Marques Colston

Sport: Football

Induction Year: 2021

University: Hofstra

A seventh-round draft pick in 2006 (252nd overall) out of Hofstra University, Colston easily became the most productive receiver in Saints history in a 10-year career from 2006 to 2015. Quiet and reserved off the field but competitive on it, he quickly became one of the cornerstones of Sean Payton’s first Saints team. Colston’s size (6 feet, 4 inches and 225 pounds) and willingness to go over the middle and make the tough catch made him an instant favorite of new quarterback Drew Brees and New Orleans won the NFC South title and reached the NFC championship game as Colston made the all-rookie team.

Three years later, Colston and the Saints won the NFC crown and the franchise’s only championship with a 31-17 victory over Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

In his 10-year career, Colston played in 146 games with 106 starts and caught 711 passes for 9,759 yards — both club records. An especially inviting target in the red zone because he towered over most defenders and could easily come down with Brees’ patented back-shoulder throws, he also scored 72 touchdowns for another franchise record and tied Joe Horn for the most 100-yard games in club history with 28. He had 150 yards or more in six of those games, topped by a 10-catch, 169-yard performance vs. Pittsburgh in 2006. For his career, Colston had 189 more receptions and 1,905 more receiving yards than Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame member Eric Martin and 22 more touchdowns than Horn, elected to the LSHOF’s 2020 class.

Colston produced six 1,000-yard receiving seasons with a best of 1,202 yards in 2007 when he also had a club single-season 98 receptions and scored 11 TDs. He grabbed another 58 passes for 788 yards and had four scores in 10 postseason contests, catching seven balls for 83 yards in the Super Bowl XLIV win. Born 6-5-1983 in Harrisburg, Pa.