<span style="">             <span style="">In the weeks leading up to the start of the New Orleans Saints' 2009 training camp, NewOrleansSaints.com will take an inside look at some interesting facts and figures of various high-profile players on the Saints' roster. This is part five in the series.</span>                 

            <span style="">WIDE RECEIVER MARQUES COLSTON</span>               
            <span style="">Height:</span> 6-4  

Weight: 225
NFL Experience in 2009: 4th Season
Years with Saints: 4th Season
College: Hofstra

SAINTSATIONAL NOTES:

• Since joining the Saints as a seventh round draft choice in 2006, Colston has ascended to the status as one of the NFL's top receiving targets. He is ranked among the receiving leaders in all major categories in his first three seasons and has had one of the fastest starts to a career for a player in most receiving categories during this period of time despite missing seven games due to injury. The club's receiving leader in most categories during his first two seasons (2006 & 2007), Colston has recorded 215 catches for 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns over the course of his stellar young career. He is currently already ranked ninth in club record books in receptions, seventh in receiving yardage and sixth in receiving touchdowns.
• Despite missing five games with a thumb injury in 2008, Colston finished ranked fourth on the team in receptions, third in receiving yardage and second in touchdown grabs with 47 catches for 760 yards and five touchdowns.
• With 11 100-yard receiving games, only two Saints have surpassed the century mark as many times or more than Colston (Joe Horn-27 and Eric Martin-18). Colston has also recorded at least one touchdown reception in 18 of his 41 career contests-including five multiple touchdown games.
• Of his 215 career receptions, 150 have gone for a first down (69.8%). Over that span, Colston has 60 receptions for 957 yards and nine touchdowns on third downs.
• With 12 in 2008, 14 in 2007 and 15 in 2006, Colston has registered 41 receptions of 20 yards of more over the last the last three seasons, including touchdowns of 86, 70, 47, 35, 26, 25 and 21 yards.
• Colston has the most receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns over the course of his first three campaigns by any player ever drafted by the Saints.
  RECEIVING LEADERS THROUGH 3 SEASONS AMONG SAINTS DRAFT PICKS

  Player	Years	Rec.	Yards	TDs
  Marques Colston	2006-2008	215	3,000	24
  Reggie Bush	2006-2008	213	1,599	8
  Danny Abramowicz	1967-1969	177	2,626	20
  Eric Martin	1976-1978	169	1,267	3
  Wes Chandler	1978-1980	165	2,516	14

  MOST RECEPTIONS BY A PLAYER IN HIS FIRST THREE NFL SEASONS

  Rank	Player	Years	Rec.	Yards	TDs
  1.	Anquan Boldin	2003-2005	259	3,402	16
  2.	LaDainian Tomlinson	2001-2003	238	1,581	5
  3.	Larry Fitzgerald	2004-2006	230	3,135	24
  4t.	Brandon Marshall	2006-2008	226	2,899	15
  4t.	Randy Moss	1998-2000	226	4,163	43
  6.	Issac Bruce	1994-1996	224	3,391	23
  7.	Keyshawn Johnson	1996-1998	216	2,938	23
  8t.	Marques Colston	2006-2008	215	3,000	24
  8t.	Torry Holt	1999-2001	215	3,786	19
  8t.	Andre Rison	1989-1991	215	3,004	26

MARQUES COLSTON BY THE NUMBERS

• 5: Multiple-touchdown games in his career. Colston grabbed a career-high three touchdowns at San Francisco (10/28/2007).
• 11: Colston has had over 100 yards receiving 11 times in his brief career, including three games with over 150 yards. Only two other players in club history have reached the 100-yard milestone as often.
• 11: Though he has appeared in only 41 regular season games, Colston has hauled in eight ore more pass in 11 contests.
• 25: Receptions of 25 yards of more over the last three seasons. This marks the second-highest total for a Saints during this period and is tied for the 14th most by an NFL player during this timeline.
• 69.8: Percent of his 215 receptions that have moved the chains, as 150 of his grabs have gone for a first down since the start of the 2006 season.
• 86: Colston recorded an 86-yard touchdown catch at Carolina (10/1/2006), the longest regular season touchdown grab in team history for a rookie and the fourth-longest overall in club annals. The play was recorded in just his fourth regular season game as a professional.
• 159: Yards on 10 catches vs. Jacksonville (11/4/2007), which marked his season high. Colston had four 100-yard games in 2007 and over 90 yards in three other contests.
• 215: Receptions in his first three seasons, the highest total by a Saint in his first three campaigns, as well as tied for eighth among NFL players in the first three years of their playing careers.
• 455: Yards in a three-game stretch in 2006 (10/29-11/12), the most receiving yards over such a span in club history. He recorded over 100-yards in all three games, a streak he would also equal in 2007.
• 869: Receiving yards in the first nine games of his career, more than any other player in NFL history in their opening nine contests.