Marcus Vick

Marcus Vick delivers a pass.

Marcus Deon Vick (born March 20, 1984 in Newport News, Virginia) is an American football player who most recently played at the college level for Virginia Tech. He primarily played quarterback in his college career, but also ran plays at wide receiver in three games during the 2003 season. He is the younger brother of former Virginia Tech quarterback and current Atlanta Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick, and cousin of New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks.

Prior to the 2004 collegiate season, Vick was arrested for providing alcohol to three underage girls who claimed to be college students, and later for reckless driving and possession of marijuana. He was suspended from the university for the fall semester of 2004, during which Virginia Tech won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. Vick was reinstated to school and the football team under specific guidelines that warrant immediate expulsion for further transgressions.

Head Coach Frank Beamer initially announced that Vick would enter the 2005 season as the team's third-string quarterback, but he quickly won the starting role after impressive spring practices and scrimmages. The choice has clearly been a positive one for Virginia Tech, as Vick led a well-rounded Hokie team to a 11-2 record and an appearance in the inaugural ACC Championship Game in the 2005 season, and a win in the 2006 Gator Bowl.

Vick once again courted controversy on January 2, 2006, when he appeared to intentionally step on the leg of Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil during the 2006 Gator Bowl. After an additional report four days later that Vick was arrested on December 17, 2005 for a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended or revoked license[1], Virginia Tech announced his permanent dismissal from its football program "due to a cumulative effect of legal infractions and unsportsmanlike play."[2]

Vick's football future is up in the air. He may either declare his eligibility for the NFL draft by January 15, transfer to a lower-division school for the 2006 season, or attempt to sign as a free agent with a CFL or arena football team.