After breaking a 73-year school record the previous night, Georgia Tech quarterback TaQuon Marshall’s reception to his first class Tuesday was something less than Twitter-worthy.
“Some of my classmates told me I played well,” Marshall said.
Perhaps others were hoping for more than 249 rushing yards and five touchdowns, both of which set Tech modern-era records (most rushing yards by a quarterback and most touchdowns, the former set by Eddie Prokop in the 1944 Sugar Bowl) in the Yellow Jackets’ heartbreaking 42-41 double-overtime loss to Tennessee at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Marshall may not – OK, probably won’t – hit 250 rushing yards, but he can play better Saturday against Jacksonville State. Just ask Marshall.
“Making better decisions, throwing better balls,” Marshall said. “I think I overthrew a couple of balls that could have made a difference in the game. Holding onto the ball, too, because I turned the ball over and that really stumped us. Those few things – just the small things that turn into big things.”
This is hardly to diminish Marshall’s play. He accounted for 24 first downs or touchdowns running and passing. He broke and slipped through tackles, cut back and turned on the jets, fought for yards and generally showed the playmaking flair that convinced coach Paul Johnson to make him the starter.
“Man, he’s fast,” Tennessee linebacker Daniel Bituli said. “Probably runs like a 4.5, 4.4 (in the 40-yard dash), and he’s a really hard quarterback to contain in the box.”
Johnson said that Marshall missed a few reads in the option. The most critical was on the last play of the game, Tech’s two-point conversion try to win the game in double overtime. Had Marshall pitched to B-back KirVonte Benson, chances are good – even though the play wasn’t blocked well – that he could have scored the game-winning two-point conversion.
Marshall threw a dexterous pass on a third-and-12 in the first quarter to wide receiver Ricky Jeune for a catch-and-run 44-yard gain, a play that led to the Jackets’ first score. The throw, from the middle of the field at the Tech 30-yard line and his first of the game, was driven hard enough to get to Jeune in a hurry near the sideline at midfield, but with just enough touch that it eluded the reach of a leaping safety in zone coverage. Maybe there was some luck.
“I was trying to fit it over him,” Marshall said. “I think I threw it a little short, a little low, but he mistimed his jump, and Ricky caught it and got some yards. I was very shocked. I honestly thought it was going to be a pick when I threw it.”
Marshall was 5-for-9 passing for 120 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. On the final possession of regulation, with Bituli bearing down on him, he had A-back Qua Searcy open downfield, but threw long for what could have the game-winning touchdown. Still, Marshall’s 13.3 yards-per-attempt, while a small sample, demonstrates he can make big plays with his arm. Justin Thomas exceeded that average in only five games against FBS opponents.
“I’m really excited to see what coach Johnson’s going to call this Saturday,” Marshall said. “I hope we get a lot more pass plays so I can show my throwing ability.”
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Jacksonville State were to try to limit Marshall’s impact on the game. Tennessee’s alignment, placing its middle linebacker well behind the line of scrimmage, prompted Marshall’s heavy workload. The Gamecocks might be tempted to try a different tack.
It brings to mind the 2014 season, when Thomas ran for a combined 302 yards in the third and fourth starts of his career. The Jackets’ next opponent, Miami, kept Thomas to 27 rushing yards, but B-back Zach Laskey ran 29 times for 133 yards, and the A-backs gained a combined 133 rushing yards with three touchdowns in Tech’s 28-17 win.
The unpredictability of the option offense could mean Marshall spends more of the game giving to Benson or pitching to the A-backs. It could mean he gets his wish and the Jackets take to the air more frequently.
Regardless, the second start of a rising star bears watching.
“He showed a lot of toughness, I think, and resiliency,” Johnson said. “He’s competitive; I’ve known that. The moment wasn’t too big for him. He just kind of dialed in and focused in and played the game. And that’s encouraging. So hopefully he can grow. Was he perfect? Far from it. He’d be the first to tell you. But he did a lot of really good things.”
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