Much Ado About Marsh
9 comments so far
January 26, 2010 by
Millard South Quarterback Bronson Marsh has said he will accept a "grayshirt" scholarship offer from the University of Nebraska. For those of you who don't follow recruiting with a passion, a "grayshirt" is a scholarship offer where the player - Marsh in this case - sits out of football for a semester. Marsh would not count against this current classes scholarship count, at least not immediately. Using "grayshirt' offers is very common at large programs, including Nebraska. But, few players receiving such conditional offers merit as mush press coverage as Marsh has. So, what is all the fuss about? Plenty.
The Prospect
Any discussion of Bronson Marsh must start with the simple fact that he is - with the enormous exception of Andrew Rodriguez - the best player in the state of Nebraska. He accounted for more than 2,400 yards this season and broke Scott Frost's record for career yardage (in 11-man football) with 6,826. And, he did so while helping his team go undefeated and win a championship in the state's largest high school classification. Sweet faux hawk aside, the kid can flat out play. So, what's the deal? Well, he's barely 6' tall and he has not put up dazzling numbers at the high school camps and combines. He doesn't "measure" well.
That is the rub, folks whether you get excited about Marsh as a future Husker boils down to whether you value production or measurables more. Personally, I value production more. Marsh was the Gatorade state POY in Nebraska. And, any chance a team has to get a POY, they should use it. Examples include Nate Swift in Minnesota and Prince Amukamara in Arizona.
When faced with a similar situation when confronted with the choice whether to recruit another former Nebraska prep POY - Danny Woodhead out of North Platte - we know what the previous NU regime did. And, I think we all agree that Woodhead turned out just fine since he was playing in an NFL playoff game last weekend.
Grayshirt - Potential and Value
The discussion around Marsh also centers on the NU staff's choice to use the grayshirt route with Marsh. Why not just come right out and offer it? Well, for starters, it is widely known that NU does not have a lot of scholarships left to give out. And, they have three obvious prospects still on the board for those remaining scholarships, including a quarterback. This is a way for NU to make a good offer to a prospect without using some of that very valuable currency.
So, grayshirts "cost" very little. They also offer significant upside. Generally, they tend to be projects - raw players with potential. Or, they are the plucky try-hard type like Marsh. In either case, good coaching and/or a bit of point to prove can make grayshirts in to good contributors. And if not, the risk has already been managed.
Loyalty, Pride Carry the Day
The other aspect of the Marsh story is that this is a kid who could have college for free, and is instead choosing to pay to attend NU (albeit for likely just one semester). He had a full-ride to the University of Nebraska-Omaha in hand, and passed on it for a chance to chase his Husker dream. In an age where college is expensive and scouting is more advanced, it is all the more amazing that NU can get away with the loyalty factor. And, lets be honest here, that was certainly not the case as recently as two years ago.
Also, make no mistake, Kansas and new coach Turner Gill wanted Marsh on their roster. Eventually, I think they would have "paid", meaning a full scholarship, to get him. So, Nebraska won a border war against a conference foe to get Marsh. That sweetens things for NU loyalists. Again, loyalty was the driving force.
The last factor was the player's personal sense of pride. Real competitors at any level want to try and prove themselves against the best competition they can find. UNO has a very fine football program. But, nobody can blame Marsh for wanting to strap on his helmet against the highest level of competition. Better to try it at the top and fail than to look back and wonder if you could have done it.
Where Was this Strategy Before?
For all of these reasons, I think the NU coaching staff played it very smart in the recruitment of Marsh. So smart, in fact, it opens them up to just a bit of tweaking. When I look to the metaphorical bottom of the list of players holding scholarship offers from Nebraska, I can't help but wonder if Marsh might be a bit more scholarship worthy than them.
Hear me out. Wouldn't Jake Cotton have been a candidate for a grayshirt. I get that he stands 6'7'' and is 265. Clearly he has massive potential. But, both injuries and position changes made him not all that productive as a prep player. I know his last name and who is father is. I am sure he will be coached hard and well. But, doesn't his father's position ensure him of free tuition anyway? Why not keep the "currency" of another scholarship available? I am just asking the question now because of how Marsh was handled. He is every bit the prospect Cotton is, and then some.
Did you enjoy this article?
Get Husker news by email
Follow us on Twitter
Related Stories: Recruiting
Post a comment
Aaron B. Jan 26 10
Great article. Both cotton boys have been the scholorship offers that bothered me over the years. I can't understand why we gave them a scholorship when they could have gotten in pretty cheap through there dad. I would have much rather seen it go to Marsh or someone else.
It's great to see we got another Nebraska kid though,and I hope he does well.
GBR
Matt Jan 27 10
I can understand the Cotton scholarships from the standpoint that if Barney gets a better job offer or is let go, he doesn't want his kids to be yanked off the team (as he bleeds Husker red, through and through...)
Barney would rather see his kids play for and finish out at Nebraska instead of seeing them be cut off. Giving them a scholarship ensures as much.
Not saying I agree...just that I understand if this is the angle that Barney is taking with this.
KU Hawk Jan 27 10
Not much sympathy for the Cotton argument Matt. Didn't Ben move from Ames to Omaha with dad? Many, many people pay for college on far smaller annual salaries than Barney makes-if a parent wants their kid to go to college they make it happen. Nothing more than preferential treatment to a coaches son-- and a fair amount of greed by the Cotton family. Hopefully Marsh will realize this and end his career at KU.
OmahaBigRed Jan 27 10
Very good analysis of the Marsh situation. In the end...not sure if QB will be the position for him. Size is an issue. This was easier to overcome in the past...look up D Flutie...but linemen are much bigger now. Take a look at the sizes of QB's now.
Given the right circumstances...he could pan out at QB. But I also see can see him at a Wes Welker type receiver. That could really open the playbook with his other abilities..ie passing, wildcat formations, etc.
He is a Nebraska guy. Pelini CANNOT pass on a state talent like Marsh.
tim Jan 27 10
no way marsh is a better prospect than cotton if they both turn out to be average players marsh may never see the field but cotton at 6'7 wiil defenitly be on the field goal block team and contribute were would marsh be put if he is just average
Darren Jan 27 10
Interesting to see so much of the conversation center on the Cotton comparison. I nearly didn't cover it in this post. I didn't want this to become a referendum on Cotton's offer.
I think any discussion of Cotton and/or Marsh dwells in the fundamental question I brought up concerning production vs. measurables. I put more weight on production. Tim, you seem very certain in your view on Cotton based purely on the kid's 6'7'' frame.
I don't think anyone can be so sure as you claim to be. Tyson Hetzer, a 6'7'' 265 pound TE recruit in 2008, turned out to be a total stiff.
The point is simply - I think Marsh (all 5'11'' of him) is deserving to be in Scarlet and Cream. Bring both he AND Cotton in, and see who can cut it.
NU is wisely getting a "lower price" for Marsh, and they might have been able to get the same "deal" with Cotton.
tim Jan 27 10
hetzer was a juco kid there is a reason he was in juco
tim Jan 27 10
im not saying marsh does not deserve a scholarship because i think he does the best player on the best team in nebraska should get a schollie no matter his measurables
Greg Morrow Jan 28 10
"Hear me out. Wouldn't Jake Cotton have been a candidate for a grayshirt. I get that he stands 6'7'' and is 265."
Darren, you also get that you can't teach 6'7" 265. Hate to reach for that cliche, but bloodline measurables and athleticism do count. Big Barney did play in the League, for a while, too.
Jake's brother Ben is already in the rotation, as a redshirt frosh.
Other staffers kids, recently, have gone the walkon route. Austin Cassidy (son of former assistant Tim) and of course Adam Watson.
Btw, Pelini was gracious to honor the previous staff's offer to Hetzer.
They might just as easily whiff on Chase Harper.
Oh wow. I didn't read the other posts, before I jumped at the Cotton point.
Oh, well. I'm still going with it, piling on, as it is...
At the moment, Marsh is this year's Jeff Souder. People thought Souder was going to "bring the wood."
Didn't he end up at UNO?
Hickman, in Souder's class, was a grayshirt, coincidently.
Really, going grey gives a kid extra time to get "shredded" and compete by the time he's a 3rd year soph.
He counted the cost. He made both an idealistic and pragmatic decision.
How often do you get to do that?
If he adds another "I'll show ya" attitude to the roster... Obviously, that's a plus.