Marcus Cotton

Last updated

Marcus Cotton
No. 51, 58
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1966-08-11) August 11, 1966 (age 57)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school: Castlemont ( Oakland, California )
College: USC
NFL draft: 1988  / Round: 2 / Pick: 28
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Player stats at PFR

Marcus Glenn Cotton (born August 11, 1966) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

Cotton was born in Los Angeles, California and prepped at Castlemont High School in Oakland. [1] He played college football, and was All-Pac-10 (1986 and 1987), at the University of Southern California. [2] As a junior he was honored by the Associated Press as a second-team All-American, [3] and as a senior he was chosen for the first-team by the NEA/ World Almanac . [4]

Cotton was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft with the 28th overall pick. [5] He spent four years in the NFL, splitting time between the Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Seattle Seahawks. [1] [6] He recorded a career high nine sacks in 1989. [1] [6]

Cotton finished his career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, where he logged four sacks in eleven games played over the 1994 and 1995 seasons. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Rice</span> American football player (born 1962)

Jerry Lee Rice is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He won three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers before two shorter stints at the end of his career with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. Nicknamed "World" because of his superb catching ability, his accomplishments and numerous records, Rice is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in NFL history. His biography on the official Pro Football Hall of Fame website names him "the most prolific wide receiver in NFL history with staggering career totals". In 1999, The Sporting News listed Rice second behind Jim Brown on its list of "Football's 100 Greatest Players". In 2010, he was chosen by NFL Network's NFL Films production The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players as the greatest player in NFL history.

Marcus Dell Gastineau is an American former football defensive end who played for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. A five-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, he was one of the quickest and most feared pass rushers of his generation, and the first player to lead the NFL in sacks in consecutive seasons. Gastineau was ranked no. 8 in National Football League (NFL) history on NFL Network's top 10 pass rushers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Doleman</span> American football player (1961–2020)

Christopher John Doleman was an American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He spent the majority of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, and also played for the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers. Doleman was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a twice first-team All-Pro, recording 150.5 career sacks. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2012.

Aundray Bruce is an American former professional football player who was an outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). As a college football player, he played defensive end for the Auburn Tigers before the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the first overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL for the Falcons and Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeMarcus Ware</span> American football player (born 1982)

DeMarcus Omar Ware is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Troy Trojans and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft. After spending nine seasons with the Cowboys, Ware departed in 2013 as the franchise's all-time leader in quarterback sacks with 117. Ware then played three seasons for the Denver Broncos, with whom he won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers. After the 2016 season with the Broncos, he announced his retirement from the NFL. In 2017, he signed a one-day contract with Dallas to retire as a Cowboy. In 2018, the Broncos hired Ware as a pass-rush consultant. In 2023, Ware was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gary Wayne Zimmerman is an American former professional football player who was a Hall of Fame offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL). He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Denver Broncos.

Nathaniel Bernard Odomes is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills (1987–1993), Seattle Seahawks (1994–1995), and the Atlanta Falcons (1996). Before his NFL career, he played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, returning 36 punts for 359 yards and intercepting nine passes. His seven interceptions in the 1986 season led the Big Ten Conference. He was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft.

Jimmy Verdon is an American former professional football defensive end. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State.

Johnie Earl Cooks was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Cooks was selected by the Baltimore Colts as the second overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft. He played from 1982 to 1991 for the Colts, New York Giants, and Cleveland Browns. He was a member of the Giants when they defeated the Buffalo Bills 20–19 in Super Bowl XXV. Cooks played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Melvin Laverne Agee Jr. was a professional football player who played defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL), NFL Europe, and the Arena Football League (AFL). In his 10-year professional career he played for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts (1991–1992) and Atlanta Falcons (1992–1995), NFL Europe's Frankfurt Galaxy (1998), and the AFL's Tampa Bay Storm (1998–2002). Agee played college football at the University of Illinois.

Michael Allen Ruether was a professional and college offensive lineman and tight end. In college he was an All-Southwest Conference and first-team All-American selection as a lineman. During his 10-year professional football career he played most of his career was with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL and went to Super Bowl XXIV with the Denver Broncos. He also played for the Los Angeles Express and the St. Louis Cardinals and spent a year with the Minnesota Vikings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stylez G. White</span> American football player (born 1979)

Stylez G. White is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota.

James Antwane Cotton is a former American and Canadian football defensive end, who played in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL).

Frederick R. Smalls is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at West Virginia. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.

Scott Dewitt Stephen is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL).

Mark David Mraz is a former professional American football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL), World League of American Football (WLAF) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). During his career he played for the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL, the Frankfurt Galaxy of the WLAF, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Mraz played college football at Utah State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeMarcus Lawrence</span> American football player (born 1992)

DeMarcus Lawrence is an American football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at Butler Community College and Boise State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grady Jarrett</span> American football player (born 1993)

Grady Jarrett is an American football defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson.

Ray Criswell is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL) and World League of American Football (WLAF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quency Williams</span> American football player (1961–2022)

Quency Leon Williams was an American gridiron football defensive end who played six seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He played college football at Auburn and also had stints with the Birmingham Stallions, Los Angeles Raiders, Arizona Outlaws and BC Lions. He won the 78th Grey Cup with the Blue Bombers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Marcus Cotton Stats". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  2. "Marcus Cotton Stats". NFL.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  3. "AP All-America Football Team". Florida Today. December 5, 1986. p. 5C via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. George Robinson (November 22, 1987). "NEA/World Almanac Team: Here Are the 1987 All-Americans". Del Rio, Texas News-Herald. p. 3B via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  5. "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "Marcus Cotton Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2024.