| Marquel Blackwell | |
| Current Title: | Running backs coach |
| Current Team: | South Carolina |
| Current Conference: | SEC |
| Birth Date: | 29 July 1979 |
| Birth Place: | St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | University of South Florida |
| Player Team1: | South Florida |
| Player Years1: | 1999–2002 |
| Player Team2: | New York Jets |
| Player Years2: | 2003 |
| Player Team3: | Tampa Bay Storm |
| Player Years3: | 2003 |
| Player Team4: | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Player Years4: | 2004 |
| Player Team5: | Montreal Alouettes |
| Player Years5: | 2005 |
| Player Team6: | Alabama Steeldogs |
| Player Years6: | 2006 |
| Player Positions: | Quarterback |
| Coach Years1: | 2006 |
| Coach Team1: | Tampa (FL) Freedom HS (OC) |
| Coach Years2: | 2007–2008 |
| Coach Team2: | Tampa (FL) Freedom HS |
| Coach Years3: | 2009–2011 |
| Coach Team3: | South Florida (QC) |
| Coach Years4: | 2012 |
| Coach Team4: | Western Kentucky (RB) |
| Coach Years5: | 2014 |
| Coach Team5: | St. Petersburg (FL) Lakewood HS (AHC/OC) |
| Coach Years6: | 2015 |
| Coach Team6: | Florida (QCS) |
| Coach Years7: | 2016–2017 |
| Coach Team7: | Toledo (RB) |
| Coach Years8: | 2018 |
| Coach Team8: | West Virginia (RB) |
| Coach Years9: | 2019 |
| Coach Team9: | Houston (co-OC/QB) |
| Coach Years10: | 2020–2021 |
| Coach Team10: | Houston (RB) |
| Coach Years11: | 2022 |
| Coach Team11: | Ole Miss (RB) |
| Coach Years12: | 2023 |
| Coach Team12: | Texas A&M (RB) |
| Coach Years13: | 2024–present |
| Coach Team13: | South Carolina (RB) |
| Admin Team1: | South Florida (DPD) |
| Admin Years1: | 2013 |
Marquel Blackwell (born July 29, 1979) is a former American football quarterback and the current running backs coach for the University of South Carolina.
After playing for Lakewood High School and Dixie Hollins High School in Pinellas County, Florida and leading Dixie to the 5A tate championship game his junior season, Blackwell was the quarterback at the University of South Florida for four seasons.[1] Blackwell became a starter three games into his redshirt freshman season and led South Florida to a 30–12 mark during the Bulls' move from Division I-AA to I-A in 2001. During his college career from 1999 to 2002, he threw for 9,108 yards and 57 touchdowns, and had 1,235 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. He set most of the school's individual passing records during his time as quarterback; as of 2009, he is also the Bulls' No. 6 career rusher and No. 3 in rushing touchdowns.[1] [2]
Blackwell entered the 2003 NFL draft but was not drafted. He signed with the New York Jets as a rookie free agent but only saw playing time in 1 preseason game in the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. Blackwell threw for two touchdowns and 111 yards in the first half. He was the Jets' No. 2 QB in week one of the regular season (The Jets released backup Jamie Martin so the club did not have to pay his entire season salary if he was not on the roster Week 1), only to be cut again after week 1 when Martin returned.[2]
Blackwell had a brief stint, but did not even appear, in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Tampa Bay Storm.
In 2004, Blackwell signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[3]
In 2005, Blackwell signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[4]
In 2006, Blackwell signed with the Alabama Steeldogs of the Arena Football 2 (af2), where former Dixie and USF teammate Glenn Davis served as assistant coach.[5]
Blackwell was inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
Following his playing career Blackwell spent two years as the head coach of Freedom High School's football team after one as the offensive coordinator. In 2009 became a program assistant at the University of South Florida where he spent three years.[6] In 2012 he was the running backs coach for Western Kentucky.
In 2016 and 2017 Blackwell worked as the running backs coach for Toledo.
On February 15, 2018, Blackwell was named the running backs coach at West Virginia University.[7]
Blackwell joined Dana Holgorsen at the University of Houston on January 11, 2019 as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.[8] Following the 2019 season, Blackwell was demoted to running backs coach after Houston was 78th in yards per game on offense in 2019. He remained as the running backs coach until after the 2021 season.
On January 13, 2022 it was announced that Blackwell was to become the new running backs coach at Ole Miss replacing Kevin Smith.