironman of the Game for his performance.

Dallas Desperados (2007)

2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...

, Marshall signed with the Dallas Desperados. In his only season in Dallas, he finished third on the team in receiving with 66 receptions for 747 yards and 12 touchdowns in 16 games. He also recorded 29 kickoff returns for 485 yards. He also recorded 13.5 tackles and one

interception In Ball game, ball-playing Competitive sport, competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for ...

on defense.

Georgia Force (2008)

On December 5, 2007, Marshall signed with the

Georgia Force The Georgia Force was an Arena Football League (AFL) team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States (part of suburban Atlanta) that played in the South Division of the American Conference. The team was owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn ...

. During the

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

season, he played in three games for the Force, and recorded two receptions for 19 yards, and 11 carries for 20 yards on offense. Along with two tackles on defense, and 21 kickoff returns for 354 yards. He was released by the Force on March 28.

Cleveland Gladiators (2008)

Marshall then signed with the

Cleveland Gladiators The Cleveland Gladiators were an arena football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The Gladiators played their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they shared with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the ...

. With the Gladiators, he recorded 61 receptions for 647 yards and three touchdowns, along with six carries for 21 yards and three touchdowns on offense. He also recorded nine tackles, and one pass broken up on defense. He also recorded 34 kickoff returns for 684 yards.

Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings (2010)

Marshall played for the

Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings The Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings were an Arena Football League team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They played at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and took their name from the metropolitan area that consists of Bossier City and ne ...

in 2010.

Personal

Marshall is cousins with former

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...

and Georgia Force

Fullback Fullback or Full back may refer to: Sports * A position in various kinds of football, including: ** Full-back (association football), in association football (soccer), a defender playing in a wide position ** Fullback (gridiron football), in Americ ...

Robert Thomas. Marshall, also co-owns his own business, 4ward Motion, an event and party planning company in Detroit. Growing up his favorite players

players growing up were

Walter Payton Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1953Although most sources at the time of his death gave Payton's birth year as 1954, reliable sources subsequently state he was born in 1953. – November 1, 1999) was an American professional American football, ...

and

Billy Sims Billy Ray Sims (born September 18, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for five seasons with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1980 to 1984. Sims played college football fo ...

. Marshall appeared in

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

's movie '' The Game Plan'' as a

and

running back A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive American football plays#Offensive terminology, handoffs from the quarterback to Rush (American football)#Offense ...

Notes

External links

Georgia Force bio

Dallas Desperados bio

Colorado Crush bio

Oakland County Warrant
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marshall, Willis 1975 births Living people Players of American football from Detroit American football wide receivers Youngstown State Penguins football players Players of Canadian football from Detroit Canadian football wide receivers Calgary Stampeders players Grand Rapids Rampage players Colorado Crush players Dallas Desperados players Georgia Force players Cleveland Gladiators players Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings players