Rd 7 Pk242 Keith Marshall, UGA, RB

[Countertrey]

Keith Marshall

Seriously (4.31) FAST

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Fastest rb, possibly athlete in The draft... Injuries are a concern but could be a lethal spell back late in the game after Jones beats em down... I like THAT!

[HEROHAMO]

I like it. How often do you find a 4.3 guy in the 7th round? If not for injuries he was giving Todd Gurley a run for his money. It's been a couple years since his act tear. Obviously a 4.3 demonstrate's his knee is fine.

[Prowl33]

Well worth it considering a lot of 7th rounders don't make the cut. He's got the speed... which makeseems me feel like the injury is behind him. With a solid year of not having to play much and being able to learn the nfl, and fix a lot of his technique issues, in a year or 2 he could be a good change of pace from Matt Jones and give a totally different dynamic

[Irn-Bru]

Keith Marshall

Seriously (4.31) FAST

How can someone who weighs that much run that fast?!?!

[riggofan]

Getting a running back this year who can make the roster would be a huge boost. Here's what his NFL draft profile said:

Marshall was a highly recruited running back who flashed massive potential as a freshman but never made his way back up the Georgia ladder due to injuries and incredible depth at the position over the last few years. Marshall could become a lottery ticket for a zone scheme team willing to take a chance that his speed and confidence return with a fresh start in a new location. His ceiling is much higher than many of the Day 3 running backs who could be drafted ahead of him.

I'd expect we'll sign a UDFA RB and probably a FA as well now. We're a little thin at RB right now.

[EA7649]

Looks promising. Where was his injury?

[Hooligan]

Wow. That dude has some wheels.

[riggofan]

I like it. How often do you find a 4.3 guy in the 7th round?

Thought it was interesting this morning that C00ley said Marshall is the guy he is the least optimistic about. His comment was something like teams don't pass on a guy who can play football and runs a 4.27. Feels the team took a flyer on him.

Seems like a reasonable approach. Not a high success rate on 7th rounders, might as well swing for the fences.

[Irn-Bru]

I like it. How often do you find a 4.3 guy in the 7th round?

Thought it was interesting this morning that C00ley said Marshall is the guy he is the least optimistic about. His comment was something like teams don't pass on a guy who can play football and runs a 4.27. Feels the team took a flyer on him.

Seems like a reasonable approach. Not a high success rate on 7th rounders, might as well swing for the fences.

Yeah, this is totally a boom-or-bust proposition. I'm fine with that.

[DarthMonk]

If he could simply run as he did as a freshman he'd be an NFL monster with any blocking at all.

[DarthMonk]

Does anyone have a handle on Marshall's receiving skills? Obviously, with his speed and size (I have also seen some elusiveness in video) they will try to manufacture ways to get the ball to him in the open field...

Former Georgia Bulldog running back Keith Marshall was drafted by the Washington Redskins with the 21st pick, 242nd overall in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Strengths

Marshall might be the most physically gifted running back in the entire draft. He paced the group in both the 40-yard dash (4.31 seconds) and the bench press (25 reps) at the NFL combine. It’s that combination of speed and strength that made Marshall Georgia’s top recruit of the 2012 season, a class that included last year’s top drafted running back Todd Gurley. Marshall was a track star in high school, and he showed that off his freshman year, when 12 percent of his runs went for 15 yards or more. He can reach a gear that most guys can’t get to, and it makes him a threat to take one to the house from anywhere on the field.

Weaknesses

Unfortunately, Marshall’s great start to his college career was derailed by injury in his sophomore season. He suffered a torn ACL against Tennessee, causing him to miss the rest of the season. His rehab did not go as well as expected, and he was forced to miss much of the 2014 season as well. When he did see the field, he looked tentative compared to his old self. Post-injury Marshall plays as if he’s constantly bracing himself for a hit, and his hesitancy cost him much of the on-field explosiveness he had displayed before getting hurt. The hope for whichever team drafts him is that he can return to his freshman year form, but that’s no guarantee.

Final Take

Marshall is the ultimate lottery ticket at the running back position. Before tearing an ACL his sophomore year, he was seen as reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley’s equal. Because of the injury, he fell to the seventh round, but if he can be even half as productive as Gurley was last year, it would be a steal for the Redskins. Marshall has all the physical tools to succeed at the next level, but it remains to be seen if he is where he needs to be mentally to find his place in the NFL.

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS
Combines size and raw speed. Before knee injuries possessed blazing, third-level speed. Had 12 percent of his runs in 2012 go for 15-plus yards. Has the burst gear and bend to squeeze through constricted run lanes. Tight, efficient footwork for quick lateral cuts before getting run back on track downhill. Makes early tackle attempts miss. Intelligent player who can learn quickly. Limited production in passing game, but able pass catcher.

WEAKNESSES
Doesn't look as fast as before his 2013 ACL tear. Appears to lack confidence as a runner. Hesitant runner through creases like back expecting to be tackled rather than running to daylight. Weight gets too far out over toes causing lack of balance. Misses out on huge runs with inability to shake safety in open field. Missing feel for the rushing track and patience to let blocks develop in outside zone game.

BOTTOM LINE
Marshall was a highly recruited running back who flashed massive potential as a freshman but never made his way back up the Georgia ladder due to injuries and incredible depth at the position over the last few years. Marshall could become a lottery ticket for a zone scheme team willing to take a chance that his speed and confidence return with a fresh start in a new location. His ceiling is much higher than many of the Day 3 running backs who could be drafted ahead of him.