PRO CAREER – The 14th overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft after New Orleans packaged their original first (27th overall) and fifth round (147th overall) and 2018 first round choice to increase impact at end, Davenport has posted 10.5 sacks and five forced fumbles his first two seasons, despite missing ten contests due to injuries. Davenport earned the starting not at right end in 2019, opening the first 13 regular season contests and posting 31 tackles, (15 solo), six sacks, ranked second on the team and a club-best four forced fumbles.
TRANSACTIONS –Placed on Injured Reserve, 12/11/19; Signed to a four-year contract, 5/10/18; Selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
HONORS – 2018: PFWA All-Rookie.
2018 – Started the first 13 games of the season and finished with 31 tackles (15 solo), six sacks and four forced fumbles…Made his first career start in opener vs. Houston, Sept. 9 and recorded two solo tackles…Finished with three tackles (two solo) and a sack at L.A. Rams, Sept. 15…Posted career-high seven tackles (two solo) at Seattle, Sept. 15…Finished with one assisted tackle vs. Dallas, Sept. 29, as Cowboys managed only 45 rushing yards on 20 carries (2.5 avg.)…Tied career-high for sacks (two), and added two solo tackles and a forced fumble vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 6…At Chicago, Oct. 20, finished with an assisted tackle, powering a run defense that surrendered only 17 yards, the fifth-lowest total in franchise history and did not give up a rushing first down for only the fourth time in club record books…In come-from-behind fourth quarter win vs. Carolina, Nov. 24, took down Panthers QB Kyle Allen with 2:10 left to play and added three tackles…For a defense that tied a franchise-record with nine sacks on Thanksgiving night at Atlanta, posted two takedowns for the third time, set a career-best with three forced fumbles and added four solo stops. 2018 – Appeared in 13 regular season games, missing the three with a toe injury, posting 22 tackles (12 solo), 4.5 sacks for 32 yards lost, two passes defensed and a forced fumble. Tied for third on New Orleans in sacks…Recorded one solo tackle and his first career takedown at Atlanta, Sept. 23…Had three tackles (two solo), a sack, pass defensed and a forced fumble vs. Washington, Oct. 8…Had career-high two sacks vs. Minnesota, Oct. 28…After missing the next three games with the toe injury, returned to action on Thanksgiving vs. Atlanta, Nov. 22 and posted an assisted tackle…Posted a career-high four tackles (two solo) at Tampa Bay, Dec. 9…Posted two tackles (one solo) at Carolina, Dec. 17…Had a split sack and three tackles (one solo), in season finale vs. Carolina, Dec. 30…Appeared in both postseason contests…In the Divisional Playoff Game vs. Philadelphia, 1/13/19, played on defense and had a solo tackle…In NFC Championship Game vs. L.A. Rams, 1/20/19, had three tackles (two solo).
COLLEGE CAREER – During his four collegiate seasons at Texas-San Antonio, Davenport notched career totals of 186 tackles (97 solo), 22 sacks, 38 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one returned for a touchdown and eight passes defensed, finishing his career as the school's all-time leader for stops for loss, takedowns and quarterback hurries (21)…Tabbed 2017 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Conference selection as senior…Member of the Chuck Bednarik Award and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists…Posted 55 tackles (30 solo) and set school records with 17.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, eight QB hurries, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown…Posted at least one tackle for loss in eight different contests…In 2016, second-team All-Conference USA selection played in all 13 games (12 starts) and led the squad's defensive linemen with 68 tackles (31 solo), including ten for loss, a team-leading marks of 6.5 sacks and a program-record eight quarterback hurries…Finished season strong by posting 38 stops, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in the last six outings…In 2015, earned honorable mention All-Conference USA honors…Started 11 contests and recorded 49 tackles (30 solo) and ranked second on team with 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks…Also racked up four QB hurries, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles...In 2014, saw action in the first 11 games and registered 14 tackles and three sacks…Graduated with a degree in multidisciplinary studies.
PERSONAL – First-team All-District 27-5A performer at John Paul Stevens (San Antonio, Texas) HS, where he recorded 73 tackles, including ten stops for loss, six sacks and six passes defensed as a senior…Earned second-team All-District as a junior after racking up 42 stops…Also an area qualifier in the 1,600m relay and shot put in track and field along with playing for the basketball team…Davenport has multiple family members from New Orleans including father, Ron and late grandfather Dr. Artis Davenport II, a member of the Allstate Sugar Bowl's Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame for a legendary career as head coach of Southern University of New Orleans' track and field team…Dr. Davenport was a member of the inaugural SUNO Athletic Hall of Fame class, where his men's outdoor teams won NCAA Division III national championships three times, as well as NAIA Division I women's indoor and outdoor championships in 1995 and 1997…Dr. Davenport also coached at Dillard and Alcorn State and served in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer…Marcus' father served in the Air Force…In 2019, participated in "#DoRight4LA Day with the New Orleans Saints and Dudley DeBosier" volunteering with teammates to completion renovations to the exterior of a house in New Orleans…Played in 2019 Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournament…Marcus James Davenport was born on September 4, 1996 in San Antonio, Texas.
