Athlete of the Week: Marcus Cuss
Last week against SEC power Arkansas, Marcus Cross carried the ball 29 times for 109 yards, for just the third 100-yard performance by an Aggie back in the last 27 games. For this performance, he was declared Utah State Athlete of the Week by a state-wide media panel.
Utah Statesman: You were named Athlete of the Week after becoming just the third Aggie to rush for 100 yards in the last 27 games. What does this honor mean to you?
Marcus Cross: It means a lot because I rushed for 100 yards against a big school. That motivates the team and lets the O-line know they’re doing their job. It gives the coaches the confidence to know that we can run the ball. That’s what we want to do, go out there and establish the running game.
US: What is your major and where do you see yourself in five years?
MC: My major is sociology and in five years, if I’m not in the NFL, I’ll hopefully be somewhere coaching.
US: What are some of the things you have been working on in practice this week as you get ready to play the U?
MC: We’re still reiterating the running game, still working on some runs. There’s a couple of new runs we’ve got in for this week. We’re putting more emphasis on the pass game; we’re going to try and throw the ball a little bit. We’ve been practicing some new pass plays.
US: What motivates you as a player?
MC: My family motivates me. I have a daughter and if it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I’d be here. I have brothers and sisters raised in a bad environment and I’m the only one out of the family that’s done something so far. I’ve come so far I don’t want to turn back. There’s no steps back, I can only go forward.
US: What other positions have you played in football?
MC: I mainly play running back, but depending on what the formation was, I played a little wide receiver sometimes. More running back than anything though.
USU: Knowing that we have to raise attendance at Romney Stadium this year to meet the NCAA requirements, what would you say to students who haven’t gone to football games in the past?
MC: I know a lot of students hear that we don’t have a good team. I hear that all the time, people say, ‘I heard that you don’t have a good team.’ I just want to tell people, don’t give up on us. We are their team; we are here for them, so be there for us. It doesn’t hurt to come out for a couple of hours to watch us play. More people might create a better environment for us and we might play better. The more people we can get to come support us, the better.
USU: Finally, what are some of your accomplishments you’re proud of in high school and at the junior college level?
MC: I broke a couple of records in high school: touchdown records and rushing records. In junior college, I made All-American. I got hurt one season and missed half the season and the very next season I came back and rushed for over 1,000 yards and made All-American and All-Conference. I was team captain, so those are some of the things that really made me proud.