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• Marquis Cooper played at the linebacker position for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League.

  Cooper was lost at sea in March of 2009 along with Corey Smith of the Detroit Lions and former South Florida Bulls football player Will Bleakley. Nick Schuyler, who was also boating with the men, was the only survivor. An investigation revealed the boat, which belonged to Cooper, was improperly anchored, causing it to capsize.ESPN.com: Report: Boat Not Properly Anchored

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: March 11, 1982
  2. Birthplace: Mesa, Arizona
  3. Height: 6'3"
  4. Weight: 213 lbs
  5. Linebacker for Oakland Raiders
  6. College: University of Washington
  7. Drafted in the third round, 79th overall, in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  8. Married to Rebekah Cooper
  9. Reported missing on March 1, 2009, after he did not return from a fishing trip
  10. Coast Guard search abandoned on March 3, 2009
  11. Reportedly gave up after a few hours, took off life jacket and drifted off to seaFOXNews.com: Florida Boat Accident Survivor: 2 NFL Players Gave Up Hope

• Boating Tragedy

  On March 1, 2009, Cooper, Smith, Bleakley and Schuyler were reported missing after they did not return from a fishing trip in Florida. The Coast Guard found the boat, registered to Cooper, on the morning of March 2, 2009, with one survivor, Schuyler.WWSB (Florida): Overturned boat has been spotted in Gulf of Mexico The Coast Guard called off the search at 6:30 p.m. on March 3, 2009 because of the diminished chance that the men would still be alive.ESPN: Search for missing boaters nears end (March 3, 2009) Schyler later told authorities that both NFL players had removed their life jackets and drifted off to see after hours of clinging to the boat through frigid waves.FOXNews.com: Florida Boat Accident Survivor: 2 NFL Players Gave Up Hope

• College Football Career

  Prior to playing in the NFL, Cooper played college football with the Washington Huskies. He recorded 230 tackles, seven sacks, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, one blocked punt and two touchdowns during his college career. Cooper received All-Pac-10 honors and was selected as the players' Defensive MVP and made the Super Sleeper Team. After college, Cooper was selected 79th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Official Site of the Pittsburgh Steelers: Marquis Cooper

• NFL Career

  Cooper made his professional debut with the Buccaneers in 2004, playing in 14 games and recording nine tackles. He doubled his tackle total to 18 the following year. Cooper signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006, playing a single game with the team before he was waived and picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Just two games later he was waived again, and this time was picked up by the Seattle Seahawks. Cooper spent the 2007 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Steelers before becoming a free agent in 2008. He signed with the Oakland Raiders in 2008 and joined the team for eight games, recording five tackles.NFL.com: Marquis Cooper

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  Oakland Raiders | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Pittsburgh Steelers | Minnesota Vikings | Seattle Seahawks | Jacksonville Jaguars | National Football League | Corey Smith | Willie Parker | Troy Polamalu | Hines Ward | Casey Hampton | Ben Roethlisberger | Heath Miller | James Farrior | Alan Faneca | Jeff Reed | Charlie Batch | Max Starks | Najeh Davenport | Santonio Holmes | Ike Taylor | Clark Haggans | Brian St. Pierre | Bryant McFadden | Aaron Smith | Travis Kirschke | Boynton Beach Boat Accident

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