Marcus Houston

Marcus Houston (born May 27, 1981 in Denver, Colorado) is a former American football player. He was a highly touted running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder in the early 2000s.
Coming out of Denver's Thomas Jefferson High in 2000, Houston was one of the most sought-after football prospects in the United States. He chose to attend Colorado to play for Gary Barnett. However, after a promising start ("he was an eye-popping, verge-of-greatness success in the first three games of his freshman season in 2000 before his injury problems began") Houston was injured, tearing an abductor muscle. After his return, sharing running back duties with three others, he failed to live up to the expectations, and was criticized. Complaining about "Houston's willingness to play hurt," Colorado's "combustible backfield coach" Eric Bieniemy, then a "hothead" in his rookie year, caused a regional stir in 2001 when he called Houston "Markeesha."
In 2003, Houston chose to transfer to Colorado State University.