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Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Marquis Terry isn't shy. He wants you to know that. But he doesn't dispute what his coaches and teammates say.
It's true. If he doesn't know you, the Southeast Missouri State running back won't open up to you.
Marquis Terry, middle, talks to Southeast Missouri State teammates Jacquan Fuller, left, and Mark Robinson following preseason practice Aug. 3 at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.
BEN MATTHEWS
The first time he spoke to assistant football coach Ghaali Muhammad-Lankford, Terry said about two or three words. When he took his official visit to SEMO, head coach Tom Matukewicz thought he didn't like the place and worried Terry wouldn't sign with the school. He later realized that's just Terry's personality around those he doesn't know.
"That's 'Quis," Matukewicz said. "He's just real quiet and just a different style than most skill All-American type guys."
On the field, it didn't take long for Terry to open up and showcase his talents to Cape Girardeau. As a junior last year, his first season with the Redhawks, he rushed for 1,076 yards and earned a place on the All-Ohio Valley Conference first team. This year, he became the first Redhawk to be named Preseason OVC Offensive Player of the Year -- an award that has been handed out on a regular basis since 2008 -- and is a Lindy's Sports second-team Preseason All-American.
For the Redhawks to exceed expectations this season -- they were picked to finish seventh in the nine-team OVC -- Terry will likely have to play a big role. The senior is ready. When he steps on the field, he's a different person, Muhammad-Lankford said. A vocal leader. He's also incredibly talented and beloved by his teammates.
Southeast Missouri State running back Marquis Terry loses a shoe while running the ball during a game Sept. 30, 2017 against Eastern Kentucky at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau.
Ben Matthews
"Blocking's not easy, but he makes our job look so much easier when he can find that gap," SEMO left tackle Drew Forbes said. "He'll set up blocks for us downfield and we don't even see that until we watch that the next day.
"I love seeing Quis run and getting him in the end zone."
Terry began playing football at age 10 and it didn't take long for him to showcase his ability. He started out as a quarterback -- "You get the ball," Terry said. "You just take off" -- and he knew from the very beginning he wanted to play running back.
At every level, Terry has had success, rushing for nearly 3,000 yards in a three-year varsity high school career in Atlanta. He ended up in Kansas at Highland Community College, where he starred for two seasons. In 2016, he led the National Junior College Athletic Association in rushing with 1,319 yards.
Terry has always had one thing going against him, though: his size. At 5-foot-7, 180 pounds, Terry isn't built like a prototypical workhouse tailback. Yet, year after year at different levels he racks up yardage.
Southeast Missouri State's Marquis Terry jumps to catch the ball during the SEMO homecoming game against Tennessee Tech Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau. SEMO won 31-3.
Southeast Missourian file
"On the field the best thing about him is he gets the most out of every play," Matukewicz said. "You'd think he'd get five (yards) and then all of a sudden he gets eight or all of a sudden he gets 10. And that's what makes him a great running back, is just being able to get the most out of every single play. You've got to really wrap him up or he'll embarrass you."
By now, Terry is used to talk about his diminutive stature. It still fuels him, though.
"It's always been something about my size," Terry said. "It's probably why I missed out on some opportunities and some people missed out on me, because of my size. That's always been a thing. Everything else, ability-wise, I'm good. It's just my size, people shy away from that."
A school that didn't shy away: Southeast. He committed in 2016, and when he arrived he had already played two seasons of college ball; he had a history of collegiate success. So he was confident and felt like a leader, and once he got to know his teammates and coaches, he opened up.
"Me and him are pretty tight," said Forbes, who had three or four classes with Terry last year. "Once you get him talking, he's got a lot to say."
Marquis Terry poses for a photo Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau.
BEN MATTHEWS ~ bmatthews@semissourian.com
He's had to do a lot of talking this preseason. With a young cohort of players behind him on the depth chart -- the five other running backs are all underclassmen -- Terry is the veteran statesman of the position this season.
A vocal person on the field, Terry has taken those five under his wing. He's shown them the preparation it takes to be successful and taught them certain moves and pre-snap reads.
Teaser
"He's definitely all about business always," said Muhammad-Lankford, the running backs coach. "He definitely opens up to you. He has a really good personality. The guys love him. It's one of those things to where they look up to him as well."
With his college career drawing to a close, Terry is looking to cap it off by leading a turnaround at SEMO. The Redhawks haven't had a winning season since 2010 and went 3-8 last year.
They have offensive talent at their disposal with Terry and Forbes, a Preseason All-OVC pick, plus quarterback Daniel Santacaterina, a Northern Illinois transfer.
Now, it's about putting it all together. Terry isn't concerned about the preseason recognition he's received. He just wants to lead the Redhawks to the top of the OVC, the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, and beyond.
"I'm just going to go out there and play," Terry said. "It's what I've been doing over these years since I was 10 years old. I'm not worried about none of that. It's about my team this year. I don't want to say I could care less about it, but hey, it's just an accolade for somebody to see."
When someone spots Terry on the field, that talent is something they can see. They can see him fight for extra yards despite a small frame, slither into holes and burst past defenders for long gains.
Terry may not open up to someone he doesn't know, but anyone can spot his talent.
