A former high school quarterback who lined up at seemingly every position last season for Ohio State, it’s safe to say Jalin Marshall is quite the versatile player.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that in spring practice this year, Marshall is trying his hand full time at a new spot.
“I’ve moved Jalin outside just for the spring,” Buckeyes wide receivers coach Zach Smith said Tuesday. “The way our defense plays, so much press-man on the outside, I wanted Jalin to go in and get that work on the outside.”
Marshall primarily worked at H-back during Ohio State’s run to the national championship last season. By year’s end, he was the best option at that position.
And while he still might be, the staff wants to see what Marshall looks like taking full-time reps at an outside wide receiver position. The Buckeyes are trying to replace Evan Spencer and Devin Smith — two of their top three players at the position — from last year’s team.
“The flexibility is what I’m training [Marshall] for.”– Zach Smith
Nothing is set in stone yet, obviously, but Smith is exploring his options with Marshall.
“He left the year as the starting H and the best H we had, the hybrid, the slot receiver, so I’m not going to put him outside just because we can if he’s the best one in the slot,” Smith said. “Now, maybe we come out of fall camp and say he’s one of the best three and there’s a different guy in the slot and he’s outside, sure, that could happen. The flexibility is what I’m training him for.”
Playing out at wide receiver isn’t exactly new to Marshall as he took some reps there last season. He showcased flashes of his talent by making some tough catches and certainly showed he’s capable of making a move, if needed.
Right now, though, the move is about developing the talented redshirt sophomore into a more well-rounded player.
“I wanted to get him press-man work because that’s something you don’t get a lot of in the slot,” Smith said. “I think to take his game to the next level, that was a critical piece.”
It will certainly be a learning process for Marshall, but one he shouldn't have any problem with. After all, he was one of Ohio State's most dangerous weapons on offense last season. Next year, that won't change much.
“Even in some of our games against Alabama and teams like that where they did press the slot, he was OK at it but he wasn’t great at it,” Smith said. “So I’m trying to get him great at it so even if he is in the slot, he can be dynamic in any situation.”
