Marquis Hayes

Marquis Hayes's Biography

Marquis Hayes Jr. stands as a strong figure in the National Football League, earning his reputation as a professional football guard for the Washington Commanders with a journey from high school to professional leagues. Born on February 14, 1999, in St. Louis, Missouri, Marquis has come a long way from his early days in Maryland Heights, where he attended Pattonville High School, displaying early prowess in football.

Despite his initial absence from the varsity football team until his junior year at Pattonville High School, Marquis’s potential as a football star was evident. His extraordinary talent and skill brought him the status of a four-star recruit, propelling him into the spotlight. After weighing offers from esteemed college football teams like Miami, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa State, and Minnesota, Marquis took the plunge and fully committed to playing college football for Oklahoma State, turning his dreams into reality.

His first year at Oklahoma was a learning curve, and he spent those initial months redshirting his true freshman season. However, Marquis didn’t stay sidelined for long. His redshirt freshman season saw him play in three games as a reserve offensive lineman, kicking off his college football career.

Collating experience and fostering his skills, Marquis solidified his foothold in the Sooners’ team as the starting left guard, fortifying the line-up in all 13 games for his redshirt sophomore season. This was a significant career stride for Marquis and demonstrated his potential to the world of football. When the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the 2020 season, Marquis smoothly transitioned from his established role as a left guard and took up the right guard position, starting 11 games for the Sooners.

The year 2021 posed a tough decision for Marquis. As a redshirt senior, he contemplated jumping into the 2021 NFL draft but ultimately decided to spend another season with the Sooners. Flaunting his versatility, Marquis moved back to his previous position as the left guard, maintaining his starter status for all 13 games of the season. As the season concluded, Marquis made the monumental decision to enter the 2022 NFL draft, marking the next exciting chapter in his football journey.

The Arizona Cardinals selected Marquis in the seventh round (257th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, a moment signaling triumph and validation. His tenure with the Cardinals, however, was met with a minor setback when he was placed on injured reserve as of August 30, 2022. His journey didn’t stop there, though. Despite being waived by the Cardinals on August 30, 2023, Marquis took it all in stride and continued his journey, rejoining the team as part of their practice squad. His commitment and persistence paid off when he signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.

Come August 27, 2024, Marquis was waived once more and swiftly re-signed to the practice squad. Despite a release on September 17, 2024, Marquis remained unfazed, his resilience echoing his passion for the sport. His perseverance saw him join the Washington Commanders’ practice squad on October 1, 2024, where he currently serves as their diligent professional football guard, carving his name into the annals of American football history.