Archbishop Moeller running back Jordan Marshall keeps rolling

MASSILLON, Ohio – After a breakout sophomore season that caught the attention of college recruiters, Archbishop Moeller running back Jordan Marshall is back at it again in 2022.

The 5-foot-10, 195-pound running back didn’t miss a step in Friday night’s season opener, rushing for 138 yards on 16 carries and scoring three touchdowns in a 49-31 win over Massillon.

“We are fortunate to have him,” Moeller head coach Mark Elder said. “We can lead on him when we need to in critical situations.”

Marshall made his mark early on in Friday’s game, as he took a handoff at the Massillon 45 in the first quarter and was hit after about seven yards. He refused to go down and dragged a pile of defenders for a 20-yard gain. He finished off that drive with a one-yard touchdown score.

“My grandpa has always told me ‘one man can’t bring me down,’” Marshall said. “We live by that in our house.”

Later in the half, Marshall took a handoff at the Massillon two-yard-line and stood up multiple defenders on his way to the end zone. As he was doing so, the Massillon defenders were talking but not in the way one might think.

“They were just saying I am a monster,” Marshall said with a laugh.

It wasn’t just the power Marshall showed off on Friday night, however. Midway through the third quarter, Marshall took a pass from quarterback Luke Dunn and turned on the afterburners. He went down the sideline and outran the Tigers defense for a 55-yard touchdown.

“He is a strong kid, and we can move the chains by handing him the football,” Elder said. “He also has the ability to split it and have big explosive plays as well.”

The last time Marshall took the field for the Crusaders before Friday night, he ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to eventual Division I state runner-up Springfield in last season’s state semifinals.

That game was the culmination of a season that saw Marshall rush for 1,155 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also grabbing 23 catches for 427 more yards and seven scores.

It was enough to get him ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect in Ohio’s 2024 class by 247Sports and for the college offers to start pouring in. He has already received offers from more than 20 schools, including Power 5 offers from teams such as Ohio State, Michigan, Tennessee and South Carolina.

And then on Friday morning, he tweeted that he had received an offer from Auburn, and he hit the War Eagle pose after one of his touchdowns against Massillon.

The number of offers and the pace at which they have come caught the running back off guard at first, but he is thankful for the chances he has in front of him.

“I was surprised but I am also really blessed to have to have these opportunities,” Marshall said. “It still doesn’t feel real yet.”

While the chance to play high caliber college football is a dream and something to look forward to, the junior knows he still has business to take care of before that happens.

“I just want to focus on high school and be here for my team,” Marshall said.

Being there for his team is a theme when talking to Marshall. He knows the individual stats and accolades are great but also knows that football is about more than just one player. That’s why when he is asked about his personal goals for the season, he says he really doesn’t have any, but that he is more looking at what the Crusaders can do as a team.

“I just want to play the best for my team, just put my team first,” Marshall said. “(I want to) go out there and do my thing and help us as much as I can.”

The goals for Marshall and the Crusaders aren’t limited to what they do on the field, and they know what they must do in order to reach the heights they hope to attain.

“We reach our goals by being the best version of ourselves on the field, in the classroom and in faith,” Marshall said. “We live by that every day at Moeller, and we are becoming men. I think that is more important than state (playoffs).”

That doesn’t mean Marshall and his teammates aren’t looking to win when the playoffs come around. They just know that to reach their goals on the field, they need to do the work off the field and reach their goals there as well.

“We are working on being better men,” Marshall said. “Hopefully state is right around the corner for us.”

Photo Gallery (photos by Jeff Harwell)