Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus Jones.
Hi Marcus, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to my mother Viola and dad Marc. My dad is a retired army veteran so as a child I moved around a lot. At the age of 14 my parents moved me to Enterprise, Alabama where I finished the remainder of my grade school education. While in high school I was a triple sport athlete. I played football, basketball and ran track (100m, 200m & long jump). After my 11th grade year of high school, I decided to focus fully on football as it was the sport I wanted to play on a collegiate level. As a football player in high school, I received named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association 7A All-State First Team as a senior.
I also helped lead Enterprise High School to an 11-2 record and a berth in the second round of the Alabama 7A Playoffs. I was also named to the AL.com Super All-State Team following my senior season. I started my collegiate journey at Troy University in 2017 and played there for two years before entered the transfer portal in 2019. In 2019 I had to sit out a year due to NCAA rules regarding transferring so I sat out that year and continued my football journey in 2020 up until now in 2021, my last year of collegiate football. Since being at the University of Houston I have received the following honors because of my football performance:
• 2020 Phil Steele All-America First Team (Punt Returner)
• 2020 FWAA All-America First Team (Punt Returner)
• 2020 CBS/247Sports All-America First Team (Punt Returner)
• 2020 PFF All-America Fourth Team (Cornerback)
• 2020 American Athletic All-Conference First Team (Return Specialist)
• American Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 16, 2020)
In this season, I have already been named the American Special Teams Player of the Week twice and I have added to the watch list for the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, 2021 Bednarik Award Watch List and the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List. I am also currently tied in first play for punt returns for touchdowns in the nation.
As for my music, I started music production after my junior year in high school. I lay down the vocals as well a produce each track from the drums to the samples. Just recently on September 10th, released my first studio album entitled complications. The album is an indie pop feel with spin in pop funk. I produced 5 out of the 8 songs on my album myself and had two co-producers, Toronto’s very own iammusicmogul and Houston based producer and DJ Bruce Waine.
My album can be found on all major streaming platforms right now under the artist name Elliott.J (use this link to find my album – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/elliottj/complications-5).
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For football, some of my struggles early on were time management and for music being patient with the process of developing my sound.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a music artist, I don’t really claim a genre. I am just an artist who likes to make multiple genres of music so I wouldn’t say I specialize in one particularly. Most of the feedback I have heard is people like my Pop and R&B music. One of my most proud moments is the release of my first studio album that I produced 85% of myself. What sets me apart from everyone else is my versatility as an artist. Because I produce the majority of my music I have dabbled in multiple genres like rap, r&b, pop-funk and pop as well as neo-soul. I like to express myself freely through music so when it comes to making music, I try not to box myself in.
As for football, I currently play cornerback at the University of Houston. I also play special teams as well and have been named a pre-season All American returner based on my last season performance. One of my proudest moments in football is being named the best defensive back in Texas by Phil Steel Magazine and being added to the three biggest watch lists in college football the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, 2021 Bednarik Award Watch List and the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List. What sets me apart in football also is my versatility. This year I have played on offense, defense and special teams, something that can’t be said of many in college football. I have scored a touchdown on offense and two on special teams so far, my hope is to also score on defense and lead the nation again on punt returns and kick off returns.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
The biggest risk that I have taken in football was deciding to specialize in football after my junior year in high school. I was a great basketball player and had the potential to play at the next level but saw more potential in football so I stuck with it only. The biggest risk I took in music was dropping an album during my last season in college. Right now a lot of the attention is on college sports but I was hoping that some of those fans that have been following my football journey would learn to love and appreciate my musical talent just as they do my athletic ability. So far I have been receiving a lot of support and positive feedback so I assume the risk was worth the reward.
Pricing:
- Tees – https://themarcusjones.com/collections/tees
- Crew Necks – https://themarcusjones.com/collections/crew-neck-sweaters
- Hoodies – https://themarcusjones.com/collections/hoodies
Contact Info:
- Website: https://themarcusjones.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcusjonesocho/?utm_medium=copy_link
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/marcusjonesocho?s=21
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFFoCm1RhztRo4-l00hWDtQ
- Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/elliottj/complications-5
