Paul Johnson impressed by Tulane linebacker Nico Marley
In watching the Duke-Tulane game video to prepare for the Georgia Tech game against the Green Wave Saturday, coach Paul Johnson was quite entertained by Tulane linebacker Nico Marley.
“That guy’s a good player,” Johnson said. “We were watching (Monday); he’s like a little Tasmanian devil out there. He’s all over the place.”
Marley piled up a career-best 15 tackles, one for loss, against Duke. Last year, he had 82 stops and a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss. In Tech’s win over Tulane last September, he led the Green Wave with 11 tackles.
Against the Blue Devils, Johnson said, “Duke threw a fade route one time and by the time the ball hit the ground, he was back there 30 yards deep on that. He’s a fun guy to watch play. He really plays hard.”
Marley is the son of former University of Miami linebacker Rohan Marley and the grandson of late reggae legend Bob Marley. Nico Marley is one of 20 returning starters for the Green Wave, who finished 3-9 last season.
“I think we’re a lot better team than we were the last time we played them,” Johnson said. “So it’ll be a good way to measure.”
About the Author
Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.
