Interview: 2018 Missouri All-State RB Donovan Marshall to Lend Talents to Arkansas State

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

When Lutheran North High School takes the gridiron Donovan Marshall’s time card gets punched. The every-down back rushed for 1,476 yards with 17 touchdowns during his junior campaign rocketing up recruiting boards across the country after rushing for 1,100 yards in 2015. Big expectations have been placed on Marshall’s shoulders for his senior season. Instead of backing away from the challenge, the Arkansas State verbal commit is adding more duties to his job description.

Marshall put on a show during his junior season displaying a wide array of abilities proving to be a homerun hitter from anywhere on the field. In addition to taking it to the house on any given play, Marshall is one part power runner and one part scat-back capable of running over a defender dropping him in his place as quickly as putting a move on a hopeful tackler leaving said defender in the same spot frozen. All the work added up to first team All-Metro, All-Conference, All-District, and All-State honors in 12 games played. The result in the win-loss column was a 9-3 season for the Crusaders.

The work put in by the 6-0, 180 pound, talent did not go unnoticed by college scouts. The offer sheet sits at 26 with teams like Vanderbilt, Iowa State, Syracuse, Cornell, Harvard, New Mexico, Dartmouth, Bowling Green, Wyoming, Toledo, Navy, Purdue, and Minnesota wanting him on their roster. On May 31, Marshall found his best fit with the Red Wolves, but that has not stopped Power Five Conference schools from trying to sway him away from the perennial Sun Belt Conference champs.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with one of Missouri’s top talents getting an overview on his junior season, off-season workouts, and how the three-star came to commit to Arkansas State.

Interview

Donovan, you tore it up during your junior season. What clicked for you last year allowing you to have a 1,400-yard and 17 touchdown campaign?

“My sophomore year I had 1,100 yards, but I did not start the whole season. Playing a full season helped. We had a veteran offensive line. We had three seniors, a freshmen, and a junior on the line. It was really them that made it possible for me. They opened up the holes. They made it easy for me.”

How did you prepare for your junior year?

“I worked on my flexibility and agility. My sophomore year I could not make people miss in the open field. I wanted to do that with ease. I worked on being more elusive and agile.”

What are you doing differently to prepare for your senior year?

“I’m still working on my foot speed but I want to be more powerful and explosive. I’m doing more weight training for the season.”

What personal goals have you set for the 2017 season?

“I want to break some school records. I want to break the rushing total for touchdowns, the school record for rushing yards in a season, and career. I need 2,200 yards for the 2017 season for the single-season school record. I only need 1,400 yards this year to break the career record. Most importantly I want to win a state championship.”

Will the coaches utilize your athleticism in other ways beyond taking handoffs at running back in 2017?

“This year we will throw the ball more to the backs. I might be in the slot and in the wing some. They want to move me around to get me the ball in different ways. I may return some punts and kicks too.”

How does the team look going into the season?

“We have a lot talent. Ronnie Perkins, he’s a four-star defensive end. He is really-good. We have a three-star middle linebacker, Devin Ruffin, committed to Bowling Green. Brooks is another running back that just transferred in, he has offers from Illinois, South Dakota, and schools like that. That’s just the 2018 class. In the 2019 class, Isaiah Azubuike has offers from Iowa and Western Michigan. Jackson Ye is a big O-lineman. We have a lot of talent.”

Have you maxed out in the weight room this spring?

“I did. My squat is 525 and my clean was 265.”

What is the best 40-yard dash you’ve posted?

“I ran a 4.53 last year at the Elite Football Academy, a local combine.”

Which college programs came by Lutheran North to see you this spring and summer?

“We don’t have spring ball in Missouri, so some of the coaches came by to visit while we were in school or to see us when we were in the weight room early in the morning. We had a couple of throwing sessions for coaches. They’d come check that out. There were a lot of schools. I can’t remember them all, but Arkansas, Mizzou, Iowa State, Iowa, TCU, and Minnesota all came by.”

When college coaches talk to you about your game, what are they telling you they like?

“They like my size. I’m not a big back with my weight, but I have the frame to put on weight. They like my speed and agility. They like that I can pass catch and block real-well. I’m an all-purpose back.”

Have you attended any camps?

“I went to the Under Armour All-American camp, The Opening Regional, and an Adidas Three Stripe camp.”

Let’s switch over to recruiting. You committed to Arkansas State on May 31, what influenced you to commit to the Red Wolves?

“I narrowed it down to a handful of schools; Arkansas State, Vanderbilt, Purdue, Minnesota, Iowa State, and Wyoming. Those schools were some of the schools that were real heavy on me. I liked them all. I cut out a lot of schools, I have 26 offers, to find the best fit for me. I looked at which schools really wanted me. Arkansas State has a good history with their staff and they have brand new facilities. I like Jonesboro and the people there. I liked the atmosphere there. Plus, there is an opportunity to play my freshman year or I could even start freshman year. We run a similar offense in high school as they do, just the terminology is different. At Arkansas State, I will have an opportunity to win games, win conference titles, and win bowl games. It was a win-win-win opportunity.”

How will Arkansas State use you within their offense?

“They will use me as their bigger back. They want me to get heavier once I get on campus. They will use me out of the backfield running, blocking, and throw to me out of the backfield. I may do some in the return game. I might play some in the slot. I don’t know all the details yet. We’ll find out.”

Are any other schools still actively recruiting you?

“Yes. Purdue is still on me. Toledo and Central Michigan too. From what my head coach is telling me, if I have a big year a lot of schools that are interested in me will come by and try to swing me from my commitment.”

Do you have any unofficial or official visits planned?

“On July 15 I am visiting Arkansas State. I’m not planning on taking any other official visits. I am pretty much 100 percent with Arkansas State.”

What is your cumulative GPA?

“3.3.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“Yes. I got a 24 on the ACT.”

Have you started thinking about which degree you might go after in college?

“Not really. I have thought about a degree in education so I can coach, but I have not decided yet.”

What are you doing for fun this summer outside of football related activities?

“I’m going to hang out with my girlfriend a lot and just have a good time. I will not have another summer like this. I want to enjoy it and take it all in. When it comes time for business, I will be back on the field to take care of that.”

Donovan, thanks for your time today and good luck with your summer workouts and your upcoming visit to Jonesboro.

“Thank you.”

Please help keep RecruitingNewsGuru.com FREE!

If RNG has helped you, a friend, or a family member through an article, video, or stylized interview with our countless hours of free promotion for high school, junior college, and college athletes – please donate. Any amount is appreciated!

Photo credit: scout.com; No. 2 Donovan Marshall flied around the right side (2016).

Photo credit: varsitynews.com; No. 2 Donovan Marshall takes the handoff (2016).

Photo credit: Marshall family; No. 2 Donovan Marshall with No. 3 Cooper Callis at ASU (April 2017).