Marquis Maze Tyran Marquis Maze ( born March 2 , 1989 ) is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent . He played for The University of Alabama from 2008 to 2011 and had over 1 , 000 receiving yards in the 2009 and 2010 seasons . In 2011 , he became the lead receiver , punt returner , and kickoff returner for Alabama . Early years . Maze was born in Birmingham , Alabama in 1988 and attended Tarrant High School in nearby Tarrant , Alabama . He played high school football at multiple positions , including tailback , quarterback , wide receiver , defensive back and punt and kickoff returner . During the 2005 and 2006 seasons , Maze had almost 3 , 000 all - purpose yards and more than 30 touchdowns . Maze was recruited by many of the country ' s top football programs , including the University of Alabama , University of Michigan , and University of Tennessee . After initially committing to Michigan , Maze signed a letter of intent with Alabama in February 2007 . College career . 2008 season . After redshirting in 2007 , Marquis played in all 14 games in 2008 and for the season had 11 receptions for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns . 2009 season . During Alabama ' s spring practice in April 2009 , Maze earned co - MVP honors and established himself as the fastest player on the Alabama team and the No . 2 receiver behind Julio Jones . Maze became a key player on the 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team that won the national championship . He played in all 14 games , 11 as a starter . Although Julio Jones and Mark Ingram won most of the headlines , Maze had 557 receiving yards and an average of 16 . 9 yards per catch . He had an 80 - yard touchdown catch against Arkansas in September 2009 . He finished with 31 catches for 523 yards for two touchdowns . In the 2009 SEC Championship Game , Maze had five catches for a career high 96 receiving yards . 2010 season . For the 2010 season , Maze appeared in all 13 games for Alabama , seven as a starter . He had 38 receptions for 557 yards and three touchdowns . In the game against Florida , Maze threw a 19 - yard touchdown pass to Michael Williams . In the 2011 Capital One Bowl , Maze caught a 37 - yard touchdown pass and led the team ' s receivers with 77 receiving yards . Maze also served as Alabama ' s principal punt returner during the 2010 season . 2011 season . In March 2011 , Maze announced that he would not participate in the NFL draft and would instead return to Alabama for his senior year . Marquis Maze gave little thought to leaving Alabama for the NFL With Julio Jones graduating , Maze was expected to become Alabama ' s No . 1 receiver in the 2011 season . Based on his performance in the preseason , Maze won a starting spot not only at wide receiver but also on special teams as the team ' s primary punt returner and kickoff returner . In July 2011 , he was included on the watch list for the 2011 Fred Biletnikoff Award , presented each year to America ' s top college football receiver . In the 2011 season opener against Kent State , Maze established himself as Alabama ' s primary receiver . He contributed 253 all purposes yards , including 114 receiving yards on eight catches , 96 return yards on eight punts , and 39 yards on a kickoff return . His eight punt returns tied an Alabama school record set in 1946 by College Football Hall of Fame inductee Harry Gilmer . After the game , Alabama head coach Nick Saban said , " Marquis Maze did a fantastic job today , not only with eight catches , but also doing a really good job in the kicking game and return game . " After the first three games of the 2011 season , Maze led all players in the NCAA FBS with 195 punt return yards . In the fourth game of the 2011 season , Maze returned four punts for 125 yards , including an 83 - yard return for a touchdown in the third quarter . After the game , the " Birmingham News " called Maze " the amazing Marquis Maze " and a " special player " and wrote : " The undersized and underappreciated Maze bobbed and weaved his way 83 yards for a third - quarter touchdown on a punt return that broke Arkansas ankles and hearts . His last cutback wasn ' t even necessary . It was unreal , unfair and unstoppable . " The return earned Alabama Play of the Week honors from al . com . Writing in " The Huntsville Times " , Mark McCarter observed : " Maze didn ' t look like he was running on his own . He looked like an avatar , and a 16 - year - old ' s thumbs were maneuvering him with a PlayStation control panel . " Playing against Tennessee on October 22 , 2011 , Maze caught five passes for 106 yards . Through the first eight games of the season , Maze had 482 receiving yards . As of October 23 , 2011 , Maze also had 320 punt return yards , second most in the Football Bowl Subdivision . In the 2012 BCS National Championship Game against LSU , Maze almost returned a punt for a touchdown before being injured from a hamstring pull . This injury unfortunately proved to be game - ending for him . Professional career . Pittsburgh Steelers . On April 28 , 2012 , Maze signed a free - agent deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers . He wore # 3 ; an unusual number for a receiver as numbers 1 - 9 are typically reserved for quarterbacks , kickers , and punters . This is due to the fact that all numbers 11 - 19 and 80 - 89 ( the number sets normally worn by receivers ) are worn by other players on the team except for 12 and 86 which are unofficially retired in honor of Terry Bradshaw and Hines Ward respectively . On August 31 Maze was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers .