Former TU Football Player Rehabbing For NFL

By Kyle Dierking, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- His legs are moving and the expression is sometimes grimacing. It's back to square one for Brennan Marion.

"It's not getting better if it's not hurting," Marion said. "We're just working hard in here."

Remembering how he ended up in rehab is probably as painful as the torn ACL he suffered on Tulsa's final offensive play of the Conference USA Championship game.

"The ball was supposed to come to me on that play," Marion said. "When I went to cut, Dave (Johnson) had already thrown the ball. That's why the interception occurred."

That sailing pass said so long to a league title and a Liberty Bowl bid. It also turned out to be Marion's final snap as a college football player.

"I was really upset about losing the game - I didn't know the severity of my injury," Marion said. "Then I went back and Dr. Boone told me I tore my ACL. So not only was I upset about losing the game, but I had to deal with the knee injury as well."

More than two months later, Marion's made major progress. He's rehabbing his right knee four hours a day, five days a week and trying to improve his stock for the NFL Draft.

"I feel like sometimes my knee hurt me, but I don't feel like it's going to keep my out of the league," Marion said. "I have tons of drive and a hard work ethic. I can bounce back from this."

He's comeback from much worse. While attending junior college in California, Marion was homeless for a time - sleeping in his team's locker room and press box. Now, he's a few months away from playing pro football.

"I'm just trying to work hard and not let this injury set me back," Marion said. "I don't want to be like one of those guys who gets really close and doesn't finish. I'm going to win the race."

Marion's taking the steps to get there.

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