The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545685
by coach Kyle Whittingham. To some- one well established in the running backs room, that meant plenty. "It's just hard," he reflected. "I was trying to figure out what was happening with Coach Alford. He's my guy, some- body that I rely on a lot. I was just kind of confused, a lot going on with my family, trying to figure it out. Coming back from an injury as well. Trying to just do well for me." After he reached his maize and blue epiphany, Marshall set about getting to know the new lay of the land. He carried the football 150 times for 932 yards a year ago, with 10 touchdowns. Marshall also pulled in 9 receptions for an additional 92 yards, earning second-team All-Big Ten notice from conference coaches. They weren't the coaches he con- cerned himself over, though. Soon enough, Marshall felt at ease with the change overall. Speaking with new of- fensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jason Beck, offensive line coach Jim Harding and Whittingham himself, the third-year Wolverine came away fired up for the season to come and what it could look like. "It's been good, getting to know Coach Beck," Marshall said. "And our line coach, Coach Harding. Meeting with them, it was like, there's just something special about them. You can tell. They have it. You meet them and snap. It just happens. I got to meet Coach Whitt when we were down in Florida. I've had many conver- sations, getting to know them. Not only just football, but as men, and I'm like, I want to be around these people." Weapons All Over Those people like the idea of him in the backfield, as well. Whittingham spoke highly of Marshall all spring, and after the spring game, said this on "The Blue Print" podcast with former Wolverines Jake Butt and Devin Gardner. "Jordan Marshall's RB1, make no mis- take, coming out of spring ball," Whit- tingham assured. "He's a terrific player, a terrific leader. Can't say enough good things about him." Not surprisingly, Marshall has good things to say about the offensive scheme Whittingham and Beck are bringing to Ann Arbor. It's not hard to see why, ei- ther. THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 51 Marshall earned second-team All-Big Ten notice from conference coaches last season after rush- ing 150 times for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL