Florida Football: The curious case of Jason Marshall’s 2023 season

Heading into the 2023 season, Florida football fans had high hopes that Jason Marshall would be unlocked under new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. After being told to play super soft coverage last season, many saw the potential for Marshall to utilize his physical frame better this season.

It hasn’t been a bad season individually for Marshall, but the preseason projections that had him as a potential first-round NFL draft pick don’t seem to be coming to fruition.

Florida Football: Marshall Law

There are positives to Marshall’s play in 2023. Marshall has only been targeted this season 16 times. Among cornerbacks nationally with at least 150 snaps, that’s tied for the fifth-fewest in the country.

He has given up 10 receptions, good for the 17th fewest among that same group.

Where the juxtaposition comes in is when the ball is caught, the damage is usually severe.

Marshall is dead last in the country among cornerbacks in yards per reception, giving up an average of 26.6 yards per catch against him. The 266 total yards against are the 22nd most in the country.

Even if you took out the 85-yard touchdown against Vanderbilt credited against him, which we’ll address in a moment, Marshall is still giving up 20.1 yards per catch, which is 13th most.

His three touchdowns against are tied for fourth most, and he only has credit for one pass breakup on the 16 targets.

So what happened against Vandy?

In the first quarter against Vanderbilt, the Commodores targeted Marshall and hit an 85-yard pass to tie the score at 7-7.

There are two truths in this play:

1. Marshall had his facemask grabbed during the route, allowing the Vanderbilt receiver to be open in the first place. No flag was thrown, and instead of 2nd and 14 from the seven, Vanderbilt scored a touchdown.
2. Marshall’s effort once the ball was caught wasn’t good enough. Yes, I too have players on the soccer team I coach stop playing to complain to the ref their shirt was pulled. They are also eight years old.

If this play was in a vacuum this season, we would chalk it up to “Well, that was weird” and hope it never happens again.

But for someone who was projected to be a first-round pick prior to the season, it feels like these moments are happening one or two too many times each game in 2023 to justify staying as a first-round selection.

His play still has value to be on the field every snap for Florida football. While Jalen Kimber is arguably having a better season, the only player based on their metrics that could maybe start taking snaps away from Marshall is Devin Moore.

With the meat of its schedule coming up, the success of Florida’s defense may live or die with Marshall’s play.

If he can regain his lofty preseason projections, Florida can be a lockdown defense a steal a couple of games.