For Marquis Gillis, “ball” was just the beginning

(Photo: Aiden Longbrake/WCSN)

TEMPE – When it comes to a baby’s first words, parents will often compete over whether their child will say “mama” or “dada” first. For Arizona State fifth-year running back Marquis Gillis, there was a third option: “ball.”

Ever since he was a baby, Gillis was destined for the gridiron.

“At our house there was a football, a basketball, a soccer ball, a baseball, always a ball, ball, ball,” Sabrina Gillis, his mother, said.

The type of ball didn’t matter to Gillis; he just wanted to play. From a young age, he was seen tearing up the grass in his Milford, Delaware backyard.

With a population of just under 15,000, the beach town sits around 70 miles south of Philadelphia and 75 miles southeast of Baltimore. Sabrina described it as a small town where “everyone knows one another.” And it wasn’t a secret that everyone in Milford knew who Gillis was from the time he was young.

His first newspaper appearance came at five years old, with a photo showcasing a young Gillis with his foot on a soccer ball.

As his athletic career continued throughout his youth, Gillis became a common character in local papers. A 2021 article from Milford Live details his high school career and commitment to play college football. The story begins as such: “There are people that are simply born to play football, Milford senior Marquis Gillis is one of them.”

At Milford High School, Gillis rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, winning team MVP and becoming a Delaware Blue-Gold High School All-Star. His accolades made him a worthy candidate for a Division 1 FBS roster spot. But his recruitment was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gillis dreamed of playing for a big school located across the country, such as ASU or Oregon.

He was so set on heading west, he hung a vision board in his bedroom, manifesting his academic and athletic goals. His father pushed him to keep his desired GPA, rushing yards and schools he wanted to attend on the board.

But after the pandemic shut down most college football recruiting, Gillis decided to attend the school right next door – Delaware State.

Less than half an hour away by car, Delaware State was a familiar choice, with much of Gillis’ family having attended the school. Although it wasn’t the location he had pinned on his vision board, Gillis made the most of his opportunity.

As a freshman, Gillis rushed for 537 yards and five touchdowns, winning Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Year. He continued to make a name for himself by improving on his totals the following year, rushing for 732 yards and five touchdowns.

His senior season was what put him on the map of FBS programs. Delaware
State underwent a coaching change, bringing in former NFL wide receiver and three-time Pro Bowler Desean Jackson as head coach, along with former NFL running back and two-time Pro Bowler Clinton Portis as running backs coach.

The new staff helped unlock Gillis’ true potential. The 2025 season saw him rush for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns. The breakout campaign allowed him to finally achieve one of the goals that had been hanging on his vision board since high school.

He entered the transfer portal after the season and committed to the Sun Devils, fulfilling a dream he had since he was 14 years old.

“(Marquis) used to talk my head off,” Henry, his father, said. “Talking about the process of going to Arizona State… as a freshman or sophomore in high school.”

Gillis was thankful for everything Delaware State had given him, but was ready for greener pastures.

“The HBCU was a great experience, just being around my people,” Gillis said. “But I wanted a better opportunity for myself and my future.”

When he arrived in Tempe, Gillis had nothing but a football dream, not even a place to live. Luckily for him, a future teammate stepped up in the biggest way possible. ASU senior running back Kyson Brown offered up a room in his own apartment to Gillis for a week while he arranged his living situation.

Brown asked for nothing in return, setting the tone for the bond that would develop within the Sun Devil running back room – one built on genuine camaraderie despite competing against one another every day for a starting role.

“We like to build relationships outside of football because we feel like it’s going to bring us closer,” Gillis said. “We all want each other to win.”

By the end of fall camp, Gillis and Brown, the running back room’s two veterans, set a strong example for the unit. The running backs are consistently last to leave practice, always getting extra work in.

Gillis’ combination of hard work at practice and proven game-day production led him to be named one of two running backs atop ASU’s depth chart for its opening game against Morgan State.

Ironically, September 5 won’t be the first time Gillis takes the field against Morgan State.

The Bears compete in the MEAC, the same conference as Delaware State. Saturday’s game will be the fourth time Gillis plays Morgan State in his collegiate career.

For the most part, Gillis will play for a completely new set of eyes on Saturday. But at least one familiar face will be watching. Sabrina plans on making the trip from Milford to Tempe to cheer her son on for his ASU debut.

From his first word to first game as a Sun Devil, “ball” has taken Marquis farther than he could have ever imagined.

“I’ve never played with 20,000, 50,000 fans before,” Gillis said. “I just know when I step on that field, I’m gonna give it all I got. ASU’s going to get a lot from me.”