2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jo'Quavious Marks

Last Updated: 1/31/2025

Career Stats

YR	Team	ATT	YDS	TDs	REC	YDS	TDS
20	Mississippi State	70	312	3	60	268	0
21	Mississippi State	106	416	6	83	502	3
22	Mississippi State	113	582	9	48	288	0
23	Mississippi State	121	573	4	23	167	2
24	USC	198	1133	9	47	321	0
	Career	608	3016	31	261	1546	5

Summary

After four productive seasons at Mississippi State, Ja’Quavious Marks felt the need to forgo the NFL Draft and transfer to USC in an effort to improve his draft stock. I would say he succeeded — Marks set a career high on the ground rushing for 1,133 yards, good for fourth in the Big Ten. He had nine scrimmage touchdowns, the third time he accomplished this feat in his career.

Marks has a good enough frame, standing 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds. Marks runs with great patience behind the line of scrimmage allowing pulling linemen to get set up and holes to open up. He aids in this effort with his understanding of leverage and how to attack it with violent movements. Often exploding small creases with an ability to squeak through them before exploding out the other side. He pairs this with a decisive style as well, hitting the hole at full speed allowing him to rip through tackles offsetting his lack of a physical presence. In the second level we see his quick feet and lateral jump cuts exploit over committing defenders allowing him to rip off chunk runs. Enhancing all of these traits is his vision, he has a knack for finding holes off script and finding gaps in the second and third levels of defenses. The biggest issue for Marks will be his lack of home run speed, but his acceleration and short area quickness does offset this.

When it comes to the passing game, Marks is one of the most experienced in the class catching at least one reception in each game of his career enroute to 261 career receptions. He also holds Mississippi State’s school record for receptions (214) and yards (1,225) from the running back position. He has shown plenty of versatility lining up all over the format while displaying receiver quality body control and hands when targeted. His route tree is extensive for a running back and could be expanded on at the NFL level. Marks is dominant in the screen game where his patience and quick feet allow him to exploit defenses easily. Like most running backs at the college level, he will need to improve his form in the blocking game, but he is willing to attempt and has some nice reps on tape.

Strengths

Patient runner
Bursty
Quick feet
Receiving skills

Weaknesses

Pass protection
Lacks top-end speed
Deceleration
Physicality

Honors and Awards

Second-Team All-Big Ten (2024)

Athletic Testing

40-yard dash: TBD
Vertical: TBD
Broad Jump: TBD
Three-cone: TBD
Shuttle: TBD
Bench: TBD

NFL Role Prediction

Third down/Change of pace

Scheme Fit

Gap/Interior Zone

Fantasy Outlook

When it comes to fantasy, Marks should be a prime target late in drafts. He is likely the best receiver in the class, and with the popularity of PRR and half-PPR leagues, these types of running backs have significant value. His rushing skills will be slightly underrated but will also be productive on the ground, similar to Bucky Irving or Jaylen Warren. This makes him one of the least landing spot-dependent players in this class.