For at least one play, Jalin Marshall may have thought he was back between the lines of the football field at Middletown High School.
Marshall, who was a dynamic quarterback during his playing days for the Middies, had opportunities to play the same position at some schools, but he elected to come to Ohio State to fill the famous H-back role in Urban Meyer's high-powered offense.
Over the last few games for the 16th-ranked Buckeyes, Marshall's role in the Ohio State offense has expanded, though. He's taken a few direct snaps out of the Wildcat formation, and Saturday night in a 55-14 rout of Illinois, he actually got to throw a pass.
It was incomplete, but the redshirt freshman said it felt good to let one fly again.
“I threw a pass tonight. It didn’t make it there, but that felt good," Marshall said following the win. "They are expanding the package and I feel real comfortable with it.”
He feels comfortable with it, probably, because Meyer feels more confident in Marshall's ability as a playmaker for this Ohio State offense.
"We've been working on Jalin playing quarterback first because he's very talented," Meyer said. "Second of all, whenever you start getting you hear these stories — I've never been down to our third and fourth string quarterback — but you always try to be ready in case something happens. And he's a gifted guy so we're going to expand his package each week."
It's probably not a coincidence that Meyer and the Ohio State coaching staff showed Marshall attempting a pass one week prior to a showdown with No. 8 Michigan State, either. It gives the Spartans a little something extra to prepare for.
But Marshall isn't exactly an easy guy to game plan around. He's also a threat to run the ball out out of the backfield as well as catch passes as a receiver.
Against the Illini, he had a career-high five carries for 42 yards that included a 30-yard touchdown run — the first rushing TD of his career. He also caught an 18-yard pass and nearly sprung free for a score on a punt return near the end of the first half.
His success can be attributed to his comfort level in Ohio State's offense.
“It feels very comfortable. Like I said, last week when I talked to you guys I’m getting more confident," Marshall said. "Definitely being back there I feel confident because I’m comfortable back there.”
He threw a pass, caught a pass, returned a punt and ran the ball out of the backfield against the Fighting Illini. So, what's next for Marshall?
“I’m not sure what they’re gonna have me do next," he said. "Like I said, I’ll do anything they ask.”
