By Ray Glier
Special to the AJC
MOBILE, Ala. — Nick Marshall has heard for several years that he sprayed the ball around too much as a passer. He has heard or been told he was not tall enough to play quarterback. He has heard or been told that his skills as a quarterback did not translate to the NFL.
The former Auburn quarterback finally decided Tuesday — abruptly and without warning — that maybe he wasn’t suited to be a professional quarterback and that if he wanted to make a living in pro ball he would bow to the critics.
At the Senior Bowl all-star game media night, he declared that he was now an NFL prospect at cornerback.
So just like that, the quarterback who led Auburn to the national championship game in 2013 and passed for 4,508 yards and 34 touchdowns in two seasons, while running for 1,866 yards and 23 scores, bolted for the other side of the line of scrimmage.
“It was best for me and my near future,” Marshall said.
Marshall said he didn’t consult the NFL about the switch, but he didn’t have to. He is 6 feet tall and a read option quarterback, skill sets that will not endear him to professional scouts and team officials.
“Thirty-two doors would be open to him as a defensive back because he is a great athlete,” said Phil Savage, the CEO of the Senior Bowl, and a former general manager and scout. “There might have been five or six doors open as a quarterback.”
Marshall said he didn’t consult his college coach or his college teammates. He said he did not consult with NFL clubs, but a person with knowledge of Marshall’s plans said several teams were contacted on Marshall’s behalf and those teams recommended he switch to defense.
“Nobody else’s decision but mine and my momma’s,” Marshall said.
Surrounded by media, Marshall first said he would not miss playing quarterback, then said maybe a little. Asked why he thought he could not play quarterback in the NFL, Marshall said, “I like my chances at cornerback.”
Marshall, who is from Pineview, Ga., was invited here as a quarterback and caught Senior Bowl officials by surprise with his decision. He wore a plain orange jersey to his first practice Tuesday.
It was Auburn coach Gus Malzahn who lobbied hard for Marshall to be included in the game and a spot opened when UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota declined invitations.
Marshall’s abrupt switch means less repetitions for the other “invited” defensive backs and more reps for South quarterbacks, Alabama’s Blake Sims and Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson. Since Marshall attended media night, he apparently was not being sent home.
One practice was far too soon for Marshall to get any feedback from the several hundred NFL scouts here, but there was some non-official feedback. Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett ran a deep route on Marshall in a scrimmage. Lockett made a jab step fake as if he would run a post to the middle of the field, then cut up the field and got separation from Marshall to catch a long ball.
“Couple things I have to brush up on,” said Marshall, who will also get work here this week on special teams.
Marshall played defensive back at Georgia for one season before he was dismissed from the program. Before he left Georgia, then offensive coordinator Mike Bobo nicknamed Marshall, “Dr. Death” for his ferocious play on defense in 2012. Bobo and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham both said Marshall was such an exceptional athlete he would play defensive back in the NFL.
Marshall did not stay long enough in Athens to make a name for himself there, but he did make a name for himself at the Bulldogs’ expense on Nov. 16, 2013. Georgia led Auburn 38-37 with 25 seconds left, and the Tigers faced 4th and 18 from their 27-yard line. Marshall flung a pass deep over the middle, which was tipped by defenders into the hands of receiver Ricardo Louis for the winning touchdown.
