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DEL.ICIO.USTech-bound Texan plans to play ‘a lot’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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San Antonio — In Marcus Wright, Georgia Tech today landed a player whose 3,374 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns last season at San Antonio Reagan helped him earn a share of the Associated Press Texas Class 5A offensive player of the year award.
The 3,374 yards — a San Antonio record — are part of the 7,036 yards he gained in his high school career, which puts him 18th all-time in the state.
Those are big numbers — even if Wright (5-7, 175 pounds) is not.
“Anybody who’s ever seen me play, my size is not a question,” Wright said, filling out the Georgia Tech T-shirt he was wearing at his signing.
Wright, who originally had committed to Tulsa, expects to play the A-back position in new coach Paul Johnson’s offense.
He was born in Atlanta. His mother is from Atlanta and his father is from Columbus. There are about 100 relatives remaining in Georgia.
But Wright and his father said they didn’t ask Georgia Tech to recruit him — either before Chan Gailey was fired or when Johnson was hired.
“I think a couple of days after the new coaches got there they contacted me,” Wright said. “So it wasn’t like I was on the bottom of anybody’s list.
“I had always dreamed to play for either Georgia Tech or Georgia. So when I got the call and it clicked that I could play there, it was big. With the offense they run, you have to have the A-back on the field all the time. So I’ll have an opportunity to play a lot.”
One of his teammates — offensive guard Jaime Villafuerte — expects to see Wright playing on television in the future.
“On our offensive line, we would just try to get our guys for three or four seconds, and whatever hole Marcus found he was gone,” Villafuerte said. “Any hole he sees, he could go. It was fun.”
Wright has been timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.3 seconds. His coach at Reagan thinks speed will be one of the ways he’ll overcome his size.
“When he played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl [high school all-star game last month], you could see he was small,” coach David Wetzel said. “He’s got outstanding speed and quickness.
“But first and foremost he’ll succeed because of character. He’s got a great work ethic.”
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By Wes King
February 6, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Knee braces…..wanna keep a good RB healthy. Develop a set of knee braces that will protect him and not slow him down. All those Engineers at tech…..someone can figure this out I’m sure.
By NWatkins
February 6, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Marcus Wright is one of the recruits I’m most excited about. After watching his film, I’ve come to the realization that this kid is ridiculous. First off, good luck tackling him the first time you touch him. He usually breaks 2-3 tackles before he goes down. Next, his eyes are fantastic. He looks for gaps, blocks, and laggers and exploits those to no end. He’ll make two DBs run into each other if he has to. Third, look at his speed! 20 yards burned before you can blink.
Yeah, I’m pretty stoked about this kid. GO JACKETS!
By NWatkins
February 6, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
Marcus Wright is one of the recruits I’m most excited about. After watching his film, I’ve come to the realization that this kid is ridiculous. First off, good luck tackling him the first time you touch him. He usually breaks 2-3 tackles before he goes down. Next, his eyes are fantastic. He looks for gaps, blocks, and laggers and exploits those to no end. He’ll make two DBs run into each other if he has to. Third, look at his speed! 20 yards burned before you can blink.
Yeah, I’m pretty stoked about this kid. GO JACKETS!
By Bobby
February 6, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
From one GSU Eagle Fan O Maniac to another Yellow Jacket Fan O Maniac sit back, relax and watch the master Paul Johnson and his staff put on a show for you over the next few years…
Fan O Maniacs… “The Newest Brand for Fan”
By Shake
February 7, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
Wright ran a 10.59 100m at the Texas 5A state meet as a Junior finishing fourth. Elite speed.