Michigan Football Recruiting: Lawrence Marshall — 2014 Time Capsule
Posted at 12:00pm — 3/17/2014
Michigan Football Recruiting: Lawrence Marshall — 2014 Time Capsule
Lawrence Marshall as the ninth and final recruit out of the remaining nine not on campus already to sign and send in his letter of intent on signing day.
GBMWolverine Readers: Here is a overview of University of Michigan 2014 Signed Commit Lawrence Marshall.
Height: 6’4
Weight: 230
Birthday: February 12, 1995
Number: 12
Current Position: Defensive End
Future Position: Defensive End / Linebacker
City/State: Southfield, Michigan
High School: Southfield
Head Coach: Tim Conley
Recruiter: Coach Fred Jackson and Greg Mattison
Official Visit: 12/13/2013
Committed: 5/11/2013
Top Offers: Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
Vertical: 28.6″
Power Throw: 27′
All-Star Game: 2014 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl.
Class: 2014 Michigan Wolverine Recruiting Class (Signed).
Follow Lawrence: on Twitter
Coach Hoke on Marshall:
“Lawrence is a defensive end out of Southfield. He’s a guy with a lot of quickness off the ball, a guy who can harass the quarterback. He’s strong at the point of attack, good fundamentally, has good speed and long arms.”
Key Stats:
Registered 68 tackles, 8.0 sacks and three forced fumbles as a senior.
Honors:
Selected to the Detroit News Blue Chip List as a senior. Named to the Detroit Free Press All-State Dream Team. Participated in the 2014 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl.
Rankings:
24/7: 4-star.
ESPN: 4-star.
Rivals: 4-star.
Scout: 4-star.
Note: Stars do matter, but are not absolute in predicting success within a football program. So, with that in mind the GBMWolverine Staff has cleverly come up with a new system of ranking. We are using footballs instead of stars, how can one argue against a system that clever? Below are the interpretations of football power predicted way too boldly long before it matters. In other words, we will give informed opinion with the crystal ball and let the players determine what will happen through years of hard work.
Criteria: Raw talent, athleticism, position of need, intangibles.
10 footballs: Instant impact player.
9 footballs: Three or four-year starter at a high level.
8 footballs: A starter with all league potential.
7 footballs: A meaningful starter at some time during a career.
6 footballs: A spot starter or special teams player.
5 footballs: Not in the two deep after a two years.
4 footballs: Never made it.
1-3 footballs: See the above.
Remember just as we did during the season with grading positions or groups we are very tough graders and expect a lot out of those positions or players so this is no different here.
“My mom loves Michigan,” stated Marshall. “My mom was very happy that I committed to Michigan. She said that was the best mother’s day gift ever, so I made my mom happy. Aaron (Marshall’s cousin and mentor) liked Michigan too. I talked it over with my parents and Aaron, and they all basically said, ‘Michigan is the school for you.’ I was feeling like Michigan is the school for me too, so I was like, ‘if everybody is saying it, and I’m saying it, I gotta choose that school.’”
The approval of his family was the final piece to Marshall’s recruiting puzzle. That his friend Maurice Ways had pledged there recently was simply icing on the cake.
“Moe ways probably texted me like twice a week,” he said laughingly. “As soon as he committed to Michigan he was on me to commit to Michigan too. I won’t say it had a big impact on me because I was thinking about committing to Michigan before he committed to Michigan. It was just a matter of time for me to commit myself.”
“I was thinking about committing (to Michigan) for like a month now, so I knew where I was about to go for a whole month,” Marshall said. “I just didn’t want nobody to know where I wanted to go. I went up (to Ann Arbor today for a visit) and it was the perfect timing to commit. I think I caught them by surprise. I don’t think they really knew that I was going to commit there today.”
The only ones with a clue were likely Marshall’s family members. They had long ago made their preferences clear and were pleased to know that they were all seeing eye to eye.
There were many factors that ultimately convinced defensive end that Michigan is the best fit, but one stood above all the rest. “The coaching staff,” Marshall said matter-of-factly. “I think the coaching staff has what it takes for me to improve my talents to get to the next level. Coach Mattison has coached some of the greatest players, like Ray Lewis of all people. He coached one of the greatest defenses ever with the Ravens. I think he has got the ability to teach me the stuff I don’t know yet to get me to the next level.”
In the final analysis the opportunity to receive Mattison’s tutelage proved more appealing than the chance to go to schools with lesser numbers at his position.
“I think I can outwork everybody to get where I need to go,” Marshall said confidently. “Since I started football I’ve always had to outwork somebody to get to where I wanted to go. I’m 235 right now –I’m probably going to put on 10 more pounds before my season starts. I’m probably going to bulk up get stronger, get faster, get my hands faster, get my technique better, then come to college and dominate.”
“The best players from Michigan gotta go to Michigan.” The newest Wolverines believes that statement so much that he has a message for any former suitors that courted him, and any that might contemplate doing so in the future. “I’m Wolverine. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Lawrence Marshall is one of the top football prospects in Michigan. Lawrence has length and the frame to get bigger. He also possesses a high level of athletic skill. Players can be coached in technique, scheme, etc. but size and athletic ability come with the athlete. He is already well known by those who follow football recruiting especially from places like Columbus which he was once committed to and East Lansing who thought they had a great chance to land him after he de-committed less than a week after committing to Ohio State.
Michigan has made no secret regarding the intended upgrade to the pass-rushing proficiency of the defense. Clearly, the staff has identified the puzzle parts wanted to succeed in the above venture. And, it must be inferred that Lawence is indeed one of the identified puzzle parts.
Overview:
Lawrence plays for one of the better programs in Michigan. He plays as a defensive end with his hand on the ground in high school. But it becomes obvious that in college there are possibilities for playing either defensive end or SAM linebacker. He has the ideal frame for either position!
Strengths:
Lawrence is a super quick athlete for his size. He uses his speed and athletic ability to dominate his competition. Lawrence has a very explosive 1st step and gets off the ball very well. He plays with very good leverage and pad level. At times he can be absolutely relentless in pursuit, and as such his backside pursuit catches coaches attention.
Like many skilled athletes, Lawrence relies too much on his athletic ability, his technique clearly needs much work, and the guess here is Lawrence understands this and also understands the nature of the coaching he will receive at Michigan. Just as clearly, Lawrence needs to get bigger and stronger. Again, it seems obvious he clearly understands this need as well. Depending on how Lawrence is used in the defensive schemes, he may also need to work on his drops and coverage skills.
Having said the above, Lawrence has the athletic ability to contribute to the Michigan defense.
Red-shirt or play his Freshman Year?
GBMWolverine believes he will definitely red-shirt his first year. In the past a player like Lawrence would be forced into playing early, but with the added depth and talent on the current Michigan football roster Lawrence can learn and also grow into the position without being forced to play right away.
Lawrence Marshall reminds the GBMWolverine Staff of — Former Michigan Football Player — Shawn Crable — who played Defensive End / Outside Linebacker.
Video Highlights:
A very good get for the coaching staff especially in-state.
We welcome Lawrence Marshall to Michigan and hope he has a successful career on and off the football field as a student-athlete at the University of Michigan. Go Blue!
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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