Temple University Athletics
DE Marcus Green
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Marcus Green: Soft-spoken Leader
10.7.12 | Football
Gameday Feature Story
Gameday Feature Story
by Tim Jones, Sport & Recreation Management Master's '13
Owl senior defensive end Marcus Green comes from family of athletes. In fact, if it weren't for the prodding – more like forcing – to play football from his father in fifth grade, he might not be running around the field for the Temple defense making big hits on opponents.
“My dad forced me to play. He played football, and my older brother played, so he pretty much thought I was soft,” said Green. “At first, I hated it. After I realized I was pretty good at it, I thought I could get the hang of it.”
He's done more than simply get the hang of it. At 6-1, 240-lb., Green has been a consistent presence for the Owls along the defensive line, starting each game this fall. The soft-spoken leader leads the team in sacks.
“Marcus has done a good job, but we're always looking for more production,” said defensive coordinator Chuck Heater. “We're asking him to do a lot of things. We've got his hand down on some plays and standing up on others; sometimes that's a lot. We're evaluating that to ensure we're giving him the best opportunity to make plays, but he's done a good job.”
Green's family members have each had experiences in athletics as well. Marcus' father Tim, Sr., was a high school football player, while his mother Andrea ran track. In addition to mom and dad, Marcus' oldest brother Donel played baseball in high school and continued at Hampton University. The rivalry between Marcus and his other brother, Tim, Jr., who is a senior defensive end at Lincoln University (Pa.) in Chester County – is the most competitive in the family.
“He's more of the talker [in the family]. But he has more sacks than me and is actually an All-American, so his talk makes sense,” Green said.
Tim, Jr., currently leads the Division II Lincoln Lions with five sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Marcus hopes to put together a string of strong games to catch his brother, so he can reduce the badgering he takes during their frequent conversations.
Even though their relationship is competitive, he looks up to his older brothers and his father in terms of their athletic exploits.
“My brothers and my dad were huge football influences for me. As I said, my brother plays at Lincoln University and then I've got another older brother who was always into sports. He was really into baseball, and they gave me motivation to be in sports in general. I look up to both my older brothers a ton,” Green said.
Motivation has been key during Green's four years on the North Broad Street campus. Last fall Green played in all 13 games while also contributing on the punt and field goal defense units under first-year head coach Steve Addazio. His first two seasons as an Owl, Green played under Al Golden, playing in 10 games as a true freshman in 2009 and six games in 2010.
Off the field, the three-year letterman was cited on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
When his playing days at Temple are over, Green hopes to join the professional ranks and have his brothers look up to him while he achieves the ultimate goal of any college football player: an NFL career.
“Of course I would love to go to the NFL,” Green shared. “If not, I'm a finance major, so I'm looking for something to incorporate sports and finance.”
In addition to football, Green played baseball, basketball, and ran track at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in Scotch Plains, N.J. While Green enjoyed dabbling in other sports, he excelled on the football field and realized that he needed to focus his athletic efforts on the gridiron. He received scholarship offers from several other Division I programs, but chose Temple because of its strong business school, the coaching staff, and its proximity to home.
Green describes his experience so far at Temple as an incredible time in his life, and he's especially proud of being elected a team captain for this season.
“It was a great feeling, exhilarating. I know I'm not the most vocal player on the team, but I definitely do feel like I set an example for my other teammates to excel both on the field and in the classroom. It's been a true honor.”
Heater sees Marcus in a similar way.
“Marcus is a senior and really an outstanding individual. He leads through his work ethic and his approach to the game; he's very serious about what he does. We're asking him to do a lot of things, which isn't easy, and he's responded very well. We're very pleased with Marcus.”
With plenty of games left to play this season, the senior's most memorable experience to date occurred at the end of last season when the Temple Owls defeated the Wyoming Cowboys, 37-15, in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque.
“Just playing in that game and accomplishing that feat with my teammates was an awesome experience that I'll never forget,” Green recalled.
Aside from on-field successes with his teammates, Green enjoys spending time outside of practice and the classroom playing video games. But what's the main thing that he does away from the field and when he's not hitting the books?
“I watch film,” Green said.
Spoken like a true leader.
by Tim Jones, Sport & Recreation Management Master's '13
Owl senior defensive end Marcus Green comes from family of athletes. In fact, if it weren't for the prodding – more like forcing – to play football from his father in fifth grade, he might not be running around the field for the Temple defense making big hits on opponents.
“My dad forced me to play. He played football, and my older brother played, so he pretty much thought I was soft,” said Green. “At first, I hated it. After I realized I was pretty good at it, I thought I could get the hang of it.”
He's done more than simply get the hang of it. At 6-1, 240-lb., Green has been a consistent presence for the Owls along the defensive line, starting each game this fall. The soft-spoken leader leads the team in sacks.
“Marcus has done a good job, but we're always looking for more production,” said defensive coordinator Chuck Heater. “We're asking him to do a lot of things. We've got his hand down on some plays and standing up on others; sometimes that's a lot. We're evaluating that to ensure we're giving him the best opportunity to make plays, but he's done a good job.”
Green's family members have each had experiences in athletics as well. Marcus' father Tim, Sr., was a high school football player, while his mother Andrea ran track. In addition to mom and dad, Marcus' oldest brother Donel played baseball in high school and continued at Hampton University. The rivalry between Marcus and his other brother, Tim, Jr., who is a senior defensive end at Lincoln University (Pa.) in Chester County – is the most competitive in the family.
“He's more of the talker [in the family]. But he has more sacks than me and is actually an All-American, so his talk makes sense,” Green said.
Tim, Jr., currently leads the Division II Lincoln Lions with five sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Marcus hopes to put together a string of strong games to catch his brother, so he can reduce the badgering he takes during their frequent conversations.
Even though their relationship is competitive, he looks up to his older brothers and his father in terms of their athletic exploits.
“My brothers and my dad were huge football influences for me. As I said, my brother plays at Lincoln University and then I've got another older brother who was always into sports. He was really into baseball, and they gave me motivation to be in sports in general. I look up to both my older brothers a ton,” Green said.
Motivation has been key during Green's four years on the North Broad Street campus. Last fall Green played in all 13 games while also contributing on the punt and field goal defense units under first-year head coach Steve Addazio. His first two seasons as an Owl, Green played under Al Golden, playing in 10 games as a true freshman in 2009 and six games in 2010.
Off the field, the three-year letterman was cited on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
When his playing days at Temple are over, Green hopes to join the professional ranks and have his brothers look up to him while he achieves the ultimate goal of any college football player: an NFL career.
“Of course I would love to go to the NFL,” Green shared. “If not, I'm a finance major, so I'm looking for something to incorporate sports and finance.”
In addition to football, Green played baseball, basketball, and ran track at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in Scotch Plains, N.J. While Green enjoyed dabbling in other sports, he excelled on the football field and realized that he needed to focus his athletic efforts on the gridiron. He received scholarship offers from several other Division I programs, but chose Temple because of its strong business school, the coaching staff, and its proximity to home.
Green describes his experience so far at Temple as an incredible time in his life, and he's especially proud of being elected a team captain for this season.
“It was a great feeling, exhilarating. I know I'm not the most vocal player on the team, but I definitely do feel like I set an example for my other teammates to excel both on the field and in the classroom. It's been a true honor.”
Heater sees Marcus in a similar way.
“Marcus is a senior and really an outstanding individual. He leads through his work ethic and his approach to the game; he's very serious about what he does. We're asking him to do a lot of things, which isn't easy, and he's responded very well. We're very pleased with Marcus.”
With plenty of games left to play this season, the senior's most memorable experience to date occurred at the end of last season when the Temple Owls defeated the Wyoming Cowboys, 37-15, in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque.
“Just playing in that game and accomplishing that feat with my teammates was an awesome experience that I'll never forget,” Green recalled.
Aside from on-field successes with his teammates, Green enjoys spending time outside of practice and the classroom playing video games. But what's the main thing that he does away from the field and when he's not hitting the books?
“I watch film,” Green said.
Spoken like a true leader.
MBB Press Conference vs. Princeton (Adam Fisher)
Tuesday, December 23
MBB Press Conference vs.Princeton (Babatunde Durodola and Jordan Mason)
Tuesday, December 23
Temple Men's Basketball 2025-26 All Access | Game 12 at Davidson 12.18.2025
Sunday, December 21
Ep. 29: Last Episode of First Semester from David & Amelia
Wednesday, December 17
