*** We were at Oak Park (Mich.) High on Friday night to watch 2024 Southfield (Mich.) A&T quarterback and Michigan target Isaiah Marshall. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh offered Marshall when he was just a 7th grader.
Here's some thoughts and observations on his performance ...
*** Marshall threw for three touchdowns and ran for a score in the 30-6 win. He was clearly the best player on his team's offense, leading them up and down the field on a shorthanded Oak Park defense that was without Rivasl100 defensive tackle and top Michigan 2021 target Rayshaun Benny, who was out with a minor leg injury.
*** The word that kept coming to mind when watching Marshall was "poise." He has very good pocket awareness, especially for just being a high school freshman. He stayed in the pocket and went through his progressions, but when he was flushed out, Marshall was under control rolling out and keeping his eyes downfield. It was very impressive.
*** He actually reminded us of Dallas Cowboys signal caller Dak Prescott in that regard and some others. Prescott doesn't have elite speed as a runner of arm strength as a thrower, but he remains under control and does just about everything well, which has made him a successful player in the NFL.
*** Marshall does the same. He doesn't have a rocket arm, but he threw some 50-yard deep balls that looked effortless — and they were on target, too. He connected on a couple, but it was clear Southfield, an 0-3 team coming into Friday's matchup, doesn't have the receivers to run under some of his throws.
*** The intermediate plays were easier for the athletes he has at receiver to come up with. On the opening possession of the game, Southfield went for it on a fourth-and-20, converting behind a beautiful strike from Marshall. There were a few more third downs in which Marshall hung in there and found a receiver at the sticks to move the chains.
*** Marshall is a smart player, too. Pre-snap, he looks over the line and makes adjustments. One example came on this goal-line play where Marshall checked the call — presumably a run play — at the line, before throwing a quick slant over the middle for six.
*** We'll have Marshall's full game highlights on our YouTube channel and the site, so keep an eye out for those.
Here's some thoughts and observations on his performance ...
*** Marshall threw for three touchdowns and ran for a score in the 30-6 win. He was clearly the best player on his team's offense, leading them up and down the field on a shorthanded Oak Park defense that was without Rivasl100 defensive tackle and top Michigan 2021 target Rayshaun Benny, who was out with a minor leg injury.
*** The word that kept coming to mind when watching Marshall was "poise." He has very good pocket awareness, especially for just being a high school freshman. He stayed in the pocket and went through his progressions, but when he was flushed out, Marshall was under control rolling out and keeping his eyes downfield. It was very impressive.
*** He actually reminded us of Dallas Cowboys signal caller Dak Prescott in that regard and some others. Prescott doesn't have elite speed as a runner of arm strength as a thrower, but he remains under control and does just about everything well, which has made him a successful player in the NFL.
*** Marshall does the same. He doesn't have a rocket arm, but he threw some 50-yard deep balls that looked effortless — and they were on target, too. He connected on a couple, but it was clear Southfield, an 0-3 team coming into Friday's matchup, doesn't have the receivers to run under some of his throws.
*** The intermediate plays were easier for the athletes he has at receiver to come up with. On the opening possession of the game, Southfield went for it on a fourth-and-20, converting behind a beautiful strike from Marshall. There were a few more third downs in which Marshall hung in there and found a receiver at the sticks to move the chains.
*** Marshall is a smart player, too. Pre-snap, he looks over the line and makes adjustments. One example came on this goal-line play where Marshall checked the call — presumably a run play — at the line, before throwing a quick slant over the middle for six.
*** We'll have Marshall's full game highlights on our YouTube channel and the site, so keep an eye out for those.
