College Football To NASCAR, Former Tennessee DB Marquill Osborne Living A Different Type Of Professional Dream

Growing up in North Carolina, Marquill Osborne was surrounded by short-track racing and NASCAR, even though his life was playing out on the football field. 

In the past, rarely have the worlds of college football and NASCAR collided, but as we've seen over the last number of years, athletes are finding new life after their days on the playing field came to an end. 

This was the case for Marquill Osborne, who goes by the name ‘Quill’ with his new teammates. Coming out of high school, Osborne was ranked as one of the best cornerbacks in his home state of North Carolina, ready for an opportunity to play college football at the highest level. 

So when it came to making a decision about where to put on his pads for the foreseeable future in college, it was Tennessee that lured him away from other suitors. In 2016, Marquill suited up as a freshman for the Vols, looking to play his way onto the field. Though it was mostly special teams that first year, he did record his first collegiate sack. 

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08, 2018 - Defensive back Marquill Osborne #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the ETSU Buccaneers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

It was a learning experience that would help him navigate life as a college football player. During his junior year, he appeared in ten games for the Vols, scoring one touchdown on special teams and had two interceptions against Kentucky in the upset win. 

But there was a part of him that wanted to be back closer to home, around his ‘foundation’ as Marquill liked to call it. So, when Will Healy took the Charlotte job, Osborne knew that it was the right fit and circumstances for him to head back to North Carolina. 

"I wanted to come home to my foundation and family here in Charlotte," Osborne said. "I needed that support system with a baby on the way, and just my mindset of being in an environment where i could go to work, That's why i chose Charlotte, and Will Heally being a new coach. He was going to give me what i needed for that last year."

Listen To The Full Interview With Marquill Osborne Here

After sustaining a high-ankle sprain before his senior year at Charlotte, he played through the pain, but knew it would come down to his pro-day. But unfortunately, the world had different plans for Marquill, as the Covid pandemic forced the cancelation of his opportunity to get in front of NFL personnel. 

One Last Shot At NFL Dream

The situation was already tough for Osborne, not having the opportunity to get in-front of NFL teams and showing off his ability. It was after a workout with the Commanders that Quill realized this road, along with the surrounding circumstances were going to be difficult to navigate. 

"It's kinda weird how sports work and the timing of things. The closest I got to the league was I had a workout with the Washington Commanders, and that kind of showed me this is going to be hard after not getting the results I expected after that," Osborne said. "Sometimes you put it all on the line and it doesn't work out for you." 

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 13: Defensive back Marquill Osborne #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for tight end Sal Cannella #80 of the Auburn Tigers during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Quill would play in the Indoor Football League, which he described as the ‘WWE’ because of all the wild hits that sent players into the boards. He knew his body would not hold-up playing like that. This was the moment that Osborne knew it was time for a change. 

How Did Osborne Get A Start In NASCAR? It Came Down To Grit

It's not as if you can just walk into a NASCAR facility and tell the front-desk receptionist that you'd like to join the team. The racing community is so large, and there are so many people looking to get into that same door, it takes time and effort to latch on to a team. 

"With NASCAR, it's very hard to get into, to be honest," Marquill explained. "Now that I look at it, it's pretty much a private industry, you gotta know somebody. Basically, growing up, Nick Rend, who works in NASCAR, he was always a good neighbor to us and friend to us. When I was finally settled down with football, I kinda gave him a text. Being in the Charlotte area in high school, I kinda knew about the NASCAR stuff, but I never thought, like EVER, that I would be a part of it." 

Marquill Osborne got his first job in NASCAR working for Joe Gibbs Racing (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Everything works out for a reason. In the case of Maquill, meeting Rocko Williams changed the trajectory of his life. Williams, like Osborne, had NFL dreams after a college football career that never came to pass. He made the switch to NASCAR, worked as a pit crew member for the likes of Jeff Gordon and Chase Elliot, then went on to work for NASCAR's Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development program. 

After working out with him and putting in the effort, Williams walked Marquill to the Hendrick's Motorsports camp, where he competed in a combine-like setting. 

Remember that line about everything working out for a reason? Well, having a former Division-I football star taking part in what is actually just a football-like combine drill was like a gift from god. 

"I was like, this is what I've been trying to do forever now, I've been training for this," Osborne said. "I ended up killing it." 

Osborne, because of his physique, was given a pit gun and tasked with handling tire changes. After a three-day camp, he got the hang of things.

"Hendricks ended up liking me and had me on hold for like two weeks, offering me a contract to start the development program," Osborne said.

But after multiple calls to Marquill, letting him know they were waiting to negotiate, his mentor Rocko had other plans. All it took was one opportunity at Joe Gibbs Racing, and they offered Marquill a contract the next week. 

Daily Life Of A Pit-Crew Member Is Hard Work

The world of NASCAR isn't for the weak. Being on the road from February until October is taxing on both the body and one's family. It involves daily practices at the facility working with the car, getting into the gym and building up your cardio. These folks are being paid to keep their bodies and minds at a premier level. 

"We have mandatory lift and practice, so I use my other time to get my mental right," Osborne explained. "Film, and just mediation as well, while picturing the track. It's a lot of mental in this game, and i have to stay right."

Most of the time, pit-crew members will fly into the city hosting the race on the day of competition, so that part is a perk to getting into this position. But the daily workouts, film sessions, running in-front of a vehicle over twenty times a day are all part of a life that many could only dream for. 

So, even though he's preparing for a weekend full of craziness at Charlotte Motor Speedway, along with his team, Marquill is taking each day as a blessing. 

Getting His First Opportunity At The Highest Level

Even though Marquill started off in the developmental program at Joe Gibbs Racing, it did not take him long to figure out the right move. Following legendary tire changer Mike Hicks was the main priority, learning everything he could about his position. 

"I don't think he even knows it, but I watch him like a hawk. You have to be on the car, to get good at being on the car," Osborne said. "You have to pay attention and have your mental reps during practice, not just sitting there."

Quill was put on a lease deal, meaning he could go work for other pit-crews to enhance his game. He ended up working two races at Talladega and one at Daytona. It was kind of babysteps through the developmental program. But toward the end of last off-season, he finally got his opportunity with one of the best drivers in the sport. 

"They were considering me for Martin Truex Jr. top start the season. I ended up winning the job for the first quarter of the season for Truex, and was able to experience that house-car, the real deal raceway," Osborne said.  "Such a great driver with Truex and crew chief James Small. It had boosted my experience level, where I feel like a rookie-vet now."

After 12 races, Osborne was moved to a Joe Gibbs car and he says he's finding his way and trying to stay consistent.  

"It's been a great experience. I've got some fast times, but have had some hiccups as well, which I've learned from," Osborne said. "I've only been here seventeen months, I'm doing things I never thought I'd be doing. I'm meeting people, around great folks and businessmen. It's just amazing."

NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, pits during qualifying and pit crew challenge for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 18, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

A journey that started with playing football in his North Carolina backyard, to playing in front of 100,000 fans at Tennessee, to now performing every week at a NASCAR track, I'd concur that life has thrown a few curveballs at Marquill Osborne. 

But one thing is certainly clear. When one dream or chapter closes, another one can open in the most unexpected way. I think Quill is a perfect example of adapting to life, and still living his dream of being a professional athlete.