Blizzard WR Marquise Irvin exhibits the power of perseverance

By Mara Allen

Contributing Writer

Blizzard WR Marquise Irvin exhibits the power of perseverance

By Mara Allen

Contributing Writer

The old saying “start things off on the right foot” was not the case for Green Bay Blizzard wide receiver Marquise Irvin. However, his ability to persevere has led to him establishing himself as one of the top receivers in the Indoor Football League (IFL).

Irvin grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. A big baseball and basketball kid, he got into football because of his father. “One day, he took me into the backyard and threw me a couple passes,” Irvin said. “He saw how easy it was for me to catch the ball, so he said, ‘Yeah, you’re going to try out for football.’ So that year, I went and tried out, and ever since then I’ve been playing.”

Irvin was a star athlete at Madison County High School, excelling in football, basketball and track, and racking up numerous accolades, awards and state championships. He chose to attend Division I Mercer University in Macon, Georgia to play collegiate football. Irvin continued his dominance with the Bears, compiling 175 catches for 2,325 yards and 18 touchdowns in his 44 career starts, en route to earning multiple All-Conference awards.

In 2021, he signed his first professional contract with the Tucson Sugar Skulls, a fellow member of the IFL. Unfortunately, a torn achilles cut his season short. “I didn’t really get to showcase my talent and help my team win as much as I wanted to,” Irvin said of his time in Tucson.

Irvin missed all of the 2022 season, rehabbing from the achilles tear. Fast forward to the beginning of 2023, Irvin felt he was finally ready to play again. “Right before training camp started, I felt really good, and was trying to find [a place] where I was going to play again,” he explained. “I knew Coach Roberson before I signed with Tucson. I was trying to keep in contact with him, but it just didn’t happen the way we wanted it to [in 2021].” Roberson called Irvin right before the Blizzard’s 2023 training camp started, and it finally worked out. “I was supposed to be [in Green Bay] on Tuesday and I signed on a Saturday. So I had to find a flight and everything,” Irvin said.

Irvin had a successful training camp with the Blizzard, garnering a lot of excitement for the upcoming season. “Seeing what Quise was able to do in camp this year and how he consistently was getting better each day, I knew he was going to be something special for us,” Blizzard Offensive Coordinator Matt Behrendt said.

Irvin’s opportunity to play in a game for the first time in almost two years came on March 19th in the Blizzard’s 2023 season opener. It was an abysmal performance for Green Bay, losing 76-30 to the Frisco Fighters. Irvin’s individual performance wasn’t any better, with multiple drops and deflections that turned into interceptions for Frisco. Reflecting back, Irvin said it was “one of the worst games of my life. I think I was too much in my head and wanted to prove myself coming off of the injury,” he said. “I was trying to do too much.”

Following that game, Irvin knew he needed a mental reset. “I came in the next day, looked at the film, looked at myself in the mirror and said I was either going to continue to have bad games or have good games… I just had to relax, regroup and have been on a roll ever since.”

On a roll might be an understatement. Irvin currently has the third most receiving yards in the IFL this season and is tied for the sixth most receiving touchdowns.

Behrendt never lost confidence in his wide receiver. “There was no doubt in my mind he was going to bounce back after week one,” he said. “For a lot of young guys it’s hard to come back after games like that, but doing what he’s been doing just proves the type of character he has. He just continues to work on his game and does everything the team asks of him. That’s definitely why he’s one of the top dogs in this league.”

Irvin echoed Behrendt’s sentiments, attributing his success to his “dedication, poise and hard-work ethic.”

Now, more than two-thirds of the way through the regular season, the Blizzard find themselves fighting for a playoff spot. Irvin’s role in helping the team reach the postseason for the first time since 2019 will be crucial. “Quise is a vital piece of the offense,” Behrendt said. “He’s a natural leader out there and how he elevates his teammates’ play proves that. He’s a guy our QBs can rely on and is why you see him show up big in critical situations.”

Off the field, Irvin is a frequent visitor at local schools and area events. He said his favorite part about Green Bay is the community. “Everyone is together all the time. When we go to visit the schools for the kids and visit the community, I feel like everyone is always happy to see us and that brings joy to me and puts a smile on my face,” he said. “For me to be able to put a smile on someone’s face every day around this community is a plus.”

When asked about the weather, he described Green Bay as the “coldest place I’ve ever been.” With a laugh, he continued, saying, “I never thought I would be walking in inches of snow in the morning. It’s been an experience, but every experience is a good experience. So I enjoy it.”

After he’s done playing football – whenever that may be – Irvin isn’t quite sure of his plans. “I do want to be involved with sports. Maybe in coaching or being a trainer,” he said.

Surely, wherever life takes him, Irvin’s perseverance will lead him to success.

The Blizzard are in action for their last home game of the season on Friday, June 9th. Kickoff at the Resch Center is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Irvin grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. A big baseball and basketball kid, he got into football because of his father. “One day, he took me into the backyard and threw me a couple passes,” Irvin said. “He saw how easy it was for me to catch the ball, so he said, ‘Yeah, you’re going to try out for football.’ So that year, I went and tried out, and ever since then I’ve been playing.”

Irvin was a star athlete at Madison County High School, excelling in football, basketball and track, and racking up numerous accolades, awards and state championships. He chose to attend Division I Mercer University in Macon, Georgia to play collegiate football. Irvin continued his dominance with the Bears, compiling 175 catches for 2,325 yards and 18 touchdowns in his 44 career starts, en route to earning multiple All-Conference awards.

In 2021, he signed his first professional contract with the Tucson Sugar Skulls, a fellow member of the IFL. Unfortunately, a torn achilles cut his season short. “I didn’t really get to showcase my talent and help my team win as much as I wanted to,” Irvin said of his time in Tucson.

Irvin missed all of the 2022 season, rehabbing from the achilles tear. Fast forward to the beginning of 2023, Irvin felt he was finally ready to play again. “Right before training camp started, I felt really good, and was trying to find [a place] where I was going to play again,” he explained. “I knew Coach Roberson before I signed with Tucson. I was trying to keep in contact with him, but it just didn’t happen the way we wanted it to [in 2021].” Roberson called Irvin right before the Blizzard’s 2023 training camp started, and it finally worked out. “I was supposed to be [in Green Bay] on Tuesday and I signed on a Saturday. So I had to find a flight and everything,” Irvin said.

Irvin had a successful training camp with the Blizzard, garnering a lot of excitement for the upcoming season. “Seeing what Quise was able to do in camp this year and how he consistently was getting better each day, I knew he was going to be something special for us,” Blizzard Offensive Coordinator Matt Behrendt said.

Irvin’s opportunity to play in a game for the first time in almost two years came on March 19th in the Blizzard’s 2023 season opener. It was an abysmal performance for Green Bay, losing 76-30 to the Frisco Fighters. Irvin’s individual performance wasn’t any better, with multiple drops and deflections that turned into interceptions for Frisco. Reflecting back, Irvin said it was “one of the worst games of my life. I think I was too much in my head and wanted to prove myself coming off of the injury,” he said. “I was trying to do too much.”

Following that game, Irvin knew he needed a mental reset. “I came in the next day, looked at the film, looked at myself in the mirror and said I was either going to continue to have bad games or have good games… I just had to relax, regroup and have been on a roll ever since.”

On a roll might be an understatement. Irvin currently has the third most receiving yards in the IFL this season and is tied for the sixth most receiving touchdowns.

Behrendt never lost confidence in his wide receiver. “There was no doubt in my mind he was going to bounce back after week one,” he said. “For a lot of young guys it’s hard to come back after games like that, but doing what he’s been doing just proves the type of character he has. He just continues to work on his game and does everything the team asks of him. That’s definitely why he’s one of the top dogs in this league.”

Irvin echoed Behrendt’s sentiments, attributing his success to his “dedication, poise and hard-work ethic.”

Now, more than two-thirds of the way through the regular season, the Blizzard find themselves fighting for a playoff spot. Irvin’s role in helping the team reach the postseason for the first time since 2019 will be crucial. “Quise is a vital piece of the offense,” Behrendt said. “He’s a natural leader out there and how he elevates his teammates’ play proves that. He’s a guy our QBs can rely on and is why you see him show up big in critical situations.”

Off the field, Irvin is a frequent visitor at local schools and area events. He said his favorite part about Green Bay is the community. “Everyone is together all the time. When we go to visit the schools for the kids and visit the community, I feel like everyone is always happy to see us and that brings joy to me and puts a smile on my face,” he said. “For me to be able to put a smile on someone’s face every day around this community is a plus.”

When asked about the weather, he described Green Bay as the “coldest place I’ve ever been.” With a laugh, he continued, saying, “I never thought I would be walking in inches of snow in the morning. It’s been an experience, but every experience is a good experience. So I enjoy it.”

After he’s done playing football – whenever that may be – Irvin isn’t quite sure of his plans. “I do want to be involved with sports. Maybe in coaching or being a trainer,” he said.

Surely, wherever life takes him, Irvin’s perseverance will lead him to success.

The Blizzard are in action for their last home game of the season on Friday, June 9th. Kickoff at the Resch Center is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.