Releasing All He Had Taken In
Marshall seeking more from late burst last season
Braidon Nourse
Justin Marshall was engulfed by his teammates in the locker room after Colorado State football beat San Diego State last season.
He was the target of countless teammates spraying water bottles and was the recipient of a free ride as they marched around with a potential star-in-the-making in their arms.
He even got a ball with his stats written on them: 119 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown. A 22-19 victory over the Aztecs.
The celebration was for good reason. In the 10th game of the Rams’ season, the freshman from Merrillville, Ind., became the first and only CSU running back in 2023 to eclipse 100 rushing yards in a single game, scoring a touchdown in the process.
It happened to be the first game of his college career. He became the first Rams freshman to tally triple-digit rushing yards in his debut since Ron Harris did it in 1974.
“It meant a lot because I had to do a lot to be able to get on the field,” Marshall said. “I had to get right in the classroom, had to learn the plays. It was all really a great experience that I went through to get on the field and show my talents.”
All necessary things to have a successful debut, but none of them weighed heaviest on his mind. Really, the focus was just one thing:
Do. Not. Fumble.
“I was a little nervous, I was like, ‘I can’t mess anything up,’” Marshall said. “I especially cannot put the ball on the ground, that’s what we emphasize, because that’s his job here (pointing to running backs coach Jeremy Moses) and I didn’t want to mess up his job by putting the ball on the ground. So, I held onto that thing real tight.”
The stat line was very much a byproduct of the preparation. Perhaps not as extensive as he would have liked, but the quality far outweighed quantity.
Some players opt to join the team for spring practice, but Marshall arrived late in July just before summer camp started. Moses knew Marshall had the talent to be on the field in the rotation with guys like Kobe Johnson, Avery Morrow and Vann Schield.
Both sides just needed a bit more acclimation.
“It was just a matter of getting him comfortable and set up for success in the classroom before we threw that huge load on him, having a starting role at tailback in football,” Moses said. “We tried to really set him up for success and tier those things before he had to step into that role so when he did, he was ready to tackle not just football, but the school as well.”
Then Johnson and Morrow both suffered injuries which would keep them out for different stretches of the season. Schield took over and did a good job, tallying three touchdowns and nearly 400 rushing yards in nine games as part of an offense which doesn’t favor the run game.
He’s a guy who is always asking for more materials to learn from.Jeremy Moses
Eventually, though, Moses was comfortable enough to unleash his secret freshman weapon.
Mostly because Marshall does what he can to be a true student of the game.
“He’s a guy who is always asking for more materials to learn from,” Moses said. “Off the field he takes the time to ask questions, take notes and get a good understanding of what we’re doing. He spends time away from meeting schedules and practices to get an even better understanding, so he’s really dedicated to the process.
“It’s huge because it’s just a reflection on how consistently and how well I can coach because he’s eating everything up that I’m saying. It’s just a matter of me being simple and being on point so he can execute what I’m coaching.”
Execute he did. Marshall never started in the final three games of the season, yet he was the team’s leading rusher in each. He added 98 yards against Nevada, then went for 94 and a touchdown in the season finale at Hawaii. He showed he can carry a load, averaging 19 carries a game and 103.7 yards. He averaged 5.5 per carry, and his four explosive rushes (15 yards or longer) led the Rams’ backs. In just three games, he was the second-leading ground gainer on the team for the campaign.
His commitment to learning all he can impresses Moses the most. It also caught the eye of Morrow.
A veteran back entering his fifth season, Morrow has seen the steps Marshall has taken, too. All parties within the team knew it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see him flourish once given an opportunity.
Seeing the actual product on the field was still a proud moment for Morrow, who has also done all he can to acclimate and prepare Marshall for the moment.
“For one, he doesn’t talk that much, so just knowing he’s focused, and he wants to play,” Morrow said. “You can see the way he practices, the way he’s always side-by-side with Moses just listening and trying to comprehend everything going on. College football is different from high school football; it’s a lot faster, every play matters.
“Then from his first or second carry against San Diego State, he went for 15, 20 yards, you can’t ask for better than that. So, him making plays, I feel like it’s made everybody comfortable.”
As for the approach for spring ball this year — Marshall’s first — the goal and the means by which to get there remain the same: be a sponge, seek information and get better.
Moses sees the flashes. The performance against San Diego State was not a fluke. He just wants to see more flash, more regularly.
“Really, it’s just consistency. We know he can run fast at times, now it’s just, ‘Can you run fast when there’s not a big window there?’” Moses said. “His next step is to be physical and consistent when things aren’t developed, being able to find 3 yards when there isn’t much to get. But he’s on the right track, I’m proud of where he’s at.”
With Morrow and Schield returning for another season, as well as Johnson coming back from injury for his sixth season in college, he knows he’s in the midst of a tough race for playing time.
The Rams averaged more than 200 yards less per game on the ground than through the air last season. But from a team perspective, having weapons there opens up Jay Norvell’s passing scheme to more opportunities.
All four backs have shown they have what it takes. But what separates them is their ability and willingness to work together. Of course, everyone wants to play as much as possible on Saturdays, but they also know the goal is much larger than themselves.
Something from which Marshall has benefited greatly.
“They’re always on me to get better,” Marshall said. “If I mess up, they always correct me so I can do better. That’s really the big point, and Avery is a big point for me, too. He always keeps my head up high even if I do make a mistake.”
And it’s mutual for Morrow, who wants to leave his mark on the program in any way he can. One of them, he said, is to leave the running back room better than it ever was with him on the team.
A job made much easier when young backs are as talented and eager to learn as Marshall.
“It’s easier to pass the torch. This is mine and Kobe’s last year, so just to be able to give off information and for him to soak it all in is huge,” Morrow said. “I’ve been through a lot in my college career, and I want everyone after me at Colorado State to be 10 times better than me. That’s the goal.
“It’s so much easier with a guy like that compared to somebody who’s cocky, arrogant and doesn’t really listen. The longer you’re with a group of guys, the more you understand them. You understand the personalities and that will always be a better outcome.”
A better outcome for sure, but any player will tell you the best is having a true impact on winning. Better yet, one worthy of a post-win parade around the locker room.