Marques Colston
WR #12 — New Orleans Saints
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About Marques Colston
Marques Colston was the quietest great receiver in modern NFL history. He went undrafted out of Hofstra, a school that eventually dropped its football program entirely, and then spent ten seasons with the Saints catching passes from Drew Brees like it was the most normal thing in the world. He finished his career with over 9,700 receiving yards and 72 touchdowns. Those are Hall of Fame-caliber numbers from a guy that most casual fans could not pick out of a lineup. He never made a Pro Bowl. He never had a signature celebration. He never said anything controversial. He just caught the ball, moved the chains, and went home.
The meme value of Marques Colston is specifically that he is never talked about. Search for lists of the best Saints receivers and he's either first or conspicuously absent, depending on who wrote the list. He is the patron saint of being overlooked. Fantasy football owners loved him because he quietly produced WR2 numbers every single week without anyone noticing until the season ended and he had 1,000 yards again. The man was allergic to attention. In a league that rewards personality and self-promotion, Colston built an entire career on being invisible while also being excellent. It shouldn't be possible, but he did it for a decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Marques Colston considered the most overlooked receiver in NFL history?
Colston accumulated over 9,700 receiving yards and 72 touchdowns across ten seasons with the Saints, numbers that compare favorably to multiple Hall of Famers. Despite this production, he never made a Pro Bowl and rarely appeared in national conversations about the best receivers in football. He played at Hofstra, went undrafted, had no signature celebration, and never pursued media attention. The result was a player who was statistically elite but culturally invisible. His absence from recognition became its own running joke among Saints fans.
How did Marques Colston go undrafted out of Hofstra?
Hofstra was a small FCS program on Long Island that didn't attract significant NFL scouting attention. Colston's size and production were impressive at the college level, but the competition he faced was not considered comparable to FBS programs. The Saints took a seventh-round flier on him in 2006, and he immediately became Drew Brees' favorite target. Hofstra later discontinued its football program in 2009, making Colston's career even more improbable. He remains the most successful NFL player to come from a school that no longer plays football.
Last updated: April 2026