While Ja’Marr Chase gets most of the publicity, his production went to another LSU wide receiver in 2020. Junior wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. entered the season poised to recoup the NFL Draft value potentially being sacrificed by Chase’s opt-out, and he delivered on those expectations. Now, Marshall is a legitimate NFL Draft prospect, and while he hasn’t come close to challenging Chase’s stock, he’s an enticing player in his own right.
Terrace Marshall Jr. NFL Draft Profile
- Height: 6’2 5/8″
- Weight: 205 pounds
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: LSU
- Year: Junior
Tony Pauline’s Terrace Marshall Jr. Scouting Report
Positives: Nice-sized receiver who flashes dominance and comes with a large upside. Smooth releasing off the line of scrimmage, fires into routes and stays low on exit. Extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame, adjusts to the errant throw, and comes away with the difficult catch when defenders are draped on his back.
Displays quick hands and the ability to pluck the ball from the air. Tracks the ball in the air, displays good eye/hand coordination, and keeps the play inbounds after the catch. Displays focus and makes the difficult catch in a crowd. Exposes himself to the big hit and gets pounded by defenders yet holds onto the throw.
Featured | NFL Draft Prospects 2021: Pauline’s updated big board, player rankings
Negatives: Lackadaisical and lets the pass get inside him on occasion. Peeks upfield and takes his eyes off the ball, which results in occasional dropped passes. Does not show a deep burst on film.
Analysis: Marshall displayed steady development in his game the past two seasons and is a natural pass catcher who must pay attention to the details of his position. He possesses all the underlying skill to develop into a second wideout for an NFL team.
Terrace Marshall Jr. Player Profile
Terrace Marshall Jr. isn’t a known commodity in all circles, but that’s more due to the talent that was above him on the LSU wide receiver depth chart in 2019. LSU enjoyed historic production from Ja’Marr Chase and Vikings first-round pick Justin Jefferson in their national championship campaign. While Marshall still put up respectable stats (46 catches for 671 yards and 13 touchdowns), he ultimately fell under the radar in relation to his fellow WRs.
In truth, however, Marshall Jr. has been a highly-regarded player since the start, and it was a matter of when, not if, for his eventual breakout. Marshall Jr. was one of the top players in the 2018 recruiting class. ESPN rated Marshall Jr. as the No. 2 overall receiver recruit in the nation, as well as the top-ranked recruit in the state of Louisiana.
Featured | NFL Rumors & Draft News: 2021 free agency buzz
Marshall Jr. was a five-star prospect. By the end of his recruiting cycle, he had scholarship offers from over two dozen schools, including blue-bloods such as LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Auburn.
Marshall Jr. went on visits to LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, and Florida State, and in the end, he decided to stay close to the bayou and suit up for Ed Orgeron’s squad. He saw action right away in his true freshman season, accumulating 12 catches for 192 yards. His playmaking ability was evident from the start, but now, after inheriting a premier role from his predecessors, he’s finally realized his potential.
Terrace Marshall Jr.’s 2020 season
Looking at Marshall Jr.’s 2020 season as a whole, the junior receiver saw a production increase given the absence of Ja’Marr Chase. Despite the losses of Joe Brady and Joe Burrow, which decreased the team’s overall offensive output, Marshall Jr. still exceeded his statistical totals from last year, logging 731 yards and ten scores on 48 catches. Had he played a full 12 or 13-game season, Marshall would have likely passed the 1,000-yard mark.
Of course, while Marshall Jr. showed modest growth, he could have done more in that department. At the beginning of the season, he was unstoppable. He used his explosiveness and speed to rack up yards in space while using his size and suddenness to win battles as a route runner. But Marshall’s slight decline before his final game obstructed the upward trajectory, and by the end of the year, Marshall Jr. left questions unanswered, among them: Can he play to his 6-foot-3 size consistently? Can he contribute as a run blocker?
Marshall Jr. has exhausted his last chance to answer these questions at the collegiate level, but with a strong performance at his pro day on March 31, he likely convinced NFL teams that the investment into his athletic profile will be worth the risk. Marshall logged a superb Relative Athletic Score of 9.94, putting up a 4.38 40-yard dash, a 39-inch vertical, a 125-inch broad jump, and 16 bench reps. While the LSU wide receiver needs more refinement, his size-speed combination is undoubtedly something he can build his game around.
Terrace Marshall Jr.’s best fits in the NFL
Marshall Jr. wins with a complete wide receiver skill set. He stands at 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds, offering very solid size. However, at the same time, he’s a stellar athlete. He possesses the deep speed to stretch the field and stress defensive backs in the deep third. Marshall Jr. also offers very good ball tracking ability and body control when securing the catch.
Among other things, the LSU wideout needs to refine his route running and show more overall quickness and twitch. Nevertheless, Terrace Marshall Jr. has the physical skill set to be a premier weapon on the boundary, especially in the intermediate and deep ranges. He should be a candidate to break into Round 1.
Which teams are especially good matches for Marshall?
In the modern NFL, you can never have enough dynamic weaponry in your arsenal, and that’s exactly what LSU wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. will provide, potentially for a discounted price. Marshall Jr. has a rare size-speed combination, which inherently provides him a sort of upside that many teams should be in the market for.
Marshall’s limited run-after-catch production will, to this point, keep him off of certain teams’ draft boards, but his ability to make a quarterback’s job easier with his size and speed by elongating catch windows will inevitably be in high demand. Teams like the Buffalo Bills, Washington Football Team, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Los Angeles Chargers can especially benefit.
Want more 2021 NFL Draft prospect news? Want to do your own mock draft?
Dive into PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator and test your own drafting acumen. Continue to visit Pro Football Network for NFL news and in-depth analysis. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@PFN365) to stay in the loop on all things college football and the NFL Draft landscape.