Good News: Michigan Wolverine Have Just Announced The…..Read more

Jordan Marshall, a former four-star running back from Cincinnati (Ohio) Archbishop, committed to Michigan in the 2024 recruiting class instead of his home-state Ohio State Buckeyes. The Wolverines’ coaching staff is hoping that Marshall can increase the excitement on special teams this upcoming fall.

Marshall returned three kickoffs for 51 yards (or 17 yards per return) in his maize and blue debut last Saturday versus Texas. Wednesday, Michigan’s special teams coach JB Brown discussed the team’s choice to start Marshall instead of senior tailback Kalel Mullings on kick returns.

“Jordan, isn’t he a fantastic player? Yeah, I mean it. Like Kalel, he’s a young freshman who shows a lot of promise as a game-changer, according to Brown. Both of them will likely return to that spot eventually. However, we possess a number of highly explosive athletes, therefore our main objective is to maximize the utilization of our personnel.

Wolverines of Michigan State University The Mullings family

Kalel Mullings (20) of the Michigan Wolverines rushes the ball during the second half of a 2024 game between the Wolverines and the Fresno State Bulldogs at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images and Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images are required to be credited.

In Michigan’s season opener against Fresno State, Mullings had a solid return for a touchdown, going the distance on three attempts for 74 yards. But with 15 carries for 92 yards, the senior also led the team in attempts against the Bulldogs. Although Mullings was key in Michigan’s victory over the Bulldogs, the Wolverines are wary of putting too much pressure on the senior, particularly so early in the season.

“I don’t think we went in a different direction,” remarked Brown. I believe our main goal was to diversify the carries and lighten the load a bit. I am really looking forward to Jordan. He was outstanding in our game versus Texas, but he’ll need to keep it up all week.

So far this year, what has Brown’s message been to his returning players?

“I just think we want to be aggressive,” he pointed out. “There’s been a lot more kick returns, I think, already, but we want to be aggressive, and we want to continue to create the field position for our offense.”

Marshall was ranked third best in Ohio in his recruiting class, fourth best in running backs, and 78th best overall when he graduated from high school. More than twenty-five FBS colleges extended offers to the native Cincinnatian, including not only Michigan and Ohio State but also Oregon, Tennessee, Missouri, and others.

Marshall hopes to make an instant impression on special teams at Ann Arbor now that he is a Wolverine.