Ohio’s top-ranked running back for the class of 2024 could be climbing up the Buckeyes' priority target list.
Four-star Cincinnati tailback Jordan Marshall showed off his potential as an all-purpose back in Archbishop Moeller’s season-opening 49-31 victory against Massillon Friday, scoring two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown.
Huge game last night in Massillon, Ohio. @BigMoeFootball showed that they have one the best WR-RB duos in Ohio in senior receiver @TennelB and junior running back @J_MARSH2024 @OhioD1R1HSFB pic.twitter.com/zxPt8wWNDa
— NextGenSportsMedia (@nxtgencertified) August 20, 2022
“It was a great time, my team played really well and the line played amazing,” Marshall told Eleven Warriors. “It was a big win for us, and we have to keep it rolling this Friday.”
Marshall, who has been on varsity for Archbishop Moeller since he was a freshman, showcased elite agility and the ability to run in-between tackles with power in the victory.
“I think Jordan has gotten stronger from a year ago,” Archbishop Moeller coach Mark Elder said. “You see him physically running through more tackles and carrying people longer on runs and things along those lines. He’s continued to progress, and that’s a testament to his work ethic. He works hard in the offseason in the weight room.
My goodness, @J_Marsh2024. @MoellerFootball has themselves a RB. pic.twitter.com/HbRMTSDdBU
— Ryan (@Isley23) August 19, 2022
“I really think he’s a complete back. He can really do everything you’re looking for him to do. He’s a capable runner, has good vision and has good speed. He’s not a one-trick pony in the run game. You can run him downhill between the tackles and get tough yards and get out in space. He’s also really good in pass protection.”
Ohio State has been interested in Marshall’s talents long before his season opener after Ryan Day and Tony Alford offered the 5-foot-11, 195-pound tailback following a recruiting camp on June 14 after Marshall impressed Alford in individual drills.
Cincinnati four-star 2024 running back Jordan Marshall (@J_MARSH2024) going through routes. pic.twitter.com/C2HLOnXtUV
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) June 14, 2022
“It was a big deal in my family,” Marshall said of the offer. “My family was super proud of me. At the end of the day, I just wanted to work my tail off so I could have that opportunity to go there.”
Marshall’s college decision won’t be an emotional one, as he said he wasn’t really a Buckeyes fan growing up. He remembers watching Ohio State with his grandfather because he is a die-hard OSU fan. His grandfather was one of the first calls Marshall made after getting the news from Ryan Day.
“Just to be in there and have the feeling that your home state has offered you is a big deal. We got to call my grandpa and break the news. He was super excited. It was really just a cool experience.”
Marshall is considered the 194th-best player nationally and the 11th-best running back in 2024 per 247Sports’ composite rankings. He said he'd developed a strong rapport with the Ohio State coaching staff to this point.
“They’re very welcoming when I go there,” Marshall said of OSU coaches. “They think highly of me because I’m here, and they want guys to stay that are from Ohio. I have a really good relationship with coach Alford. I love what he’s doing there. When I went to the camp, he pushed me to my limit.”
Currently, Marshall has around 24 Division I offers. The Buckeyes have already established themselves as a top option to land the in-state talent.
“All I’m going to say is that it’s at the top. It is definitely up there with some other schools I’m looking at still,” Marshall said when asked where the OSU offers ranks among those he’s received. “I’m still trying to take my time, but it’s definitely up there with about five schools. I’d say Ohio State plays really good football in and out, and they play in big games. I want to play in big games, and I think it would be really cool to play for my state potentially.”
Other schools meriting strong consideration from Marshall include Michigan, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Northwestern, Auburn and South Carolina.
“I think we’re still trying to look at all the opportunities that I have,” Marshall said
Marshall and his family are trying to figure out the best date for him to get back to Columbus to attend a game sometime this fall. He thinks the Sept. 24 game against Wisconsin is the most realistic date, but that visit has yet to be set in stone.
“Right now, I think we’re looking at the Wisconsin game,” Marshall said. “But we’re just trying to make something work with my schedule because we play some Saturday games. So whatever game we can make work, I’ll definitely be up at an Ohio State game this year. I just hope the atmosphere is electric and that I good a good experience out of it. I really wanted to go to the Notre Dame game, but we have a Saturday game that weekend. I just want to go there and see what it would be like if I was playing there and meet some people that I’d potentially be playing with there.”
While there’s no set date Marshall wants to wrap his recruitment up, he doesn’t envision his recruitment dragging out until signing day of his senior year.
“I’d say sometime next summer is the most likely time period,” Marshall said of a decision timeline. “I’d say just family and relationships are big to me. I want to play at the highest level I can play at and play against the best people I can play against. I also want to have a strong academic profile.”
Winston to visit for Michigan game
A 2025 tight end with an Ohio State offer has scheduled a fall visit to OSU. Georgia prospect Emaree Winston told Eleven Warriors he plans on attending the Buckeyes’ regular season finale against Michigan in late November.
“I’ll be there for the team up north game,” Winston said. “Hopefully, two more games (as well), but the team up north game for sure.”
Winston picked up his OSU offer on June 28, a few weeks after he attended a recruiting camp in Columbus.
“When I heard from coach (Kevin) Wilson that they were going to offer me, it made my day because Ohio State is always one of the top schools in college football,” Winston said in July. “Ohio State is for sure a top school for me,” Winston said. “Being able to play under coach Wilson and playing in the enormous stadium (would be great).”
Entire St. John Bosco team receives NIL deal
Team-oriented NIL deals are becoming more common in the infancy stage of the NIL era. Thursday, Ohio State announced a teamwide NIL deal of its own with the launch of the Columbus NIL Club. But those deals have also trickled down to the high school level.
Per On3, KONGiQ, a sports performance company, dished out the first-ever teamwide high school NIL deal earlier this week to each member of the St. John Bosco football team, a national powerhouse program located in Bellflower, California, with more than 70 players on the roster. The amount each player would earn should they choose to participate is unknown. California is one of 17 states that allow high school players to profit from their name, image and likeness.
St. John Bosco boasts plenty of Ohio State targets across multiple recruiting classes, including 2023 five-star edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, 2024 five-star safety Peyton Woodyard, 2024 four-star cornerback Marcelles Williams and 2024 four-star linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa.
