Football: Business as usual for Iman Marshall
Iman Marshall is one of a select few high-profile prospects from the Southland who not only boasts a rather lofty reputation right here at home, but also on the national level. The senior out of Long Beach Poly, however, has not let all of the hype go to his head.
A tireless worker who is never satisfied, Marshall proved again on Friday that he’s essentially no different from his peers. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back, in fact, was one of the first players out on the field at Veterans Stadium at Long Beach City College.
Marshall, nicknamed Biggie and with offers from seemingly every powerhouse program in the nation, could have easily taken his time and made an appearance at his leisure. Instead, there he was, warming up hours before the nonleague game against Westlake Village Westlake.
“The media attention is crazy sometimes, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m worried about things on the field and everything will take care of itself off the field,” Marshall said before the opening kickoff. “It’s important to have a level head, keep things in perspective.”
Recruiting services, including ESPN, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports, have been enamored with Marshall for years, dating to his freshman year. Suppose that best explains how he emerged on the national radar and remained a household name on the prep scene ever since.
The so-called recruiting gurus are not the only ones who have kept tabs on Marshall. USC, Florida State, Michigan and Notre Dame are few of the many schools who have put a scholarship on the table for him. All told, the count is approaching 30 colleges.
The odds of him living up to the advanced billing for the Jackrabbits (2-0 overall) against the Warriors (2-0) and beyond once college life begins appear highly likely. In the meantime, it’s reasonable to expect that Marshall will take things in stride. And do so humbly.
Sean Ceglinsky has covered sports in the Southland for the better part of the last 15-plus years. Follow him on Twitter: @SeanCeglinsky
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