Former Florida State quarterback Marcus Outzen, who stepped in for eventual Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke in 1998 and led the Seminoles to a victory over rival Florida, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 46.
Known affectionately as “The Rooster” by FSU fans due to his red hair, Outzen died from complications of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare immune deficiency disorder, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
His son, Colton, shared the news on social media, writing on X: “Rest In Peace @MarcusOutzen. I love you so much Dad.”
Outzen, a native of Fort Walton Beach, played at FSU from 1996 to 2000 and started the final three games of the 1998 season, including the first Bowl Championship Series national championship game at the Fiesta Bowl, following a severe neck injury to Weinke.
A versatile athlete who also excelled at safety in high school, Outzen chose Florida State over Auburn and South Carolina. He attended Choctawhatchee High School, the alma mater of Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy winner, and former FSU receiver E.G. Green.
Outzen, who had considered transferring after falling to third on the depth chart when Weinke arrived in 1997, was thrust into the starting role when Weinke suffered a season-ending injury against Virginia in November 1998.
In his starting debut, he led the Seminoles to a 24-7 win over Wake Forest, completing 11 of 19 passes for 164 yards. However, he is best remembered for his second start, when the fifth-ranked Seminoles hosted No. 4 Florida. Trailing 12-6 at halftime, FSU rallied to win 23-12, with Outzen completing 13 of 22 passes for 167 yards, including a key 32-yard touchdown pass to Peter Warrick.
This victory, combined with losses by other top teams, propelled FSU into the first BCS title game against top-ranked Tennessee. Although the Seminoles lost 23-16, Outzen’s performance solidified his legacy.
Rest In Peace @MarcusOutzen. I love you so much Dad 🕊️
— Colton Outzen (@colton_outzen) May 1, 2024
Outzen resumed his role as backup in 1999, when FSU won the national championship, and again in 2000, when the team reached the national title game, ultimately losing to Oklahoma.
Recently, Outzen lived in the Tampa Bay area and worked as an executive oncology specialist with Guardant Health.
