Q&A: UGA freshman TB Keith Marshall says ‘competition is a good thing’
Georgia coach Mark Richt and recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner introduce the Bulldogs' early enrolles (L-R) Keith Marshall, Faton Bauta and Mark Beard. (AP photo)
Q&A WITH KEITH MARSHALL
Lost in all the craziness of last week’s national signing day drama and shocking player dismissals was the introduction of Georgia’s three early enrollees. Quarterback Faton Bauta, offensive lineman Mark Beard and tailback Keith Marshall had been shielded from interviews by UGA since arriving in Athens to begin spring semester in early January. But the three players were made available on the afternoon of national signing day. I’ll be sharing a little about each of them in a story that will run in Tuesday’s printed edition. In the meantime, I don’t think there is any question that Marshall, the five-star tailback from Raleigh, N.C. , is one of the most anticipated addition of the early enrollees and really of the entire 2012 class. So here’s some of what I heard from him this past Wednesday.
Q: What are some of the advantages of early enrollment?
A: “I get to acclimate to college life before the season and physically I can get myself ready to compete. . . . I’ve never had to block that much so I’m glad I got here early so I can learn that. I’ve already learned the basic schemes, but that’s different than actually going out there and doing it live. It’s something I’ll have to work on for sure.”
Q: Obviously fellow North Carolina tailback Todd Gurley signed with the Bulldogs. What’s your thoughts on that?
A: “I think he’s a great player. He’s going to make me better and hopefully I can make him better. Hopefully we’ll feed off each other and the other running backs, too. We have plenty of good running backs here. We can all make each other better. It’s like Coach Richt says, you have to have more than one good running back.”
Q: It’s unusual for two running back prospects as highly touted as you two to sign at the same school. What kind of relationship do you have with him and what was the thinking behind going to the same school?
A: “Me and Todd are both from North Carolina. I met him through track, actually. But through recruiting I got to know him real well. He’s probably one of the closest people I met during recruiting. Playing with him is going to be great. He’s somebody I know and we’re from the same city and all that. We’re going to help each other get better.”
Q: Did Isaiah Crowell send you a bouquet of flowers or an email message or anything upon the news of your plans to join the team?
A: “No, no. I talked to him the day before I committed just to find out what he thought about everything. He was supportive.”
Q: With you and Gurley and Crowell and all the other backs Georgia has coming back, tailback is suddenly a pretty crowded position. Does that concern you?
A: “I’m not worried about competition. People say ‘competition’ like it’s a bad thing. Competition is not a bad thing; it’s a good thing.”
Q: You and offensive tackle John Theus are the only 5-star prospects in this class. Was his commitment an incentive to join the Bulldogs?
A: “I’m excited about running behind him. We went through recruiting together. We were looking at some of the same schools, so he didn’t really have to recruit me that much. He knew this was one of my main schools. I’m looking forward to playing with him.”
Q: You’re from the middle of ACC country. Were you lured by the opportunity to play SEC football?
A: “It wasn’t so much the SEC. I’ve just liked Georgia since I was younger. Coach [Mark] Richt, of course I wanted to play for him. And I’ve always liked Knowshon Moreno, since I was in like middle school. Whenever it was he played against Hawaii (January 2008) in that game, ever since then I wanted to come here.”
Q: How aware are you of the tailback tradition at UGA?
A: “I know a lot about the history of running backs, not just here, but everywhere. Obviously there’s Herschel, but I can name a lot of the running backs that went here. I have the Herschel documentary in my room.”
Q: You have achieved an almost a mythical status because of the stories of your academic and athletic achievements. Can you validate the legend of possessing the rare combination of a grade-point average that exceeds your 40-yard-dash time?
A: “The fastest I’ve ever timed in the 40 was a 4.22 at my school; I ran a 4.25 at a college camp. My GPA I graduated with was a 4.31, somewhere right in there.”
Q: Tell me about the 40-yard dash challenge between you and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell in which you beat him two of three times. How’d that come about?
A: “Actually it was his idea. I’ve seen people say I challenged him; it wasn’t anything like that. We were working out and running routes or whatever and we got to talking about who was faster, so we went outside and raced. . . . All the guys thought he was going to win, so it was kind of a cool feeling. My teammates liked it but it wasn’t that big of a deal to me.”
Q: You were a champion sprinter in high school. Do you plan to run track while at Georgia?
A: “Maybe in the future. Not this year. I want to get established in football first.”
– Chip Towers
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202 comments Add your comment
TampaGator
February 6th, 2012
6:39 pm
Georgia has gone from bankrupt to filty rich at the RB position. Think Derrick Harvey will be considering a decommit before the next signing day?
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
6:48 pm
Tell me GTBob – would you be bashing Marshall had he picked GT? You do realize GT offered don’t you?
All I said was that he doesn’t want to be the star RB because he is afraid he is going to get hurt. Here is his exact quote:
“I do not want to be the only guy. I would love to play with another back because I do not want to take a beating”
Please tell me where I was wrong here. He is obviously a little soft.
sports
February 6th, 2012
7:06 pm
This kid sounds level headed and mature.
CropDuster
February 6th, 2012
7:06 pm
Rare a “5 star” running back does anything at UGA.
Why?
They get on campus, thinkin they already done something (high school)
when they don’t see
how hard they got to work
it’s easy really
grab a lunchpail, and
OUTWORK EVERYBODY IN THE CONFERENCE
Otherwise, their best days…
are BEHIND them.
CropDuster
February 6th, 2012
7:08 pm
Marshall & Gurley ain’t done
JACK so far.
Show me on the field……
In September…
When it counts….
CropDuster
February 6th, 2012
7:13 pm
EVERYBODY WANT TO BE NEXT hERSCHEL…
NOBODY WANT TO DO
3500 SIT UPS A DAY
1000 PUSHUPS A DAY
BEEN DOING IT SINCE HIGH SCHOOL….
NOBODY CONDITIONS LIKE HERSCHEL…..
NOBODY WILLING TO
PAY THE PRICE….
TO BE GREAT….
Dawg89
February 6th, 2012
7:21 pm
Wow is the word. A very impressive young man!
Old Blind Dawg
February 6th, 2012
7:31 pm
I will type slowly for you GTBob…………………he didn’t say anything about getting injured. He did say he didn’t want to take a beating. Kids with aspirations for the next level (especially this one) aren’t dumb. They know the toll of carrying the ball 25 – 30 times a game in the SEC is not good for longevity. Sharing the load – to stay fresh – is TEAM playing.
Did you graduate high school?
CropDuster
February 6th, 2012
7:35 pm
Great quote from Herschel Walker on advice to teenagers:
“Strive to be the very best you can be. Run the race against yourself and not the guy in the other lane. The reason I say that is, as long as you give it 110 percent, you are going to succeed. But as long as you’re trying to beat the guy over there, you are worried about him, you’re not worrying about how you’ve got to perform.”
Marshall shouldn’t worry about Crowell, or Gurley……..
Compete only with yourself….
Stop worrying about other guys….
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
7:36 pm
Does any body really want to take a beating?
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
7:41 pm
They know the toll of carrying the ball 25 – 30 times a game in the SEC is not good for longevity
Yes, you are making my point for me. Marshall really doesn’t care about UGA or college football. He just needs a place to get some practice in for 3 years and hopefully not get hurt. Unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine a guy with that kind of attitude becoming a star. Do you really think guys like Lattimore or Richardson would rather sit on the bench half of the time?
Heading
February 6th, 2012
7:43 pm
Three in School and three off the Dream Team
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
7:44 pm
GTBob, do you think Richardson or Lattimore say to them selves on game day, I can’t wait to go out there and take a beating?
Chris
February 6th, 2012
7:46 pm
chip thank you for a great article. Marshall seems like a great kid. Looking forward to see him this fall. He’ll wear 4 right? I know thats his highschool number and no one that good has that number right now
wally
February 6th, 2012
7:48 pm
I enjoyed the article about KM,but first let UGA get some linemen who can block. there is not a TB in the country who can run without some blocking.
Mean while am I the only one who is excited to see how the Diamond Dogd do> It would be great to see them in Omah.
GO Gym Dogs Iam pulling for you as well as the Lady Basketball team. Coach Fox has a few years to go, hoping they will be competitive soon
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
7:52 pm
GTBob, do you think Richardson or Lattimore say to them selves on game day, I can’t wait to go out there and take a beating?
I don’t think they are even worried about it. They understand that being a running back means you will get hit fairly frequently. If that is something Marshall can’t handle then maybe he can try out for punter.
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
7:55 pm
GTBob,your trying to spin it to trash the kid.
MaxxDawg
February 6th, 2012
7:56 pm
Crowell is not that good. He has decent speed and power, but that’s about it. Not much better than Ealy. Marshall, on the other hand, is one of the fastest players in CFB before he plays a snap. He can run with breakneck speed and has the ability to slip tackles. Not to mention he is a smart kid who has his head on straight. Marshall will be the man at UGA, no doubt. Reminds me of C.J. Spiller. Gurley was a big pickup too. He is a big, very fast kid who has his head on straight too. It will take a miracle for Crowley to hold these guys off. I just don’t know if Crowley has what it takes. I hope this competition brings out the best/beast in him. If he has a poor attitude and is always hurt, he will not finish his career at UGA. Fortunately for UGA fans, the competition just got way too stiff. The guy I feel sorry for is Boo Malcome. He should transfer, he could be a decent back, but won’t be getting minutes here. Samuel fills a role as a battering ram. The guy I really feel for is hutson Mason. This guy is a stud, strong accurate arm, clutch competitor and fiery leader. Too bad he’s sandwiched in between two 5-Star recruits. I just don’t see LeMay sitting once Murray leaves, even if Hutson does Redshirt this yr. If you are still reading this, thank you!
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
8:04 pm
GTBob,your trying to spin it to trash the kid.
I’m not spinning anything. The kid said he doesn’t want to be the main RB because he would get hit a lot and it might cut the length of his NFL career. This actually makes UGA fans look a little hypocritical. How can you bash Crowell for coming out of the game so much? Maybe he just thought he was taking too many hits and it was affecting his NFL career. According to you guys, every time he came out it was a smart move.
Return to Glory
February 6th, 2012
8:05 pm
I feel the need, the need for speed….Go Dawgs, can’t wait to see him take a long one to the house !
The Factor
February 6th, 2012
8:08 pm
@GTBob
I tried to throw you a bone of good will the other day. To go after another GT fan because he doesn’t think like you and wishes an 18 year old good will? You just show your immaturity. We all suspect you are just a kid anyway.
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
8:11 pm
To go after another GT fan because he doesn’t think like you and wishes an 18 year old good will?
I went after him because he made it a point to call me out. If he would have left my name out of it then he wouldn’t have gotten a response.
Old Blind Dawg
February 6th, 2012
8:13 pm
GTBob please point me in the direction of your source
“The kid said he doesn’t want to be the main RB because he would get hit a lot and it might cut the length of his NFL career.” That is something YOU said.
Please answer before your mom makes you go to bed.
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
8:14 pm
GTBob, where did you get this information from?
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
8:17 pm
His direct quote:
I do not want to be the only guy. I would love to play with another back because I do not want to take a beating. Especially in the SEC, if you want to have a long pro career, you want to split the carries with someone else.
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
8:21 pm
GTBob, that sounds smart to me.
Neutral
February 6th, 2012
8:22 pm
GTBob……you are totally clueless and an embarrassment to me and my fellow Jackets!!! Please go away.
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
8:22 pm
GTBob, does GT have more than 1 RB?
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
8:24 pm
GTBob, that sounds smart to me.
Then you also think that Crowell is smart every time he removes himself from the game?
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
8:29 pm
GTBob, does GT have more than 1 RB?
Yes, and I have never heard any of them ever say they wanted less playing time. Plus, they get hit pretty much every play even if they don’t get the ball.
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
8:31 pm
GTBob, I don’t know how crowell felt when he left the games I can’t read his mind. But hen you look at the article about depth and competition then if a kid takes a pounding then then the next kid can come in and play. If crowell ( or any RB ) was hurt do I expect him to stay in there while injured no I don’t.
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
8:34 pm
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
8:29 pm
GTBob, does GT have more than 1 RB?
Yes, and I have never heard any of them ever say they wanted less playing time. Plus, they get hit pretty much every play even if they don’t get the ball.
Why do you need more than one if just one kid wants all the playing time. GT is wasting scholarships on them.
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
8:40 pm
Marshall said:
And I’ve always liked Knowshon Moreno, since I was in like middle school.
I wonder how much he likes him today.
Beast from the East
February 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
Knowshon Moreno arrested.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/
Troup Co. Dawg
February 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
Give Crowell a break, he ran for 850 yards as a freshman with a sprained wrist and a sprained ankle, I doubt any of you weasels could achieve such a thing! Depth is what wins in the SEC, and we have it in the backfield ! We have depth at linebacker, I think we’re in good shape!
Dawg fan
February 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
He said that Theus and Marshall are the only 5 stars, what does he consider Harvey clemons??
Old Blind Dawg
February 6th, 2012
8:49 pm
GTBob – so typical of youngsters – when the argument starts falling apart change the topic.
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
8:50 pm
Moreno is stupid!
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
8:51 pm
Old Blind Dawg, I put him in his place.
GTBob
February 6th, 2012
8:57 pm
Why do you need more than one if just one kid wants all the playing time. GT is wasting scholarships on them.
There is nothing wrong with the team having multiple running backs, but there is something wrong with a player who doesn’t want as much playing time as possible. Most teams have a starter and backups who come in to give the starter a breather. It sounds like Marshall isn’t very interested in being a starter.
onceadawg
February 6th, 2012
8:58 pm
If there is anyone thta just wants to talk dawgs without all the BS and negative crap go to dogbytes at the athens banner herald to blog. they usually have most of the info first anyway on breaking stuff and there bloggers are real fans. OBTW they will actually kick you off the blog for ripping 18yr old kids that youve never met and know nothing about other than what your “inside sources” tell you……….douche
Dawg48
February 6th, 2012
9:00 pm
GTBob, that’s not what you have been saying! Just admit your trying to trash the kid! That’s all your trying to do.
FLA DAWG
February 6th, 2012
9:21 pm
Who cares?
We’ve stunk the place up for the last three or four years and we’ll do it again next season.
This is awful,
FLA DAWG
CLASS OF ‘79
TheBigTruk
February 6th, 2012
9:45 pm
Ealey, shouldn’t have let him transfer, what a back, over 1100 yards this year, and over 6 yards a carry, man, a breakout season.
TheBigTruk
February 6th, 2012
10:09 pm
I think Moreno & Musa are the only UGA running backs under Mark Richt at UGA to run for 1000 yards in a season. UGA is known these days for passing the football. Bobo likes to impress people with how many td’s and yards his QB’s throw. Bobo doesn’t have any 1000 yard rushers since Moreno. All those guys thought they’d be the next big thing.
None were.
boykin
February 6th, 2012
10:15 pm
GTBob always bringing the Tech perspective to “the only team that counts in GA”…..Ya’ll can have Marshall…cause nobody over there is worthy of starting!!! Except Tevin!
CJ
February 6th, 2012
10:16 pm
Maxxdogg why say Crowell is not that good. What would you have done in the SEC as a freshman. He gained 850 yards as a freshman running behind that o-line. Adrian Peterson could not have gained 1000 yards behind that line. We saw how overrated Ben jones was in the senior bowl.
Fair n Balanced
February 6th, 2012
10:24 pm
I like the tone of these answers. It’s not like, “I’m doing Ga a favor by coming here.”. Or, “I’m going to make an immediate impact.”. This is just better. Welcome! Glad to have a real STUDENT athlete.
boykin
February 6th, 2012
10:36 pm
He’s a humble Frosh. And CJ- Ben will be in NFL
bob
February 6th, 2012
10:36 pm
Mature beyond his years