Woody

Marks

Marks has a chance to serve as Joe Mixon’s change-of-pace back in 2025, but will need to usurp a handful of veterans on the depth chart in camp if he hopes to earn that role. The former USC Trojan ran for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns in his last and only season at the program, but most notably caught 261 passes for 1,546 yards and five touchdowns over his five-year college career. He possesses a legitimate three-down skillset and could have good value as a handcuff for Mixon should the veteran back miss any time this season.

Updating a prior report from NBC Houston’s Aaron Wilson, the Texans hosted Hines, along with former Bengals RBs Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans, for a workout yesterday. Despite drafting former USC RB Woody Marks in the fourth round, the Texans appear dead set on adding another speedy pass-catching running back to the mix. Although Hines was technically under contract with the Bills (2023) and Browns (2024), he has not played football since tearing his ACL in a July 2023 jet skiing accident.

NBC Houston’s Aaron Wilson reports that Williams’ former teammate, RB Chris Evans, also worked out for the Texans on Thursday. Both Williams (2019-2023) and Evans (2021-2023) served as Joe Mixon’s backups with the Bengals in prior seasons, and one would assume Mixon is a fan of the Texans’ dual-tryout. Wilson’s pre-draft reports indicated that the Texans hoped to draft a speedy receiving back, and although the team did add a capable pass-catching back in former USC RB Woody Marks, he lacks elite speed. The Texans are seemingly intent on adding someone for Marks to compete with, though neither Williams nor Evans would be more than a deep-league bench stash if one is signed and manages to beat out the rookie.

He will profile as a change of pace back in the Houston backfield as Joe Mixon continues dominating touches. After four seasons at Mississippi State, Marks (5’10/207) transferred to USC and led the Trojans with 1,193 rushing yards. He added value as a pass-catcher, snagging 261 receptions through five college seasons, namely totaling 83 receptions as a sophomore. Explosiveness and footwork are Marks’ strengths, though a 4.54 40-yard dash at the combine indicates he has just average long-run speed. His pass-blocking is inconsistent and he will need to generate more strength at the next level for pass protection and shedding tacklers. However, Marks has utility in the passing game with good hands and route-running skills. He has the toolset to be a third-down role in the NFL.

Marks (5'10/195) plays in a pure form of the Air Raid offense that doesn’t require the running backs to rush the ball on a regular basis. But what the scheme does is breed versatility -- something that translates well to the modern era of the NFL. And he’s very much fulfilled what the team is asking of him in that regard, named to the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list earlier this week. The award is presented annually to the best running back in college football. Marks finished the 2021 season with 416 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, adding 83 receptions, 502 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

Marks (5'10/195) didn’t get a lot of touches throughout the game. He was used mainly as a safety net for QB Will Rogers. It was two touches that proved to be incredibly costly. On the final drive of the first half, Marks was targeted twice inside the five-yard line, once on a wheel route to the right and then a swing pass to the left. He dropped both of those and they would have been surefire touchdowns. At the end of the drive, the Bulldogs missed the field goal, giving them a deflating end to the first half. Marks and the Bulldogs will be waiting for their bowl game and opponent.

Johnson (6'0"/180) also caught four passes for 30 yards. With Kentucky’s offense as inept as it was, and Mississippi State QB Will Rogers as brilliant as he was, there wasn’t much for Johnson and fellow RB Jo’quavious Marks to do but finish off drives and that’s exactly what they did. They combined for the first three Bulldog scores, from 7,9 and 1 yard away. They rolled through mostly untouched on all three runs, as the Bulldog’s line handled their defensive counterparts with relative ease, which they did all game. It wasn’t a flashy game for either guy, who combined to average 3.2 yards per carry, but hey, they got the job done when they needed to. They take on Arkansas next week.

Marks (5'10/205) was the most valuable weapon for the Bulldogs, as he was all over the field against the Tigers. His touchdown with 1:53 left in the game pulled the Bulldogs within 3 points, but it was too little too late. The Tigers recovered the onside kick and Mississippi State couldn’t stop the clock. The Bulldogs look to get above .500 as they take on Texas A&M next Saturday.

Marks (5'10/195) was an instrumental part of the Bulldogs’ dramatic fourth quarter comeback, as he scored on touchdown runs of one and five yards in the final stanza of the game. He also caught nine passes for 27 yards and a one-yard touchdown, firmly establishing his claim on the starting running back job over Dillon Johnson, who had only two carries in the contest. A devastating all-purpose performer, Marks’ skillset perfectly fits HC Mike Leach’s offensive attack. MSU hosts NC State next week in an intriguing ACC/SEC matchup.

Marks finished the day as Mississippi State’s only player with over 100 yards from scrimmage. Though he barely eclipsed the mark with 102 yards, nobody else on the team had more than 70 yards, so Marks still stood a clear tier above the rest of the offense. Marks also scored the team’s only rushing TD from a running back (QB Will Rogers also punched one in). From 28 yards out, Marks too a hand-off to the right side and went untouched into the end zone, thanks in part to his tremendous speed. Marks finishes 2020 with three total touchdowns.