Marcus LaVar Stroud (born June 25, 1978 in Thomasville, Georgia) is an American Football defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars 13th overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia.

Stroud was a three-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Jaguars.

[edit] Early years

Stroud won a state title with Brooks County High School in 1994. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1996 while still in high school which featured a cover story of National Signing Day.^[1] Stroud, at the time a 6′6″, 266-pound defensive end, originally gave Georgia a verbal commitment but changed his mind after Bulldogs coach Ray Goff was fired in November 1995. After heavy pursuit from new Georgia coach Jim Donnan, Stroud switched back to Georgia on Signing Day.^[1]

[edit] College career

Marcus played college football for the University of Georgia. At Georgia, his teammates included future NFL players Jonas Jennings, Kendrell Bell, Will Witherspoon, Richard Seymour, Tony Gilbert, Johnathan Sullivan, Charles Grant, Josh Mallard and Jamie Henderson.

Marcus is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Jacksonville Jaguars

Marcus was selected 13th in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Jaguars. The 2001 NFL Draft is considered by many experts to be the finest draft for defensive tackles in draft history. The 2001 class included fellow Pro Bowl selections Richard Seymour, Casey Hampton and Kris Jenkins.

Marcus and John Henderson helped give the Jaguars one of the most dominant defensive tackles duos in the NFL.

Marcus Stroud was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 2003, 2004 and 2005 NFL seasons.

Stroud was suspended in 2007 for four games without pay for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.^[2]

[edit] Buffalo Bills

On March 1, 2008 Stroud was traded to the Buffalo Bills for third- and fifth-round picks in the 2008 NFL Draft.^[3]

Stroud was immediately deemed one of the key players to the Bills’ 2008 season, and Stroud said he is ready for the pressure, stating he believes the Bills’ run defense can vault at least 10 places.^[4]

On April 7, 2009, Stroud signed a two-year contract extension that guarantees him $12 million and pays him $16 million. In combination with the existing terms of his contract, Stroud could earn $28 million over the next four seasons.^[5]

[edit] Car accident

Stroud escaped injury in 2005, when he rolled his SUV while driving on Florida’s Interstate 10 outside of Jacksonville.^[6]

[edit] Community

Stroud hosted the Marcus Stroud 99 Pro Bowl Football Camp For Kids on 30 May 2009 at Brooks County’s Veterans Stadium in Georgia. Several NFL professionals, including Mike Peterson and Verron Haynes of the Atlanta Falcons, and George Wilson, Donte Whitner, Kavika Mitchell, Marcus Buggs and Drayton Florence of the Buffalo Bills. gave of their time and talent on Saturday to encourage and train about 200 youth. The camp was free for the children.^[7][8][9]

[edit] References