ssMarcus L. Dupree was born on May 22, 1964 in Philadelphia, Mississippi. He lived with his mom and his little brother. Marcus Dupree went to Philadelphia High School in Mississippi where he played for the Philadelphia Tornadoes football team from 1978 to 1981.
As a freshman in 1978, he stood at a massive 6’3 230 pounds and ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, scored five touchdowns as a wide receiver and seven more as a kickoff and punt returner, including a 75-yard kickoff return touchdown on his first play in high school.
As a sophomore in 1979, he was switched to running back and rushed for 1,850 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. He also played on Philadelphia High's basketball team, which finished the year with a 33-4 record and reached the semifinals of the Mississippi state basketball tournament, and played first base and catcher for the baseball team, hitting for a .481 average
As a junior in 1980, Marcus ran for over 2500 yards and 34 touchdowns, 9 of witch were by kick returns.
As a senior in 1981, he rushed for 3000 yards and 36 touchdowns. He ended his high school career with 7,355 rushing yards 81 touchdowns and 8.1 yards per carry average.
Marcus was heavily recruited by the major college football programs, and during the final month of the recruiting period, his high school coach, Joe Wood, answered more than 100 phone calls a day from colleges. Oklahoma assistant coach Luicois selmon spent six weeks in the Downtown Motor Inn in Philadelphia, and head coach Barry Switzer sent former Oklahoma Sooner and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims to the town by private plane to appeal to Dupree. On February 12, 1982, Marcus Dupree committed to the university of Oklahoma.
After the first three games of the season, Dupree had just twelve carries for 20 yards and the Sooners' record was 1-2. For the fourth game Switzer abandoned his favored Wishbone offense and made Dupree the tailback in the I formation to take advantage of his skills. Dupree scored his first...