Hunger once obstacle for two prospects
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Marquise Brown knows too well the challenge of stretching $20 over a month to feed himself, with help from discounted meals at work and food from his junior college coach. Josh Jacobs had days when he ate only if he stole something.
Brown put on about 10 pounds his first week at Oklahoma. Jacobs gained about 30 at Alabama, helping turn him into a Southeastern Conference running back.
It’s why the two likely first-round NFL draft picks happily helped volunteers fill 8,000 backpacks for hungry children Wednesday as part of a league initiative, Huddle Against Hunger. Both Brown and Jacobs know what the cans of soup, the cookies and chips mean to someone with an empty belly.
“Especially being from my background and doing this type of lifestyle that I had and not knowing if I was going to eat certain days, it’s definitely dope just to be able to give back,” Jacobs said.
Brown could have used one of those backpacks himself at one point in the past three years. “I had no food. I had nothing,” he said. “So just doing this I know the impact it has on someone’s life.”
Growing up as the middle of five children with only his father around in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jacobs slept at times in cars and motels. “There’s been a lot of days I had to steal to eat,” Jacobs said. ”
Brown was barely 140 pounds when he arrived at College of the Canyons in California needing to work on his grades and his slender build. Junior college had to be paid for, and the native of Hollywood, Florida, also needed a place to live.
“So I had to get a job at Six Flags,” he said. “That was really to cover my rent. I had rent, and I had school to pay for. So that left me with about $20 for food.”
Brown stretched that $20 by stocking up on ramen noodles, cereal and frozen food at Family Dollar. His junior college coach also helped.
“My head coach, he brought cereal in for me, different type of foods just so I could have a meal,” said Brown.
Brown earned his way to Oklahoma, where he didn’t have to worry about food in 2017 and 2018. Now listed at 166 pounds, he is still light enough that some question whether the 5-foot-9 receiver can survive an NFL season. His answer? Just wait.
The backpacks will be delivered Friday as the NFL kicked off its community programs celebrating its 100th season. The Tennessee Titans also donated $50,000 each Wednesday to Second Harvest and the Bridge Ministry.
Hearing how many deal with hunger reinforced Jacobs’ desire to help feed people once he’s in the NFL.
“Everything that we experienced growing up and to be able to be on this stage … where I can take care of them for the rest of my life and change the culture of my family, change the narrative, it’s definitely huge for me,” he said.