After a stellar performance against Alabama in the bowl game, can Michigan RB Jordan Marshall carry that momentum into 2025? We detail his outlook for the upcoming season:
The Michigan Wolverines have a lot to be excited about as it pertains to the offense in 2025. With a new offensive coordinator, a new starting quarterback and new weapons galore, it would be hard for Michigan to be as bad or even worse offensively than it was last fall.
A big reason for that optimism is the arrival of Bryce Underwood, but don’t forget about the running back group as well. After a strong finish to the 2024 season, Jordan Marshall is viewed as an emerging star for the Wolverines.
Today, we detail Marshall’s journey to Michigan and what to expect from him this season.
The story so far
Marshall came to Michigan as the top ranked player in the 2024 class, slotting in at No. 80 overall and No. 7 at the position on the 247Sports composite. He played at Archbishop Moeller High School and is the all-time record holder for the most rushing yards (4,878) in a career. He also accumulated 80 total touchdowns, with 65 on the ground and 15 receiving.
As a senior in 2023, Marshall racked up 1,550 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, along with 30 catches for 294 yards and four touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named Mr. Ohio Football, making him the first Mr. Ohio winner to enroll at Michigan since Charles Woodson.
It appeared Marshall was set to continue his success on the field right away in Ann Arbor, but an injury derailed most of his season and limited him to just five games. He actually didn’t receive his first carry as a college player until the Northwestern game in late November, when he had seven rush attempts for 17 yards. He also had a three-yard carry against the Buckeyes a week later.
But it was his performance in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama that left fans wanting more. In his first career start — with Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings sitting out for NFL Draft purposes — Marshall rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries, continuously plowing through the Tide’s first and second lines of defense. He earned MVP honors in Michigan’s upset victory.
Jordan Marshall took home ReliaQuest Bowl MVP honors after helping #Michigan edge Alabama in his first start!https://t.co/UNLK2KFdx4 pic.twitter.com/gaglab6X63
— Charles Post (@chas_post23) January 2, 2025
Outlook for 2025
Michigan brought in reinforcements via the transfer portal to help Marshall in 2025. First, the Wolverines got Alabama’s Justice Haynes — the top ranked running back in the portal — to give Marshall a 1B to his 1A. Then, Michigan acquired two more running backs in the portal this spring in Princeton’s John Volker and UMass’ CJ Hester .
The Wolverines did lose Ben Hall to the portal, but even with his departure — as well as Edwards and Mullings now in the NFL — the running back room has a ton of talent, and that starts with Marshall. Even though he will split carries with Haynes, it wouldn’t surprise me if Marshall broke out in a big way as a sophomore.