It’s easy to forget Michigan running back Jordan Marshall started the season as the backup to Justice Haynes. Despite the insistent offseason chatter that it was a 1A/1B situation, Marshall didn’t have
more carries than Haynes in a game until the USC matchup when Haynes got injured. In the four games after USC, Marshall has gone for 570 yards and seven touchdowns, showing he is more than capable of taking on the load of an RB1.
Now the Ohio native prepares to lead Michigan into The Game. A four-star recruit out of Archbishop Moeller in Cincinnati, Marshall was Ohio’s Mr. Football in 2023. Despite being recruited by the Buckeyes, he told the media this week why chose Michigan.
“I really liked (Michigan running backs coach) Tony Alford,” Marshall said. “He would probably be one of the reasons that I went there (Ohio State). I didn’t like a few other people, and that’s truly why I didn’t pick there. I think coach Alford would tell you the same.
“It’s all about culture, and that’s what I wanted to be around. I didn’t want to be around people that were about themselves, and I truly just believe that’s why coach Alford came here too, is he knew that he wanted to be around better people.”
Since being in Ann Arbor, Marshall has quickly blossomed into one of the premier running backs in the Big Ten. He appeared in just three games in 2024, but made his presence felt in a 100-yard rushing performance against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. This season, he has rushed the ball 143 times for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s now being tasked with stepping into a leadership position.
Michigan fullback/tight end/captain Max Bredeson was asked about who’s stepping up into a leadership role with himself, Rod Moore and Ernest Hausmann banged up. The first name out of his mouth was Marshall.
“Jordan is an unbelievable leader,” Bredeson said. “For him being young, he can’t be a captain, but if I were to bet on it right now, I bet you guys we’ll one day be talking to him as Michigan captain Jordan Marshall.”
Marshall is expected to play on Saturday with Bryson Kuzdzal backing him up. In what could be frigid and snowy weather, Michigan will likely lean heavily on the run game against the Buckeyes. In just his second year, Marshall has a chance to put his stamp on the rivalry.
“We’re going to go out there on Saturday and prepare like it’s our last game and give everything we got,” he said. “That’s what Michigan wants us to do. That’s what our coaches want us to do. And we’re going to do that for the state of Michigan — go out there like this is our last one and play our hearts out, play with everything we’ve got for 60 minutes and dominate.”
