Florida CB Jason Marshall Jr. will be the best freshman in the nation

The excitement for the 2021 season is real, as the Florida Gators have an exciting roster on paper. One player that Gators fans only truly know from paper is true freshman cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.

Marshall was a five-star recruit and the No. 28 overall recruit in the 2021 class, according to 247 Sports.

He was also considered one of the top cornerbacks in the country coming out of high school, and 247 Sports had him as the No. 2 cornerback. Some recruiting sites even had him as the No. 1 cornerback.

Marshall was Florida’s most prominent and highest recruit from the 2021 class, and he will be even more than that for the Gators right away.

Head coach Dan Mullen and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham hit the jackpot by landing Marshall, as the 6-0, 190-pound freshman will likely start opposite of future top 10 pick, cornerback Kaiir Elam. Elam will get all of the media hype to start the year, and deservedly so, but Marshall will get love soon enough.

Jason Marshall Jr. will shine in his freshman season.

It is not easy for a newcomer to transition from high school to college, but Marshall is built differently from many incoming freshmen. However, Marshall already has an NFL-ready body and Day 1 starter traits.

Marshall can play physically on the outside against receivers, but he also has the elite athletic ability to run with receivers.

His best ability is his man coverage, and he is a perfect fit in Florida‘s scheme. With Elam on the other side locking things down, teams will test Marshall early and often.

However, Marshall is up for the challenge, and I believe he will significantly impact the Gators this season. LSU’s Derek Stingley, the best cornerback in the country, made a significant impact during his freshman season.

I expect Marshall to showcase his skills right away like Stingley did and show that he is the best freshman in the nation.