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| Texans RB Woody Marks |
Competitiveness is one character trait that has always stood out in Houston Texans running back Woody Marks.
As a child, he hated to lose at anything, but when he did, he always accepted it with humility and as a learning experience.
“He learns that from being around older people,” said Dontavious Marks, Woody’s older brother, who was in attendance for the Woody Marks Foundation Charity Bowling Tournament.
“He was little when I was playing, and he was always around us. We went to the same high school, so he was at the practices, games, he was everywhere. He was always around. We used to bully him some, and then it got to the point where we couldn’t do that anymore, and he was bullying us, and that is when it got real.”
After playing at Mississippi State and transferring to the University of Southern California for his final season, the Texans also noticed the competitive “Bully” and drafted Marks in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
By most rookie standards, Marks’ 911 scrimmage yards as a running back and receiver would have been considered a success, especially for a player drafted in the fourth round and slated to back up former Texans running back Joe Mixon, who eventually became a starter.
Yet that was not good enough for Marks, who has vowed to enter his second season ready to improve on his rookie season, which he considered subpar by his standards.
“I’ve got a lot of growth to do in my second year,” Marks said exclusively to Big Sarge Media. “I would say my first year was a little mediocre to me. I’ve been working on a ton of things.”
Last season, Marks took the opportunity to learn everything he could from veteran running back Nick Chubb, who was with the team for only one season. This season, he will share carries with another running back who has a similar running style.
During the offseason, Houston traded with the Detroit Lions to acquire David Montgomery, and the off-the-field chemistry between the two has been great.
“We talked the first day,” said Marks after taking the first shot at the Houston Rockets game on March 19. “Great addition. Seeing him ball a lot and sharing the backfield with Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs. I think you always need two or three running backs to share the load.”
Montgomery was in attendance for Marks’ charity bowling tournament this past Sunday at Lucky Strike in Houston, and you could see the camaraderie already forming between the two as they came together for a greater cause.
That is who Marks has always been since he was a young kid growing up in Atlanta, so that is why it was so important to him not only for his teammates to show up but also for his family to be part of helping others.
“This means a lot because this is something that he has always wanted to do since he was a child,” said Tameka Marks about her son giving back to the community. “Playing in the NFL and giving back to the community is what he had planned because the community gave to him. For the people of Houston to support him like this, and he just got here, it just brings joy to my heart. They have really embraced him, and it is a dream come true.”