Canyons Alum Marquise “Hollywood” Brown Set to Play in Super Bowl LIX
By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
NEW ORLEANS — Former College of the Canyons standout and current Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown is set to become the next Cougar alum to play in the big game when he takes the field at Caesars Superdome for Super Bowl LIX on Sunday.
Brown attended COC in 2016 before earning a full scholarship and playing two seasons at Oklahoma University, where he picked up the 'Hollywood' moniker from Fox college football announcer Gus Johnson.
The star wide receiver out of Hollywood, Florida made the most of his freshman season at COC, highlighted by 12 total touchdowns (10 receiving, one kick return and one punt return) and 1,341 all-purpose yards in 10 games played. He finished the year with a team-high 50 receptions for 754 receiving yards, good for an average of 15.1 yards per catch. Brown also recorded 402 kick return yards for an average of 30.9 yards per return, and 182 punt return yards with an average of 20.2 yards per return.
"Marquise is an amazingly talented young man and his time at College of the Canyons was very special," COC head coach Ted Iacenda recently remembered.
At Oklahoma, Brown hauled in 17 touchdowns and amassed 2,413 receiving yards while catching passes from Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray before declaring for the NFL Draft.
The following spring, Brown was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with 25th pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft held in Nashville, TN.
Brown, who had starred at Cougar Stadium just three seasons prior, was joined in Nashville by Iacenda, who was invited to attend the draft ceremonies as a guest to the wide receiver that wasn't widely recruited out of high school before turning heads at Canyons.
"Our entire program is thrilled to be able watch him continue his journey at the next level," said Iacenda on draft night "and I have a feeling the best is yet to come."
Back in Santa Clarita, the COC football program hosted a viewing party for the team's roster of players. When Brown's name was called the room erupted in cheers and celebration.
"I mean, three years ago, I had no food, I had no offers, I had nothing," Brown was quoted as saying by BaltimoreRavens.com staff writer Clifton Brown. "I was out there working at Six Flags working my tail off just to pay for my rent and for school. So, that moment just was surreal. People were always telling me what I can't do, so for me to get drafted in the first round, it just means a lot to me."
Brown went to play three seasons with the Ravens. In 2022, his final campaign in Baltimore, Brown posted season totals of 91 receptions for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns.
That offseason, Brown requested a trade and was later sent to the Arizona Cardinals in draft day trade that reunited him with a familiar quarterback in Murray.
Following two seasons in Arizona, last spring Brown signed a free agent contract with the two-time defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Injury forced Brown to miss all but two regular season games, however, he returned in time for the Chiefs' playoff run and contributed with three catches for 35 yards in the team's 32-29 victory over Buffalo in the AFC Championship game.
Now he's Super Bowl bound, in New Orleans with his teammates preparing for Sunday's big game.
"It's not at all surprising that Marquise is excelling at the highest levels," Iacenda said. "His passion, work ethic and dedication to his craft are rare in this world and will continue to push him to greater heights.
"I'm truly in awe watching him accomplish all of the things that he dreamed of when he was a student-athlete here at College of the Canyons," Iacenda added.
Cougars in the Super Bowl
On Sunday, Feb. 9, Brown will become the fourth former Cougar to compete in the Super Bowl, and the sixth to be associated with the big game.
NFL running back J.J. Arrington (COC 2002-2003) became the first Cougar to play in the Super Bowl when the Arizona Cardinals took the field vs. Pittsburgh Steelers for Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, 2009. Arrington recorded two receptions for 35 yards in the game and served as the team's primary kick returner.
On Feb. 5, 2012, Jason Pierre-Paul (COC 2007) hoisted the Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Super Bowl XLVI Champion New York Giants team that defeated the New England Patriots 21-17. Nine years later, 'JPP' suited up for Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, 2022, this time as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and won his second championship ring.
Defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga (COC 1999-2000) started for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII played on Feb. 3, 2013, vs. the Baltimore Ravens. Sopoaga recorded four tackles (three solo, one assist) in the losing effort.
NFL cornerback Justin Tryon (COC 2004-2005), a member of the Cougars' 2004 National Championship team, appeared in three games for the New York Giants during the 2011 regular season before going on season-ending injured reserve. However, Tryon still received a championship ring as a member of Super Bowl XLVI Champions.
Former Canyons offensive lineman Caylin Hauptman (COC 2009) earned a Super Bowl championship ring as a member of the Seattle Seahawks team (practice squad) that defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2, 2014. The following year, Hauptman picked up a Super Bowl XLIX championship ring as a member of the New England Patriots team (practice squad) that defeated Seattle on Feb. 1, 2015.
Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.