ESPN: Incoming RB Jordan Marshall 'everything Michigan wants' at position
The Michigan Wolverines‘ 2024 football recruiting class was headlined by four-star running back Jordan Marshall, the nation’s No. 87 prospect out of Cincinnati, Ohio. U-M went into Buckeye territory to pull the young talent into the room, and it could be a move that pays off relatively quickly.
ESPN’s Tom Luginbill took a look at the top running back prospects in the country and how they might factor in right off the bat and said the Michigan signee fits the bill of the types of players they look for.
RELATED: Trainer of RB signee Jordan Marshall: ‘Michigan was home from day one’
“Marshall is everything Michigan wants in a running back — tough, physical and fantastic after contact,” Luginbill wrote. “He has the power to press the hole, but also the vision to exploit the cutback lane when available. Michigan takes so much pride in winning at the point of attack and it’s the back’s job to get to the second level and extend runs. The only issue for Marshall? He’s joining a running backs group that is six-deep, including returning feature back Donovan Edwards.”
The battle for running back snaps this fall is going to be intense, but Marshall will have to wait a little longer for his turn to crack Michigan’s rotation. He is not set to enroll until the summer, which leaves Edwards, graduate Kalel Mullings, senior Tavierre Dunlap and sophomores Cole Cabana and Ben Hall. Given that he and classmate Micah Ka’apana will start at the back of the pecking order, it might take a big effort to get early time in the rotation.
Marshall might have the goods to turn heads at Michigan early, though. He will be the first Ohio Mr. Football winner to attend the program since Charles Woodson in 1994.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Dylan Sampson declares
Tennessee RB entering NFL Draft
- 2New
Deion Burks
OU WR out for Armed Forced Bowl
- 3
Desean Jackson
Finalizing deal to be college HC
- 4
Jim Larranaga
Miami HC set to step down
- 5Hot
CFP selection process
Urban Meyer predicts changes
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“Jordan is a special, special … I mean, he’s special,” running backs coach Mike Hart told TheWolverine.com during the College Football Playoff. “He’s like Blake. Talk about a replacement for Blake: It’s Jordan Marshall, as far as who he is as a person. He’s a great teammate, and the way he carries himself is really, really special. His family [is special, too].
“To get him, that was huge. You talk about a head-to-head battle with Ohio State for an Ohio kid, family ties to Ohio State … He chose what he felt was right, and we’re excited about it.”
Marshall ran for 1,550 yards and 17 touchdowns on 254 carries during his senior year at Archbishop Moeller HS.
“There’s plenty of carries to go around as the Wolverines led the Power 5 in rushing touchdowns and was third in the Power 5 in total run plays,” On3’s Cody Bellaire wrote recently. “They are also 1 of 19 Power 5 teams who had two individual running backs carry the ball at least 100 times in the same season. Marshall has the opportunity to insert himself into an excellent situation and thrive very early on in his career.”
