Inside or out, sophomore Corey Marshall ready to make an impact on the defensive line
Truth be told, Virginia Tech defensive line coach Charley Wiles didn’t think Corey Marshall could be a defensive end. He didn’t think the lineman was athletic enough to play in the Hokies’ scheme, that he’d fill out and settle in at tackle.
“He’s proven me wrong,” Wiles said.
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
Marshall, now a sophomore, is opening some eyes this August, adding close to 20 pounds this offseason, still moving fast and not letting his mind tie up his feet. He’s worked as a co-No. 1 with J.R. Collins at one of the defensive ends spots and is a candidate to shuttle between end and tackle this year, depending on the situation.
“I say that was one of the best weeks of practice I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Marshall said. “That’s not an understatement. … I went off, for lack of a better term.”
The combo lineman from Dinwiddie was one of the last big gets for Jim Cavanaugh when he was on the recruiting trail. Injuries up front thrust him into action as a true freshman. He played in all 14 games, starting once at tackle against Miami with Antoine Hopkins out, and finished with 13 tackles and three sacks, fine numbers for a freshman.
But he knew he had to get bigger. Though listed at 250 during winter weigh-ins, he said he played closer to 240 last season. Bigger offensive lines were able to push him around as a result. Now Marshall is approaching 270 pounds, while retaining the quickness he needs to play end.
“I don’t know how I can oversell it,” Marshall said of the weight gain.
“He’s looked very explosive. So strong,” Wiles said. “I just love the way he practices. I love how hard he practices. It’s important to him.”
Now it’s a matter of finding a place on the defensive line. James Gayle and Collins are both got mention on the All-ACC teams last year and are entering their junior years, although Collins opened the door a bit by being late to a team meeting in the first week, giving Marshall first-team reps. Tackle is just as crowded, with Luther Maddy pushing Antoine Hopkins for time next to Derrick Hopkins and Kris Harley vying for snaps too.
But Marshall’s value is in his versatility. He played both tackle and end in high school, did the same last year and figures to do so again this season. He’d prefer end, which is where it looks like he’ll end up the most this year. Wiles gave an estimate that if Marshall plays 40 snaps a game, 30 could be at end and 10 could be at tackle.
Marshall has gained Wiles’ trust in that regard.
“Last year I think it was one of those things where he wanted to keep those guys for trust reasons,” Marshall said. “That’s how I felt personally. For trust reasons he kept those guys. He trusted me at tackle, but what I wanted to do this year is for me to be able to switch me in and out and for me to be able to seamlessly make that transition and not give up anything. Be productive and just keep that going.”
August 16, 2012 - 10:24 AM
Wiles has got to be one of the happier coaches this year. Hokies are absolutely loaded with talent on the d-line. And with them pushing each other it will only get better. Would love to see them stuff GT in that first game. Would be a great starting point to the season.
Good stuff, Andy. Appreciate it!
The injuries last year are becoming more and more of a blessing in disguise. Not only were the players thrust into action, but it gave coaches a glimpse of their potential. I agree with Ted, Wiles sounds like he is having the time of his life, and I can’t remember a time when the defensive coaches were a bit giddy with this kind of problems. Once Gray gets going with the secondary, even I shudder to think how beastly the defense will be become at the end of the season.
Andy, you mentioned coach Cavanuagh. Didn’t you do an interview with him?
If they are all as good as the hype then I say rotate, rotate, rotate and don’t give the opposing line a single play of rest. So often one sees a team start to lose steam in the trenches. This year we have the depth to just pund the other guys down.
I say “just do it”.
Inside I am a sad person and I’ve gained more weight than Corey Marshall in the past year.
It’s a shame Marshall can’t play both ways. I haven’t heard as much bragging about our O-line. I can’t wait until the GT game to see these guys in action again!
C’mon down Wyatt Teller, the next great Tech D-lineman.
I know that this is off topic, but for those of you who are complaining about the talent level of the OL, Duane Brown just signed a new contract with the Houston Texans for some 54 Million dollars, 22 Million of it guarenteed. He came to Tech as a tight end and the coaching staff moved him to OL. I believe that we are doing a good job getting talent and this year’s bunch will turn out great.
I really think that’s an anomaly Ken. OL has not been our strength. Of course we’re going to put an nfl caliber one out there now and then, but I wish they would put more priority on OL in the recruiting process. Congratulations to Duane Brown though. He was a fine young man at VT.
I hope you are right ken86. A dominant and stable O-line would really complete the puzzle for the team. I heard Corey Marshall eats wahoo for breakfast
! Hoping Mr. Teller chooses VT and continues the run of excellent D-line play at Virginia Tech.
I love the competition on the d line. That’s what makes good players great. The rotation should keep players fresh, but hopefullly that won’t even be a concern if they can keep getting three and outs.
Judging by Tellers twitter account he will choose VT, he’s following beamerball & a number of hokies while he’s following nobody from UVA!
KEN86 , How does having to use a TE as OL mean we are doing a good job ? Yeah the guy worked out but why not have the top OL prospects come to VT and play OL ??
Dor-i-an! Dor-i-an! Dor-i-an! Dor-i-an! (C’mon everybody now- say it!)
Dorian Johnson as an OT get would be bigger than a Teller or Green at this point. Have we ever brought in a 5 star OT in the modern era?
This seems to be one of the best, and maybe the best, defensive lines that we have had at Virginia Tech.
Good luck to all of our players.
Let’s go Hokies !!!
I gained twenty over the winter but lost a step or two as well. I will probably get a little winded going to the concession stand the first few games but I will have my mojo on by October. Then you better look out!
Great to hear that Corey is doing well, but please don’t make the argument that injuries last year were a ‘blessing’. While the injuries gave other kids a chance to play and again experience, the original starters received no ‘blessing’ and the team suffered by having to play second string players. I would have preferred no injuries and a win over Clemson last year. The coaches can create their own blessings by working the backups into the games more frequently without injuries to the starters.
I wish you guys would stop talking about weight!
Every time someone loses weight I find it.
I have volunteered many time to be the donor for fat transplants but no one ever accepts. I don’t understand. Getting fat from me is faster than either twinkies or steroids. With the work those guys do they would turn my into their in minutes……
Life is not fair!
Oh I forget. I’m not fat – I’m fluffy.
I’m excited about this season, I think we have real chance to do something special. Beat fla st in the acc championship and dominate the orange bowl! I am still mad about the sugar bowl and tired of hearing about Michigan. I hope the players keep the Clemson games and the sugar bowl as motivation. Let’s go hokies! Stay healthy in the scrimmage today.
Kman aka short coach