Line Of Scrimmage

THE HOSTS

Joey Thorsen, 22

was born and raised in the heart of the South, Memphis, TN. He now lives with his family and two dogs in the small town of Horn Lake, MS, right outside of Memphis. A 2003 graduate of Horn Lake High School, Joey was a member of the school's broadcasting team where he personally filmed and edited weekly football highlight videos. Joey could always be found on the sidelines of every Horn Lake game with a camera on his face, screaming at the top of his lungs. And that’s just why we thought he’d make an ideal host for The Line of Scrimmage. “This job was made for me,” said Joey. “This summer I received a friend request on MySpace from Line Of Scrimmage. I checked out the page and saw that there was a national search for two new hosts underway. Naturally, I was immediately intrigued as this was exactly what I did in high school during my senior year! This job was made for me but it sounded too good to be true. So I made an audition tape using actual footage from my high school days and posted it on MySpace and Youtube. Then I recruited help from all of my MySpace friends & supporters by means of a bulletin, promising hot, juicy burgers if I was selected. A couple months later, here I am, one of the new hosts!”Joey’s interest in film began when he received his first video camera as a gift on his 16th birthday. “That was probably the best present I have ever received in my life. From that moment on, all the way to present day, my video camera has never left my side.”When Joey was a senior in high school he was selected to be a member of his school's broadcasting team. That year, a new passion developed, making highlight videos from Horn Lake’s weekly football games. “Some people have said that those were the best high school football videos they have ever seen. Our football team had an unforgettable historic season my senior year, making the state playoffs for the first time in twenty years. Little did I know at the time, but that season would start me on my journey to where I am today.”Joey found himself taking his school spirit to a new level, but it ended all too soon. “I created Horn Lake High's first superhero: the half-bird, half- man hybrid, Eagleman. But before I knew it, our football season was over, my silver body paint had washed off, and I was walking across a stage receiving my diploma.”Joey’s interests, however, didn’t end with high school graduation. It was only the beginning. Being a lifelong lover of movies and entertainment, Joey is currently attending the University of Memphis where he is pursuing a double major: one in film and video production and another in philosophy. When Joey is not at school, he spends his time working for the Mississippi RiverKings hockey team, Memphis Xplorers arena football2 team, and the Memphis Redbirds AAA baseball team. Joey also spends his time volunteering for local charity events, playing ultimate Frisbee, and attending every sporting event humanly possible.“I am passionate about sports, making movies, eating, and pretty much anything else I do and love. The second I heard about the opportunity to drive around the country, go to high school football games, and do what I love, I knew that the job was meant for me. I am now in the process of living a lifelong dream. This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me and I look forward to losing my voice each week experiencing high school football with all the fans as I travel across the country in a Toyota Tundra!”

Markuss Rossi, 21

grew up in tiny Wellsville, Kansas where he played football, baseball and wrestled. The third of four brothers, Markuss quickly learned to toughen up. “I always had a target on my chest. My older brothers and their friends also played football and they all wanted to wail on me. I think it only made me stronger. It also made for some tense car rides on the way home from practice.”Markuss learned how to play every position on offense and defense, but he preferred being a linebacker. “I wanted to eat people alive. I hit a guy so hard once I knocked him out of his cleats. I loved it!”We found Markuss at one of our open casting calls, this one being at a 4-day music festival in Kansas. Markuss was watching his friends audition for a host position on The Line of Scrimmage when they pulled him into it. His background and knowledge of football made him a strong candidate.“I’ve always been a little camera shy. I never wanted to embarrass myself. But here I was talking about something I love, football, and it felt natural. And I found myself really wanting to do this.”Markuss panicked, however, when weeks later he heard from the producers that they wanted to fly him to LA for one more audition.“All these big things in my life were happening at once. I wanted to go to my brother’s graduation from the Army. I was just about to leave Kansas and move to New York. And then I had to be in LA for the callback on my 21st birthday. My friends, who are older, had been waiting for me to turn 21, and we had a canoe trip planned to celebrate. They were all giving me grief for abandoning the canoe trip so I could fly out for the callback.”Markuss made it to his brother’s graduation from the Army, and then flew directly to the audition. Although a bit tired, he performed well and was selected to co-host The Line of Scrimmage.“This is a real life-changing thing for me. I’ve been through an apartment fire in 2006 where I lost everything. I’ve been busting my butt all summer hauling hay, building fences and collecting scrap metal just to get by. Neighbors would give me their scrap copper wire so I could get money from recycling it, money I could put toward an education. I’ve been really looking for some way for me to fit in, what would be a good career for me, something that would feel right for me. And this seems really great. But I’m going to use my earnings towards education, whether continuing in this or in construction management.”The Line of Scrimmage is territory Markuss knows well. And now he’s taking it to a new level. Look for him every week on the Toyota Halftime Show on NBC Sunday Night Football.
TODAY'S FEATURED VIDEO
JOEY'S VIDEO BLOGS Summerville Video Blogs Martha's Vineyard Video Blogs Lovington Video Blogs Texarkana Video Blogs Steubenville Video Blogs While Markuss and Joey travel across the country in their Toyota Tundra, Joey keeps a video camera by his side. Aside from what you see on TV, this is the trip seen through Markuss and Joey's eyes. Everything you see on these video blogs was filmed and edited by Joey and Markuss themselves. Enjoy