2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Marcus Brown, LB, Missouri Western State University

• Name: Marcus Brown
• Height: 6’1
• Weight: 220
• Position: LB/ATH
• College: Missouri Western State University 
• Twitter: M_R_Brown34

Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?

• I’m from Kansas City, Mo. Growing up here it wasn’t easy, like other cities, there is a lot of crime and tragedies that take place that can cause day to day to be uncertain, but through it all, Kansas City is a place you can enjoy living in and that’s what I love about Kansas City. Living in Kansas City has help shape and mode me to grow into something great through adversity and now it’s up to me to obtain that greatness. 

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?

• Film study first because you have to know the game like the back of your hand or else you’ll be lost in the game. Strength and conditioning secondly, that’s how you get the physical traits to play this aggressive game. Film study & Strength helps prevent injuries to a great degree. Last but not least, Practice. I say Practice because that is where everything comes together. Formation & endurance.

What do you worry about, and why?

• Biggest thing for me is my family that has always been there for me every step of the way. I just want a better life for all of us. I wake up everyday at 5am to make sure that one day they will have the things that they need and desire. Like so many others, we struggled growing up. I made a promise to my moms, pops and my siblings that one day we will never see another struggle day. I’m determined to reach every goal I have set for my life even in the midst of battles. 

Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?

• I’m very competitive and I use to run track in high school, starting out freshmen year I was not the fastest. Coach called three names, mine and two of my other teammates to race for a spot in the open 200m. We lined up and coach blew the whistle, and we took off. Mind you, I’m a freshmen racing against varsity seniors. I came in second and since that day I made a promise I’d never let no one beat me again rather it’s practice or not. And… after that, I made up in my mind I would NEVER be outworked by anyone. I came back a few  weeks later and beat my teammate who beat me at practice. The difference was, I beat him in a meet and held the fastest 200m for about 3 weeks in the entire State of Missouri. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My teammates love the DETERMINATION to conquer & complete whatever assignment or goal in question. I’m determined day in and day out, not only in game time situations, but also in the weight room, at practice, and my personal life. They love the passion I have and everything I stand for. 

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

• In all honesty, the best college athlete I have played against I would have to say myself. I say that without pride or arrogance. I also say that because in many situations, you can beat yourself, and I feel like it’s not impossible to compete with yourself especially when there are goals set, because each day I challenge myself to be better than the day before, better than the game that I played, greater than the tackles I made. 

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football? 

• I would be an entrepreneur. I was raised to be independent and never to wait on nobody to give me what I can get myself UNLESS it’s a Blessing.

Room, desk and car – which do you clean first?

• I would clean my room first, desk secondly then I’ll clean my car. 

If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?

• I would have to save the three strangers due to the simple fact that three lives is greater than one. 

If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?

• I would be Forest Gump because Forest Gump was judged based on his disability, but what people could not see or believe was his ability to conquer. He never gave up. He was a force to reckon with. He didn’t allow what he was going through to limit his life. He went for what he wanted & moved the mountains that was in his way. So many people viewed him as weak & ineligible to compete on the level of those they deemed eligible, but he showed them greatness through his determination & adversity. In other words, as my parents have said to me many of times “Marcus, don’t go off of what it looks like, go off of what God showed you!” 

Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?

• My biggest adversity would be me losing almost everybody that ever been there for me, took care of me & raised me through out my life. I lost my biological father who was killed on the job, my God parents to murder suicide, and my grandfather to cancer. I never tucked my tail and ran, I cried & yet believed that greater was ahead. I looked adversity in the face and told it, it wouldn’t break me and put all that pain I felt into my grind. I realized that I couldn’t allow a lost to create a future lost for me. I had to pull myself together because life has to move on with memories. I promised I would give my all every time I wake up in the mornings & every opportunity I get to step out on the field. I don’t  just do this for me, I do this for them. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• my most embarrassing moment would have to be when I was in kindergarten and I was in art class and I really had to go to the restroom, and the teacher wouldn’t let me. I couldn’t hold it anymore and I had an accident and the whole class smelted it. 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• my most memorable play was when we were playing University Of Nebraska Kearney and they were triple  teaming me on kickoff, and I ran through everybody and still made the tackle at the 15yd line. I absolutely LOVE SPECIAL TEAMS! 

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Blood, sweat and tears by Future. 

What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level? 

• My knowledge of the game is out the roof. A lot of times I know what’s going to happen before it happens during a play because I study the offense on the field. 

If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?

• I would bring back my pops because he’s my motivation. He always wanted me to be his little football star. I just want to hear his voice, give him a hug and never let go as a final good-bye. 

If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it? 

• The Mix-Up 

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• Darwin Thompson for the Kansas City Chief’s.

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I would rather be respected because being liked only take you as far as a dislike then your done. People don’t have to necessarily like you in order to have respect for you. You can continue to hold your position not being liked…but respected.

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?

• Micheal Vick because he was an awesome player that made a bad decision that ultimately cost him his freedom. Only if we all could see the outcome of bad choices before we choose to do them, the choices we make wouldn’t be an option. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• win is always my biggest goal, but sometimes in life you have to loose to win. 

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?

 • My Mother has been the biggest influence in my life. When my pops passed away, it was just me and her, and I watched her always making something out of nothing. She was a single Mother who showed me how to get through life even in the worst season’s of my life. She showed me how to stay focused, stay humble, stay determined & reach every goal that my heart desires. She told me “the only restraints in life are the ones you put a limit on”! She also told me “life is not always easy, it happens”.