Q&A: Jo'quavious Marks

STARKVILLE - Each week during the 2020 football season, HailState.com will catch up with one football student-athlete to talk about football, personal favorites and everything that makes them unique. This week, we catch up with freshman running back Jo'quavious Marks.

Q: Why did you choose Mississippi State?
JM: I chose Mississippi State because it is a family here. On the other side, it's a really good school for my major. My major is kinesiology with a concentration on sports medicine.

Q: Why did you choose your major?
JM: I chose my major because I still want to be around football after I am done playing football. I see how the training staff is helping me out right now and I want to be able help players out once my career is over in football.

Q: What is your nickname? How did you get your nickname?
JM: My nickname is Woody. My grandmother gave it to me, because I loved the movie Toy Story. Every Halloween, I always wore that costume. I always wanted to wear it to school, too.

Q: What was it like growing up in Atlanta, Georgia?
JM: It was pretty fun. Atlanta is a big city with a lot of traffic and a lot of stuff to do. [When I had some free time] We went to Six Flags, went downtown to the big Ferris wheel or to go to the water park.

Q: Who is your biggest motivation?
JM: My biggest motivation is my mom. My mom, she is a is a competitive person and she works very hard. So, she motivates me to work hard and be a good influence.

Q: If you could play any other position in a different sport, what would it be and why?
JM: I would play baseball and I would be a catcher. I played catcher when I was younger, and I really liked it.

Q: When was the last time you played baseball?
JM: Probably in middle school. I really like baseball.

Q: What was it like making your collegiate debut against LSU?
JM: I was pretty happy [to be able to play in that game]. It was pretty good getting the first win of my college career with my parents in the stands. It was pretty big beating the reigning national champion.

Q: What drives you to get up and practice as hard as you can every day?
JM: It is really just going out there and seeing my brothers work. I have to work just as hard, so we can reach the goals that we have set.

Q: Video games or Netflix?
JM: Video games. I like to play NBA2K with Tyrus Wheat.

Q: Who is better?
JM: I am the best.

Q: If you owned an NFL franchise and could pick any active player to play for you, who would you choose and why?
JM: I would choose [Atlanta Falcons wide receiver] Julio Jones. He is a big-time receiver. He is a dominant wide receiver that takes pride in route running and blocking. He is also a great teammate and a great leader.

Q: Who was your sports idol growing up and why?
JM: My sports idol growing up was Ezekiel Elliot. He is just a phenomenal running back who I look at to kind of model my game after. Watching him play football motivates you to want to run like him and be a complete back.

Players Mentioned

Jo'Quavious Marks

Tyrus Wheat

Mississippi State University Athletics