Venric Mark
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born: | St. Pius X (Houston) |
College: | Northwestern West Texas A&M |
Position: | Running back |
Undrafted: | 2015 |
Career history | |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Player stats at CFL.ca |
Venric Emeka-Wococha Mark is an American former
In high school, he was a five-time Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state champion in track and field and an All-State football player. He was recruited by many Division I college football programs.
Early years
Mark spent his freshman year at
As a junior, he was described as a "gifted player" who was expected to be a "future star" for the two-time defending state champion football team.[5] Going into the 2008 state playoffs, Mark had 10 touchdowns as a return specialist and 20 receptions for 504 yards for the 7–2 St. Pius Panthers.[6] By the end of his junior year, he had been timed at 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash and had at least six Division I scholarship offers. Interested programs included Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Rice and Arizona.[7] During the summer prior to his senior year, he increased the bodyweight of his 5-foot-8-inch (1.73 m) frame from 160 pounds (72.6 kg) to 175 pounds (79.4 kg).[2]
As a senior, he mostly played running back.
After committing to Northwestern, Mark went on to win five gold medals in the 2010 TAPPS Class 5A State Track and Field Championships. He won the
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Venric Mark PR/WR
|
Tomball, Texas | St. Pius X High School (TX, So.–Sr.)
|
5 ft 9.5 in (1.77 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | 4.4 | Jan 20, 2010 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 217 (WR) ESPN: 199 (ATH) | ||||||
Sources:
|
College career
Mark was one of two true freshmen to play in every game for the
As a sophomore for the 2011 team, Mark switched from wide receiver to running back during the season.[11] However, during the game against Michigan, he also played linebacker in order to shadow Denard Robinson.[19][20] The season ended at the 2011 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas against Texas A&M. In the game, Mark recorded 7 kickoff returns for 141 yards.[21] This gave him Northwestern record-setting single-season totals of 40 returns and 915 return yards, surpassing records both set by Jim Pooler in 1974 (38 for 807).[22] Mark also scored his first rushing touchdown in the game.[23]
As a junior in 2012, Mark was a preseason watchlist candidate for the
For his efforts, Mark was named a 2012
Mark was among the 2012 national statistical leaders in both all-purpose yards and rushing yards.[42][43]
Mark began the 2013 season affected by injury. He did not play
Mark learned in early August 2014, that he would be suspended for two games from the 2014 Northwestern Wildcats football team for "violation of team policy".[47] He decided to pursue his fifth year redshirt season with the Division II 2014 West Texas A&M Buffaloes where he could be close to his mother and grandmother.[48]
Professional career
On December 8, 2015, Mark signed with the
On June 2, 2016, Mark signed with the
Personal life
The summer before his freshman year in college, he lost his brother, cousin and best friend to fatal shooting deaths.[54] Mark's father has not been involved in his life since his preteen years; he was raised by his mother, Sheila Mark.[54] Sheila attended Texas Tech University.[15] Mark's name came from having a Nigerian-born father.[55] His parents met while at boarding school in London.[15] His brothers are named Victor and Vincent and his sister is named Special.[15] In high school, he often stayed with his godmother, Jamie Garza, who lived nearer to the school.[3]
References
- ^ "TAPPS - Records" (PDF). Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. May 5, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ a b c d McDaniel, Jason (January 31, 2010). "St. Pius' Mark finds patience, place at Northwestern". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ a b Greenstein, Teddy (October 18, 2012). "Family at center of NU tailback Mark's success: Speedy junior from Houston bringing special skills to Wildcats backfield". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ Jenkins, Jeff (May 13, 2008). "Track and field: Panthers look back on solid year". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
- ^ Jenkins, Jeff (May 21, 2008). "Football: St. Pius readies bid to defend title". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ Jenkins, Jeff and Todd Hveem (November 20, 2008). "Roundup: Panthers provide Arnold with first postseason win". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ Jenkins, Jeff (May 19, 2009). "Football: New era opening at Parsley Field". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ Kuc, Chris (September 25, 2012). "NU's Mark thriving at tailback". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ Waits, Tim (November 28, 2009). "St. Pius' season ends with failed fourth-down try". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ Jenkins, Jeff (December 3, 2009). "Roundup: Reagan confident about prospects". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ CBS Interactive. Archived from the originalon November 19, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Jenkins, Jeff (June 25, 2010). "Athletics: Mark choosing from among grid, golds". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ a b Jenkins, Jeff (May 14, 2010). "Track and field: Panthers fine with silver". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ "(7) Michigan St 35 (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten); Northwestern 27 (5-2, 1-2 Big Ten)". ESPN. October 23, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Greenstein, Teddy (December 30, 2010). "Mark big part of NU plan for Texas Tech: Freshman returner wants to make impression on mother's former school". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Badgers blast Northwestern for share of Big Ten crown". ESPN. November 27, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ "Venric Mark Named Big Ten Special Teams, Freshman Player of the Week: True freshman shares honors after establishing NU single-game kickoff return yards record". NUSports.com. CBS Interactive. November 29, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ "Rivals.com Freshman All-America Team". Rivals.com. December 14, 2010. Archived from the original on September 22, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ Greenstein, Teddy (August 15, 2012). "Mark wants to show he can play bigger than he looks: Only 5-8 and 175 pounds, tailback doesn't shy away from running inside". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ Greenstein, Teddy (October 13, 2012). "Mark supplies secret weapon: Returner worked as 'spy' against Michigan". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Texas A&M 33 (7-6, 4-5 SEC); Northwestern 22 (6-7, 3-5 Big Ten)". ESPN. December 31, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ Northwestern Football 2011 Yearbook. 2011. p. 162.
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ignored (help) - ^ "Northwestern Comeback Falls Short at Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, 33-22: Dan Persa becomes NCAA Division I all-time leader in completion percentage". NUSports.com. CBS Interactive. December 31, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Venric Mark Selected to Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List: Honor goes to nation's most versatile player at year's end". NUSports.com. CBS Interactive. August 2, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Venric Mark Game By Game Stats". ESPN. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ "N Illinois 37 (0-2, 0-2 away); Northwestern 38 (2-0, 2-0 home)". ESPN. September 10, 2005. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ "Postgame Notes - Syracuse". NUSports.com. CBS Interactive. September 1, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ "Northwestern 21 (1-0, 1-0 away); Miami (OH) 3 (0-1, 0-1 home)". ESPN. August 31, 2006. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ a b "Northwestern erases Syracuse's second-half rally with late TD". ESPN. September 1, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ a b "Mark Garners Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week Honors: Junior scored receiving and punt-return touchdowns to pace NU". NUSports.com. CBS Interactive. September 3, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Venric Mark's late TD helps Northwestern by Vanderbilt". ESPN. September 8, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Venric Mark's 3 TDs ease Northwestern by S. Dakota". ESPN. September 22, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Northwestern sets school record for total yards in beating Indiana". ESPN. September 29, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Matt McGloin, Penn State deny No. 24 Northwestern rare 6-0 start". ESPN. October 6, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Venric Mark carries Northwestern to win over Minnesota". ESPN. October 13, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "FWAA Names 2012 All-America Team". Football Writers Association of America. December 14, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
- ^ "CBSSports.com 2012 College Football All-America Team". CBS Sports. December 3, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
- Sporting News. December 5, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
- ^ "SI.com's 2012 All-America Team". Sports Illustrated. December 11, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ "Big Ten Announces 2012 All-Big Ten Teams and Select Individual Award Winners". BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. November 26, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
- ^ "Jeff Budzien, Venric Mark Tabbed Semifinalists for Positional Honors: National winners of Doak Walker, Lou Groza Awards announced Dec. 6". NUSports.com. CBS Interactive. November 9, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Player Report: All-Purpose Running". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
- ^ "Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Player Report: Rushing". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
- ^ Gruen, Seth (September 2, 2013). "Northwestern's Kain Colter, Venric Mark day-to-day with injuries". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ^ Rittenberg, Adam (October 2, 2013). "Venric Mark returning from leg injury". ESPN. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ Taylor, John (October 19, 2013). "Venric Mark out, Kain Colter dressed as 'emergency QB'". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Northwestern suspends senior running back Venric Mark two games". Sports Illustrated. August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ^ Schad, Joe (August 23, 2014). "Venric Mark off to West Texas A&M". ESPN. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ^ Rosenblat, Josh (December 17, 2015). "Former Northwestern star Venric Mark signed by Ottawa Redblacks". SB Nation. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ Baines, Tim (April 27, 2016). "Receiver Jackson aims to make big impact with RedBlacks once again". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ "Transactions". goifl.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ^ "Cedar Rapids Titans". goifl.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ^ "Cedar Rapids Titans". thestatguys.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ^ a b Becht, Colin (October 5, 2012). "For Northwestern Running Back Mark, No Shortage of Motivation". The New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
- ^ Greenstein, Teddy (August 24, 2010). "Northwestern's Mark attracting notice: Freshman likely to get nod returning kickoffs and will get shot at punts". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
External links
- Northwestern Wildcats bio
- Mark at NCAA.org