Bio Blast: Meet Top-100 Michigan EDGE signee Nate Marshall
2025 Fenwick (Ill.) Oak Park four-star EDGE Nate Marshall officially signed with Michigan Wolverines football on Wednesday. Here’s everything you need to know about the top-100 prospect.
The Skinny
Height: 6-4
Weight: 265
Industry Ranking: No. 7 defensive lineman, No. 59 overall
Interesting Facts: Michigan has five current players on the roster from Illinois, but Marshall is the only one in the signing class from the state.
Recruitment
Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito has known the Marshall family for years, and that relationship paid off when he got the job this past spring. Esposito, who has ties to the Chicago area, forged a bond with Nate quickly and actually earned his commitment in April. However, in August Marshall flipped to Auburn. In a pre-signing day surprise Tuesday, though, Marshall re-flipped to Michigan, a big win for Esposito and Co.
He said it
“I really like Michigan. I like how they utilize their defensive line and have their defensive ends play out of a two-point stance. I like playing out of a two-point stance because you’re able to visualize more. They’ve also produced a lot of great players.”
— Marshall
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- 1Breaking
Jackson Arnold
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- 2New
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- 3
Lincoln Riley
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- 4Hot
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They said it
“Whatever the defense wants him to do. I think he’ll end up doing a great job at it. He’s been a game changer for us. We’ve had him on offense as well. Any time we have him out there, he has to be accounted for on both sides of the ball. He’s a mismatch nightmare.”
— Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick head coach Matt Battaglia on where Marshall projects at the next level
Scouting report
Nathaniel Marshall’s original plan was to star as a basketball player. His mother Khara played at DePaul, and his uncle, Ken Norman, played at Illinois before enjoying a lengthy career in the NBA. But during a summer math enrichment class before his freshman year, a chance conversation with his teacher influenced Marshall to come out for football. “The first day that Nate walked into the classroom, I knew he was someone I needed to get on the football field,” Dominic Bolton, the teacher who also happens to be a coach on Fenwick’s freshman team, told the Journal of Oak Park and River Forest. “The first reason was mainly because of his size; he towered over all the freshmen. Every day I would ask Nate, ‘What are your thoughts on playing football?’ His response was, ‘I’ll think about it.’ On the last day of class I told him, ‘I’ll see you at the first practice.’ He didn’t say anything, looked at me, and smiled when walking out. Sure enough, he showed up the first day of practice, and the legend of Nate Marshall began.” During the 2023 season, Marshall was named his league’s defensive player of the year after recording 38 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, 13 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles and four blocked kicks. On offense, he had four touchdown receptions.
