Marquise Goodwin leaps out of Longhorns’ season opener
Texas sophomore Marquise Goodwin has a choice that very few collegiate sophomores have to make -- college football or track and field world championships?
Goodwin, a star track and field athlete and football player for the Longhorns, won the long jump at the U.S. track and field nationals on Saturday to earn a berth in the world championships. However, those championships begin in Daegu, South Korea, on Aug. 27-Sept. 4, making Goodwin a question mark for the football season opener against Rice on Sept. 3.
Goodwin jumped a personal-best jump of 27 feet, 4 inches to win.
"I'm just glad I have (the) opportunity to represent the USA," Goodwin told the San Antonio Express-News. "I will talk to them when the time comes and figure that all out, but I'm just blessed to represent my country."
The long jump finals in Korea are scheduled for the evening of Sept. 2.
While missing one game, especially against Rice, might seem insignificant, Goodwin is actually putting his starting spot in jeopardy. In order to be in top physical shape for the world championships, Goodwin will have to spend the bulk of the rest of the summer training with the US team and not with the Longhorn football team. He'll likely miss a good portion of fall camp, opening the door for another young receiver to take his spot.
Goodwin started seven games last year, caught 31 balls for 324 yards and a score.
He exited spring football as one of the top receivers in camp.
But you can't fault the young man for wanting to take his track and field talents to a bigger stage. He was nearly six inches better than the second place finisher and if he can have a similar showing at the world championships, his track and field career could become his ultimate focus.