Just as few people expected the Auburn Tigers to grab BCS tickets at the beginning of the 2013 season, few expected Nick Marshall to grab the job as the Tigers starting quarterback. A junior college transfer and one-time Georgia Bulldogs defensive back, Marshall was seen as a long shot contender behind incoming hot-shot freshman Jeremy Johnson. However, it was Marshall that showed the most poise during fall camp, where he grabbed the starting job and has not looked back. In 12 games this season, Marshall has completed over 60 percent of his passes for 1,759 yards and 12 touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 1,023 yards and 11 scores. Perhaps most importantly, Marshall has been the engine behind a team now one win away from the national title.
Marshall has proven to be a perfect fit in Gus Malzahn’s run-based offense, helping to take some attention away from Heisman Trophy finalist RB Tre Mason. The former DB’s athleticism is evident whenever he takes off on a designed run or scramble, and with a long run of 62 yards on the season, Marshall has the speed to take it the distance on any play. It wasn’t until the fifth game of the season, against Ole Miss, that Marshall’s importance to the running game was truly established, as he racked up 140 yards on the ground, averaging 10 yards per carry. From that game on out, Marshall has a key component of the Tigers’ rushing attack, averaging 105 yards a contest. In fact, one could argue that it was Marshall’s emergence as a compliment to Mason in the running game that allowed Auburn to snag BCs tickets.
While Marshall’s ability to throw the ball has not been a huge part of the offense, he has efficiency distributed the ball when called upon. He has only thrown five interceptions this season, and has generally done a good job of protecting the football. His mobility is also an asset in the passing game, demonstrated most clearly on his game-tying, 39-yard scoring pass to Sammy Coates with just 32 seconds remaining against Alabama. Marshall’s passing ability may not be on full display in the BCS Championship Game, but his ability to extend plays will be key against Florida State’s aggressive, athletic defense.
About the author – Brent Larsen is a lifetime sports fan. He follows the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, as well as college football, golf, tennis, extreme sports and everything else in the sports realm. Brent writes for several sports blogs during his free time.
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