APU Another Stop in Marquardt’s Journey

APU Left Tackle Luke Marquardt

By Joe Torosian

(Azusa)- To track the history of Azusa Pacific University left tackle Luke Marquardt one doesn’t a need a birth certificate and physical description as much they need Map Quest and a GPS tracking system.

Fully tracing his athletic career in print might require twists akin to Homer’s “Odyssey” and a word count running as long as Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”.

The Physical Education major has used changes in location (Colorado to Texas to Washington to California) as well as movement from sport to sport (football to basketball to football) and from position to position (quarterback, basketball center, tight end, offensive tackle) to reach a place where he is now considered a prospect for the 2013 NFL Draft.

“Luke handles transition really well,” said APU Offensive Coordinator Rudy Carlton. “He’s a real selfless guy.”

“It for sure has strengthened me,” says Marquardt about his perpetual motion in and out of athletics. “What has developed me is that my parents have taken me on mission trips since I was young to the Dominican (Republic) almost every year. And in that context, overseas, you have to be open minded to the culture. To go with the flow. I trust God and where he is taking me. I know there are bigger and better plans so I keep working hard.”

Marquardt played one year of quarterback in Texas as a freshman and didn’t step on a football field again until he arrived at APU. In high school, basketball was his first love but a knee injury derailed his prep career. He looked at college as an opportunity to get back on track.

“I wanted to go to a christian university out of high school, and I wanted to play basketball,” said Marquardt who set up a meeting with the school’s basketball staff but a miscommunication ended that plan. “I was only here for a day so my Mom said I should probably talk to the football coach. I wasn’t sure, I hadn’t played football since the ninth grade but she said try it, it doesn’t hurt.”

He met with head football coach Victor Santa Cruz who said he moved well for a big man and would make a great tight end.

“Obviously when you see his frame you are completely impressed,” said Carlton. “I envisioned him becoming a great tight end.”

After redshirting his freshman year, he broke his foot in the second game of the 2009 season.

“We were so thin on the offensive line I told the coaches if you want me to play offensive line I’ll play it for you.”

“He said ‘I’ll do anything I can to help the team,’” said Carlton.

What at first seemed like a temporary gig, has become another transition that Marquardt has embraced. Arriving on campus in 2008 he was 6’10” 230 pounds, he is now 6’10”, 320 pounds and a candidate for the NFL.

“I’ve never seen someone as big as him get such a low pad level,” said Carlton. “It’s why he’s such a great run blocker.”

“He has unbelievable aggression,” says Hall of Famer Jackie Slater, who played 20 years in the NFL for the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and is the Cougars current offensive line coach. “He is technically sound and growing better all the time. He’s going to play a lot of football. One of the reasons is because of the way he uses his ability. It’s like a mandate, he’s a very detail oriented person using everything the Lord has given him.”

Again, Marquardt’s history when faced with change and adversity serves him well in the trenches.

“He has the perfect demeanor of an offensive lineman,” says Slater. “Emotionally he doesn’t get too high or get too low. He has a mental dexterity that’s been the benchmark for his success in overcoming adversity. He loves to hit and he loves to compete.”

When asked about the chances of a D-2 player getting a serious look by the NFL Slater broke it down further.

“Luke has a natural athleticism. Offensive linemen with his height often struggle against explosive defensive ends who play with great leverage. He’s worked on this with his arm range and strength to negate pass rushers. The NFL is drafting bigger offensive linemen now to wall out guys. We have a counter run game and pull our backside tackle, he pulls and makes adjustments and is consistent.”

“Basketball definitely helped with my foot work,” says Marquardt. “I never worked so hard in my life. Big learning curve where you are in on every play, studying film.”

Slater pointed out that the initial focus will be on Marquardt’s competition, who he is playing against. At the D-1 level people will assume a guy is a very good player, but at this level he says scouts have to look at the tape.

“What you are looking for his consistent dominance, he doesn’t get beat, he doesn’t get pushed around,” says Slater.

“Coach Slater totally flipped my views of the offensive line around, he’s taught me everything,” says Marquardt. “The techniques we’ve gone over have made me a hundred percent better. Just learning that insight with him has been amazing.”

While Marquardt aspires for an NFL career he remains grounded in the consistent force of his life.

“Luke knows the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior,” says Slater. “He’s not afraid to pray in the presence of his teammates and tries to live that in the way he plays the game of football.”

“You are a hard man, Odysseus. Your force is greater, your limbs never wear out. You must be made all of iron…” — The Odyssey

“The only reason I’m here and the only reason I can play at this high level is because of God,” says Marquardt. “It’s everything I live with everyday and I do it for the glory of him.”

 

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