All Jalin Marshall had to do was make a simple move and he would have made a play Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has said multiple times he's capable of making.
Unfortunately for Marshall, he didn't make that move. He got tackled by the punter on a would-be touchdown on a punt return, causing the redshirt freshman to take some heat from his teammates and coaches.
"Oh, I was giving Dontre (Wilson), Jalin and Curtis Samuel a hard time. They got caught today, each one of them, so they'll — one guy got caught by a punter, I think, and so we'll give those guys a hard time," Meyer said after Saturday's 66-0 win over Kent State. "But I think — I'm really excited about our young skill, and I was hoping to try to get Buckeye Nation and the stadium to see some of those guys out in open space, and Curtis Samuel and Dontre and Jalin are just off the top of my head guys I'm excited to get out in open space."
Marshall hadn't had a ton of opportunities to showcase his skill set prior to the game against the Golden Flashes, however. He rotates with Wilson as the H-back on offense and the two are also Ohio State's top punt returners.
"It's real close. Jalin's also getting more and more involved in the offense," Meyer said Wednesday of the battle between the two. "He's done a nice job. He didn't play real well early in the year, but the last game he did a good job. He's been more consistent."
At 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, Marshall was a high school quarterback and is obviously learning a new position. He didn't find the end zone on that punt return against the Golden Flashes, but he did score his first career touchdown with a 3-yard reception in the third quarter. The first of what should be many in a Buckeyes' uniform.
“I’ve had some injuries and setbacks, but the journey is worth it," Marshall said after the game. "This is a great university and crowd to play for. I feel great being able to get in the end zone and help my team every week.”
Marshall's talent doesn't seem to be in question. He's got a unique skill set not many players in college football have. So if it's not his talent, what is it that held Marshall back from making an impact last season as a true freshman and in Ohio State's first two games of this season?
"His whole issue is just the 4 to 6 mentality that we have, you've gotta go as hard as you can," Meyer said. "When he goes as hard as he can, he's really good and I finally saw that last week. Even on plays that he didn't get the ball, he was stretching the defense. The good thing is, he's very knowledgeable about all the spots and if he keeps moving up the ladder maybe those two will be on the field at the same time."
Seeing both Marshall and Wilson on the field together would certainly be interesting. It could provide Ohio State's offense with a unique wrinkle, but it could also have a different impact on special teams.
The Buckeyes have used co-punt returners before when they had Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes under Jim Tressel during the 2004-05 season.
While those two were both natural wide receivers and Marshall and Wilson are hybrid-type players, it certainly presents Ohio State with an interesting dynamic if one can't separate from the other and it may be something the coaching staff should take a look at. It has worked before.
But whatever his role winds up being, Marshall is comfortable just trying to help the team win games.
"We have a lot to work on, and as we grow as a team, we’ll continue to get better,” he said.
