Marquis McBeath Leaves Team [Archive]

BeeDee

08-26-2005, 08:05 AM

McBeath embraces fresh start at PRCC
Now he's a big fish in a smaller pond
By JIM MASHEK
Sun-Herald (http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/sports/12468449.htm)

POPLARVILLE - Marquis McBeath knew expectations were high when he left Moss Point High School to play linebacker for the Ole Miss Rebels.

Maybe too high.

McBeath spent two full years at Ole Miss, going through a redshirt season before playing in three games last year. He thought he had made significant progress in the Rebels' spring drills, however, and entered two-a-days as the squad's No. 2 middle linebacker behind Patrick Willis, who by nearly every account is the team's best defensive player.

That much McBeath could live with. But when first-year player Rob Russell, a 230-pound freshman from New Orleans, moved past him on the Rebels' depth chart, he figured it was time to consider his options.

Enter Pearl River Community College, which won the NJCAA national championship last year by drilling Butler County Community College in its home state, rolling to a 35-14 victory in Coffeyville, Kan.

McBeath decided it was time to start over.

"I'm happy to be here, really," McBeath said before the Wildcats hit the practice field under the intense Mississippi sun on Wednesday. "I felt like I had to find a better situation. I had to make a business decision. I felt like I had to get somewhere else, and get on the field."

McBeath has practiced with Pearl River four times, and he's already running with the second team as the Wildcats' weak-side linebacker. Needless to say, he's been a quick study.

"Marquis has been impressive since he's been here," PRCC defensive coordinator William Jones said. "Without a doubt, he's a Division I player. He just needs a chance to play. His attitude has been unbelievable. He'll get some exposure here, and if he plays like he practices, he'll get a chance to play somewhere next year."

McBeath admits he has Southern Miss, just a 90-minute drive or so from his hometown, in the back of his mind. Jones is quick to point out that schools from the Pacific 10 and ACC conferences often scout PRCC games, not to mention the SEC and Conference USA. And the Wildcats' defensive mastermind said McBeath only needs six hours to receive his associate's degree from Pearl River, and thus is a good bet to be participating in spring drills at a Division I-A program in six months or so.

"Right now, I'm taking 16 credits that you can use toward a (bachelor's) degree," McBeath said.

Academics obviously wasn't the problem for McBeath at Ole Miss.

But he never seemed to fit in with Ed Orgeron, the Rebels' fiery first-year coach. Orgeron was critical of McBeath when he disappeared from the Ole Miss practice field last week, telling reporters, "I think he has quit the team. He's not here, but he hasn't told me (he's quitting.)"

McBeath acknowledges he never told Orgeron about his decision, instead consulting with linebackers coach Shawn Slocum, the son of former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum.

"I went to see Coach Slocum, to ask him where I stand," McBeath said. "He said I was in the same situation (with the second team). But they were playing a freshman (Russell) in front of me. I was just standing on the sideline, for four or five days. I was getting tired of it.

"Coming here, this was a new start."

Kenneth McBeath, Marquis' first cousin, was already playing at Pearl River. Marquis McBeath had gotten to know Jones, too, and placed a call to the Wildcats' defensive coordinator before even deciding to leave Oxford for Poplarville.

"I got in the best shape of my life this summer," McBeath said. "But Patrick Willis has two more years, and if he's not on the field, something's wrong. I just told Coach Jones, I just want to do whatever I can to get on the field, and I want to win. Moss Point was a winning program.

"I wanna be part of that here."

The 5-foot-11, 225-pound McBeath was the Sun Herald's Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, when he was credited with 104 tackles, nine sacks and three fumble recoveries as a Moss Point senior linebacker. He played middle linebacker at Ole Miss but will play on the outside at PRCC, where Jones hopes to take advantage of his natural ability and football instincts.

"A lot of big schools will look at his size, and that might scare them off," Jones said. "But he'll bring the heat. He'll stick people. At the end of the day, he has a burning desire to play. He understands the game, and he's been well coached at Moss Point and Ole Miss.

"He's going to be an impact player in this league. You can quote me on that."