PROSPECT SUMMARY

In 2019, LSU wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. was “the other guy” in a historic Tigers offense that featured dynamic talents at receiver in Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. With neither Chase nor Jefferson in the mix in 2020, it was Marshall’s chance to shine and he took full advantage. In seven games in 2020, Marshall averaged more than 100 receiving yards per game and hauled in double-digit touchdown receptions for the second consecutive season. Marshall is a versatile receiver that has proven himself both from the slot and out wide while attacking all levels of the field with consistency. He offers terrific size, physicality, hands, ball skills, run after catch ability, route-running skills, and overall technical-refinement. Marshall did miss three games in 2019 with a foot injury, had some minor drop issues creep up in 2020, and has some inconsistent moments as a blocker, but there isn’t much in the way of notable concerns as he enters the next level. Marshall has the potential to become a productive piece of an NFL offense that can produce in a variety of ways.

Ideal Role: Featured receiver given opportunities to move around the formation.

Scheme Fit: Marshall isn’t a scheme-restricted talent and he’s capable of producing in a variety of roles.

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Joe Marino

Games watched: Texas (2019), Clemson (2019), Alabama (2019), Auburn (2019), Missouri (2020), Mississippi State (2020), Texas A&M (2020).

Best Game Studied: Missouri (2020)

Worst Game Studied: Clemson (2019)

Route Running: Marshall offers a unique blend of being able to uncover quickly with twitch and deceptiveness but also get down the field and make seamless vertical cuts to get loose behind the defense. His ability to generate vertical push in his route stems opens up the entire route tree and keeps cornerbacks guessing. Marshall does well to adjust on the fly and attack space against zone. He’s experienced working from the slot and taking advantage of runways where he gets on the toes of corners and gets open, but also from wide alignments.

Hands: Marshall features soft and plucky hands that routinely snatch the football outside of his frame and hangs on through contact. He does a great job of adjusting to the ball in all directions while demonstrating natural technique to get his hands aligned. After a total of four drops in 2018 and 2019, Marshall had a modest spike in 2020 to seven drops, but my exposures revealed the reason for those drops as being too eager to produce after the catch and taking his eyes off the ball.

Separation: Marshall’s blend of size, physicality, twitch, acceleration, release variance, and long speed leads to a world of possibilities as a route-runner who produces consistent separation. When Marshall opens his stride to attack the defense down the field, his ability to eat up turf makes it challenging for corners to keep pace with. Additionally, Marshall has developed wonderfully running more shallow routes where he illustrates deceptive footwork and precise timing to uncover quickly.

Release Package: Marshall functioned primarily from the slot in 2020 but primarily out wide in 2019, which provided a terrific sample size to get a feel for both his ability to clear press coverage and take advantage of early cushion. He has a variety of techniques at his disposal for defeating press coverage and he rarely if ever gets hung on contact early in routes. Marshall does well to vary his releases and set up his breaks early in the route.

Run After Catch: Marshall is physical and decisive after the catch, which leads to consistent production after securing the reception. He sees the field cleanly and makes timely decisions to get up the field and his burst often leads to broken pursuit angles and large chunks of yards. There was a notable uptick in Marshall’s production in 2020 when he had more chances to operate from the slot.

Ball Skills: Marshall is assertive at the catch point and he does a good job positioning his frame, shielding off defenders, and forcing them to play through him to make a play on the ball. His ball skills are outstanding and the game slows down for him at the catch point. He tracks and adjusts to the football wonderfully and has terrific control of his frame. Marshall excels in contested situations, seemingly unfazed by contact.

Football IQ: Marshall’s ascension on the field and taking on a bigger role every year in college speaks to his football intelligence. He is productive with a translatable skill set to all levels of the field and the game appears to come very naturally to him. He’s technically-refined with terrific spatial awareness.

Versatility: Marshall can play any receiver position and is a threat to produce at all levels of the field. He can execute a full route tree, get open deep, and uncover quickly in the short areas of the field. Marshall has almost no experience playing special teams in college and has no experience as a kick or punt returner.

Competitive Toughness: Marshall is a physical and assertive receiver that battles through contact and is an alpha in the passing game. While there are some outstanding moments of blocking on tape, the overall results are a mixed bag and he’ll whiff on a key block on the perimeter. Marshall’s competitive spirit really shines as a route-runner, at the catch point, and when he turns into a runner.

Big-Play Ability: Whether it’s ripping off a big gain by producing after the catch or winning down the field, Marshall is a big-play threat. He averaged an impressive 15 yards per reception for his college career despite a wide range of targets to all levels of the field. His size, speed, and ball skills should make him a dynamic vertical weapon in the NFL.

Prospect Comparison: DeVante Parker (2015 NFL Draft, Miami Dolphins)