Leaving a Mark

Ask the UCLA secondary about Gabe Marks' final seconds at the Rose Bowl last season; try to get the Oregon defense to describe how Marks fit into the corners of the Autzen Stadium end zone; and let the opposition break down any of Marks' four scores this year – and they'll tell you there's something intangible about this guy.

Ask Marks, and the formula is simpler than it may seem.

"It's nothing crazy that drives me," Marks said, while possibly expecting the casual observer to expect a poignant memory or fiery flashback to fuel his touchdown train.

"I just want to score touchdowns," he said. "I want to catch passes, and I want to be the best."

Sitting on the edge of Rogers Practice Field, Marks waited and considered his emotional fuel – his own personal ethanol – a little more. In typical Gabe Marks form, he was as honest as a mirror.

"I know that I'm probably the first person in my city in a long time that has made it this far in recent memory," Marks, the Venice, Calif. native said. "I use that as motivation, to know that I'm making everybody back home proud and scoring touchdowns."

His home, back in the outskirts of Los Angeles, and his second home, Pullman, where he's spent the last five years of his young-adult life, are major influences. Places that shape the story behind the man that catches so many of the Cougars' jaw-dropping touchdowns. A man driven by a mentality that leaves winning the battle, or coming out ahead, as the only option.

"In our community – the Venice community – it's a really tight community," Marks said. "It's always been a competitive area, a competitive environment, and there have been a lot better athletes than me that didn't make it to this level. I had to learn how to compete and want it more than guys who were more athletic than me. I think that's where I developed that mentality at. And everyone knows what Venice is like at some times of the day. It's not always tourists. You've got to be able to stick up for yourself."

Marks admits sticking up for his beliefs and his thoughts is something that he deals with in Pullman; a very different place than his childhood home.

"I've always been around diverse groups of people in L.A. and places like that," Marks said, "and I've always been able to accept people from all walks of life."

"Pullman really will test your boundaries sometimes, in terms of it being a lot less diverse. That's always something that has been an everyday challenge for me. But, I just accept it as being able to socialize with all different types of life, and trying not to be so confrontational about things if someone disagrees with me. That's probably the biggest way that I've grown off the field at Washington State."

That growth has allowed Marks to appreciate the city he lives in. It's evidenced by a simple question. 'What other stadiums (besides Martin) are your favorite?' … After the slightest pause… his gut reaction.

"None. I only love Martin," he said.

Growing up where he has – big-city and small-town – has allowed him to open his mind and not only challenge himself, but also provide an avenue to challenge the ways others think.

A process that also has been influenced in large part by the who at each of his homes. With his loyalty to his family and community in California well documented, posing another question to the Cougars' outspoken leader led to a rather telling response.

'Who are your best friends on this team?'

Again, with genuine reasoning, Marks began to list each teammate he is close to. His roommate of three years, Parker Henry; longtime childhood friend Robert Lewis; then after listing out four, five, and six more guys; another pause. "Really I'm close with everyone on this team, especially the offense."

A closeness driven by environment.

"I like to make people feel like I'm best friends with everybody," Marks said. "I like to make people feel comfortable and like they can be themselves and things like that, because, you know, there's a lot of pressure out here to get things done and you just need to relax a little bit."

That relaxation is what he gives his teammates, and the headaches are reserved for the opposing defenses defenses. Just ask those Bruins, or Ducks, or defensive backs from the current 2016 campaign. But with Gabe Marks, those moments only tell a fraction of his story.

Gabe Marks Favorite Things

Favorite NFL Team: The L.A. Rams, now!

Other Sports You've Played: Basketball, Baseball, I played soccer for one year – I didn't like that too much.

Favorite Pullman Eats: Shout out, Heroes N Sports. They need to be in ALL CAPS. I love them.

Favorite Coach Leach Saying: "Think about polar bears. Don't think about everything else that is going on. Just think about polar bears."

If You Could Play Any Other Position: Quarterback. The General.

Favorite NFL Player: Jerry Rice is my boy, but right now Julian Edelman

Favorite Musician or Band: Nas. By far. I always listen to Nas before games.

Favorite Class at WSU: Oh! Philosophy of Religion with Professor Michael Myers. Shout out Mike Myers!

Best Road Trip Snack: Beef Jerky

Pregame Ritual: If I told you, it wouldn't be a ritual

Favorite WSU Uniform Combo: My all-time favorite has to be the all white. I like to be clean. I like to stay clean. What's cleaner than all white?

Funniest Guy on the Team: It has to be the group tandem of Robert Lewis, Gerard Wicks, and Paris Taylor. They are like The Beatles. They only come in threes; they only 'come together.'

Toughest WSU Player to Go Against in Practice: Darrien Molton. He is one of the best corners in the country. Hands down. No question.

Best Vacation Spot: Venice Beach, Calif.

Celebrity Crush: Rihanna

Washington State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Parker Henry

Robert Lewis

Gabe Marks

Darrien Molton

Paris Taylor

Gerard Wicks

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