AFL NOTES: Marcus Nash returns for his second season with the Dallas Desperados as one of the team's emerging playmakers in 2008. The Desperados inked one of the league's big-time playmakers when they signed Marcus Nash on Oct. 9, 2006. Nash teamed with Clint Dolezel while the two played for the Las Vegas Gladiators in 2004 and 2005. Through his five AFL seasons, Nash has caught 554 passes for 6,803 yards and 159 touchdowns. He has recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in each of the four previous seasons and has made 100-plus receptions in three of the past four. Through the previous four seasons, Nash has caught the fourth-most passes (485) for the fourth-most yards (5,937) and fifth-most touchdowns (135). The former 1998 first round (30th overall) draft choice of the Denver Broncos was named the AFL's Offensive Player of the Year in 2004, setting a league record for receptions in a season (154).

AFL 2007 (Dallas): Nash was the team's second-leading receiver with 77 receptions for 1,080 yards (14.0 avg.) and 20 touchdowns. With over 1,000 receiving yards, Nash upped his streak of consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards to four (2004-07). In his first appearance as a Desperado, Nash led the team with nine receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns at New York (3/4). He was the second-leading receiver against Tampa Bay (3/10) with eight catches for 98 yards and one touchdown. Nash was the team leader in receiving at Kansas City (3/16) with 10 receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns while also trotting in for a three-yard rushing touchdown. Against the Brigade, Nash reached career milestones with his 500th reception and surpassed the 6,000 receiving yard mark. He was inactive at Orlando (3/26) and against Austin (3/31) with a knee injury, but returned against Columbus (4/5) to the tune of eight receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns along with two two-point conversions. Nash made five receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown while also adding a rushing score against Philadelphia (4/16). At Georgia (4/21) he had a season-high 143 yards on eight receptions while also hauling in three touchdowns. Nash added three touchdowns against Nashville (4/27) on nine receptions for 95 yards. He was named Offensive Player of the Game for his performance at Utah (5/4) when he made a season-high 11 grabs - six of which went for touchdowns - for 134 yards. His six touchdowns at Utah tied a single-game team record. Nash hauled in seven receptions for 99 yards against Chicago (5/14). Nash made two receptions for 23 yards at Columbus (5/26) before leaving the game in the second quarter with a hand injury. He was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on May 30, but returned in time to make his first career AFL playoff start against Columbus (7/7) in the Divisional Playoff Game and turned in a team-best 129 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.

AFL 2006 (Las Vegas): Nash finished his third season in Las Vegas as the team leader (fifth in the league) with 123 receptions for a team-best (fifth in the league) 1,317 yards and a team-high 28 touchdowns. He had back-to-back 100-yard games to open the year, hauling in eight passes for 108 yards and three touchdowns at Austin (1/27) before posting 134 yards and four scores on 12 catches against San Jose (2/6). At Colorado (2/12) he had six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown before adding two scores and 101 yards on eight catches against Georgia (2/17). He caught 11 passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns at Dallas (2/25). Against Philadelphia (3/5) he posted six receptions for 65 yards and three scores before catching nine passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns against Grand Rapids (3/10). He notched his fifth 100-yard game of the season with 101 yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches against Arizona (3/17). Against Nashville (4/8) he had two touchdowns and 85 yards on seven catches before being held to four receptions for 31 yards and a score at San Jose (4/14). At Chicago (4/23) Nash caught nine passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns. He closed out the season with five catches for 55 yards against Utah (4/29), eight receptions for 55 yards at Arizona (5/6) and seven catches for 56 yards at Los Angeles (5/13).

AFL 2005 (Las Vegas): In his second season with the Gladiators, Nash paced the league with 1,769 receiving yards and 41 touchdowns on 131 receptions. He added two rushing touchdowns. Nash opened the season against Los Angeles (1/30) with seven receptions for 116 yards and a score before adding two scores and 128 yards on four catches at San Jose (2/5). He had his third consecutive 100-yard outing with 126 yards and a touchdown on 11 receptions against New York (2/11). He posted 77 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches at Nashville (2/26) before earning the AFL's Offensive Player of the Week honors at Columbus (3/12) with 10 catches for 133 yards and five touchdowns to start a streak of four consecutive 100-yard games. At Arizona (3/19), he had nine receptions for 160 yards and five scores before setting a team record and career-high with 229 receiving yards with six touchdowns on 15 catches against San Jose (3/28). At Colorado (4/3) he caught nine passes for 126 yards and four scores before registering 92 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Nash opened the month of May with 11 catches for 128 yards and four scores at Chicago (5/1) then caught five passes for 75 yards and three touchdowns against Dallas (5/7). At Los Angeles (5/14) he notched 12 receptions for 132 yards and four scores before closing out the season against Arizona (5/22) with eight catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns. He was named the league's Offensive Player of the Month after catching 36 passes for 415 yards and 13 touchdowns in May.

AFL 2004 (Las Vegas): Nash signed with the Las Vegas Gladiators in his second AFL season and was named the AFL's Offensive Player of the Year, setting the league record for receptions in a season (154) for the then fifth-most yards in a season (1,771) with a then league-record tying 46 touchdowns. He also led the league in total touchdowns (49), scoring (300 points) and double-digit receiving games (seven). He posted eight 100-yard receiving games and rushed for two touchdowns on the year. In his Gladiators debut at Colorado (2/6) he caught nine passes for 72 yards and three scores before hauling in six passes for 45 yards and a touchdown against Los Angeles (2/14). He notched 12 receptions for 109 yards and a score against New Orleans (2/29) then started a string of three consecutive 100-yard games against Arizona (3/14) with a career-best 16 receptions for a then career-best 192 yards and four scores. He added 12 catches for 189 yards and five scores at San Jose (3/20) before posting nine receptions for 153 yards and three scores at Orlando (3/27). He broke his string of consecutive 100-yard games against Chicago (4/4) with five catches for 85 yards and two scores before registering a career-best seven touchdowns and 145 yards on 15 receptions at Arizona (4/10). Against Detroit (4/25) he added 90 yards and four scores on seven receptions before starting another streak of three consecutive 100-yard games with an 11-catch, 129-yard, three-touchdown performance against Indiana (5/2). He caught 13 passes for 184 yards and four touchdowns at Philadelphia (5/8) before catching 11 passes for 117 yards and three touchdowns against San Jose (5/16). He had nine receptions for 75 yards and two scores at Los Angeles (5/22) before closing out the season against Columbus (5/30) with six receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns.

AFL 2003 (Detroit): Nash signed with the Detroit Fury as a rookie and finished the season as the team's leader in all receiving categories, hauling in 69 passes for 866 yards and 12 touchdowns. On defense, he posted 14.5 tackles, six pass breakups and an interception. He added two kickoff returns for 19 yards. He did not play the first two games of the season then made his AFL debut at Carolina (2/14) with a season-high eight receptions for 86 yards and three touchdowns to earn game MVP honors. He added 86 yards on five catches and a touchdown against Dallas (2/23) before tallying 86 yards for the third consecutive week, along with a season-high four touchdowns on six catches at Tampa Bay (3/2). He earned Ironman of the Game honors against New York (3/16) with eight catches for 81 yards and two scores and 2.5 tackles and a fumble recovery on defense. He once again earned Ironman of the Game honors at Buffalo (3/30) after posting seven receptions for a season-best 89 yards and a touchdown and an interception and two tackles. Against Las Vegas (5/11) he tied his season-high with four scores while registering 73 yards on six receptions.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 2000 - Nash returned to the Baltimore Ravens as a reserve receiver and won his second Super Bowl ring in three years. 1999 - Nash was traded by Denver to the Miami Dolphins but was released at the end of camp. He signed with the Ravens Oct. 25 but was inactive through the remainder of the season. 1998 - Nash was a first round (30th overall) pick by the Denver Broncos and played in seven games, catching four passes for 76 yards en route to a Super Bowl championship.

COLLEGE: Nash left the University of Tennessee ranked second in Volunteers history with 177 receptions for 2,447 yards and 20 touchdowns. As a senior, he was an All-America and first-team All-SEC selection after setting school records for receptions (77), receiving yards (1,170) and touchdowns (13).

PERSONAL: Nash was a USA Today, Blue Chip Illustrated and SuperPrep All-America choice at Edmond High School in Tulsa, Okla. He earned Gatorade Circle of Champions Oklahoma Player of the Year and was named all-state, all-city and City Player of the Year as a senior, catching 81 passes for 1,121 yards and 10 touchdowns. Since joining the Desperados roster, Nash has become an active member of the Desperados Impact Player Program. During the 2007 season, he volunteered his time at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, spending time with patients by playing games, signing autographs and posing for photos. Nash also joined teammates in hosting the Desperados U.S. Army Passing Clinic - a one-day camp for high school football players held at Texas Stadium.