Bowling Green State University Athletics
For Markray, It's Been a Long Road
September 08, 2006 | Football
Sept. 8, 2006
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - It's been a long road for Derrick Markray.
From inner-city Detroit through academic problems, Markray has persevered.
Now, the fifth-year senior is in his second year as the starting right guard for Bowling Green and is on track to get his degree.
And at 6-foot-5 and 340 pounds with quick hands and feet and good strength, Markray has a chance to play in the National Football League.
"Growing up in the inner-city of Detroit, out of all my friends, only two of us went to college," Markray said. "The rest of my friends, they are just around the neighborhood. My best friend got killed last year.
"It's totally a blessing to see someone make it out of there. Had I not gotten a football scholarship, who knows what I would have been." Even with the scholarship, Markray almost didn't survive the academic pressures.
"Two years ago, I never thought I would have made it this far. I thought I would be back home in Detroit somewhere trying to find a job," he said.
The low point was in the second semester of his sophomore year when he was dropped from school because of his grades and he had to appeal to be re-admitted.
"I know you don't use the term `miracle' loosely, but this is as close to one as I've been around," said BG assistant head coach Greg Studrawa, who is also Markray's position coach. "He wasn't prepared to be a college student.
"Now, he passed 17 hours last semester of 300 and 400 level courses with a 2.5 grade-point-average and is 18 hours away from graduation. When he gets that degree, it's going to be one of the proudest things I've gone through."
Part of Markray's academic support came from Dr. Sidney Ribeau, BG's president.
"Dr. Ribeau really stepped up to help that kid because they are from the same hometown," BG head coach Gregg Brandon said. "He helped him out in his summer classes.
"When a college president does that with a kid, that's pretty impressive. He understands the kid's environment."
Being ineligible was the low point of Markray's college career.
"Sitting out the whole year ... It was tough," Markray said. "Watching the guys go down to Ohio State (in 2003) and the whole team got to go. I had to sit in my dorm room and watch the game."
After regaining his eligibility, Markray has worked his way into the starting lineup. Now, he toils to be ready for every play.
"I find myself making strides to be real good and then sometimes I have the habit of getting real lazy and not doing as good as I could," Markray said. "The biggest thing that coach `Stud' (Studrawa) has been talking to me about this year has been consistency."
If Markray is able to develop that consistency to play hard on every down, he has a chance to play in the NFL.
"Pro scouts come in ... They watch him on film and at times he's dominating. He's just physically throwing guys out of the bar, those types of things," Brandon said. "And, at times, he disappears because he gets tired and he can become a little bit mentally lazy.
"He has to make the decision on really how good he wants to be," Brandon added. "If he wants to develop that mental toughness to be an everyday guy, every down guy, the kid could play in the league (NFL) and have a great career."
Studrawa said Markray is as good as former Falcon Scott Mruczkowski, who was drafted by the San Diego Chargers and is in his second year with the team. There were scouts from both Cleveland and Jacksonville watching practice Thursday and evaluating Markray, Studrawa said.
"They were raving about how a big man can move like that and about how strong he is," Studrawa said.
"Gaining his confidence academically has helped his confidence playing football," Studrawa added. "It was a direct correlation. When he wasn't doing well on the football field, he wasn't doing well in the classroom."
Markray knows the decision on how far he goes in football is his own. And with everything he's already gone through, he's ready for the challenge.
"My future is literally in my hands as far as the next level and all that. It's all up to me," Markray said. "Coach `Stud' tells me all the time that I have the tools and I have the body and all that to make it to the next level, but it's all about mentally wanting to do it and am willing to do it.
"Right now, I'm trying to take those steps to be mentally ready to do it."
