Once a chubby high school senior, Marquel Combs now starting at defensive end for Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Marquel Combs was once a chubby high school senior who had never really played football. Now, he is the starting defensive end at Kansas.

Combs began playing football at the urging of his uncle, who not-so-politely informed him that he was getting chunky while sitting around on the couch. It turned out that Combs was a natural, and he quickly learned that the game could be an avenue for success.

After stints at a prep school and a Kansas junior college, Combs became a standout at Pierce College in California. Many scouting bureaus called him the best JUCO player in the country before he committed to Kansas last winter.

Now, he will try to help the Jayhawks build on the lone win they had last season.