Freedom High Coach Blackwell, An Ex-USF QB, Charged With DUI

Freedom High football coach and former University of South Florida quarterback Marquel Blackwell was arrested and charged this morning with driving under the influence, according to a Tampa Police Department arrest report.

At 3:12 a.m., police pulled over a 2007 Dodge Charger driven by Blackwell, a St. Petersburg resident. He was stopped at a red light at Columbus Drive and Dale Mabry Highway, and a computer check showed the registered owner had a suspended license, the report says.

Blackwell fit the description of the owner.

"When the light turned green, the Dodge drifted within the lane and touched the lane line," according to the report. "It appeared the driver may have been impaired. A traffic stop was conducted. When asked for his driver license, he held out a blue Visa card."

Blackwell smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and glassy, bloodshot eyes, and he showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests, according to the report.

Blackwell declined to take a breath test. He is being held on a $500 bond.

A temporary employee with the Hillsborough County School District, Blackwell recently completed his second season as head football coach. The Patriots went 4-6 this season and 1-9 in 2007.

In 2007, Blackwell, an in-school suspensions teacher, was under investigation by the county school board for a verbal confrontation with another teacher. As a result, a letter of reprimand was placed on his record. The same year, the Freedom and Tampa Bay Tech football teams were involved in an on-field brawl that resulted in numerous players being suspended and both schools being fined. Freedom was fined $1,700 and placed on probation.

According to district spokesperson Linda Cobbe, the district's Professional Standards department "will not enforce any discipline" but has banned Blackwell from transporting students.

Cobbe said Blackwell is under contract until the end of the school year and the school's principal can decide to keep him as an employee or not renew his contract.

As USF's quarterback from 1999 through 2002, Blackwell set numerous offensive records. In 2001, he tied a school record for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback with nine. He ended his collegiate career with more than 10,000 total yards and graduated in 2002 as a communications major.

After college, Blackwell signed with the New York Jets, but after three preseason games was cut before the regular season. He also tried out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.