Keith Marshall has decided to end his Georgia career after this season, despite having one year of eligibility left.
Marshall, a redshirt junior, approached coach Mark Richt a few weeks ago to make final a decision he has mulled for a while. Marshall will participate in Senior Day ceremonies before Saturday’s game against Georgia Southern.
“He thought that he’d like to declare this as his senior season, to which I said that’s fine. I blessed it,” Richt said on Tuesday. “Obviously he’s come in and played extremely well for us throughout his career. He’s going to be graduating.
“He just wants to go ahead and move on and take his shot at the NFL when this season is over. He wants to finish strong like the rest of the seniors, but he’ll be in the ceremony.”
This has always been a possibility, as Richt said last December — “If he plays next season and feels like it’s time to move on …” – and Marshall confirmed in September that this could be his final year.
“I’ll cross that bridge when I get there,” Marshall said at the time.
Marshall is eligible for a fifth year after playing in less than four games in 2014 because of a knee injury. But he will not pursue the fifth year. He is expected to earn a degree in Human Development & Family Science this year.
Despite the loss of tailback Nick Chubb, Marshall has rushed for only 255 yards and three touchdowns in nine games this year. He didn’t play in Saturday’s win at Auburn because of an ankle injury. After a standout freshman year — 759 yards and eight touchdowns — running in tandem with Todd Gurley, Marshall’s continued injury problems allowed him to get on the field for just eight games in the 2013 and 2014 seasons combined.
“He fought back and he had some good runs this year and he’s contributed really well to the team,” junior tailback Brendan Douglas said. “He’s just a good team leader too. We’re going to miss him for sure.
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