Recruiting Report: Demetrius (TK) Marshall (2020)
Growing up in Minneapolis and playing Park Board football at Armatage Park (go SWAFA) was really the catalyst for what became my first love and lead me to my dream job: writing about MN Prep football for Northstar Football. Playing…
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Continue ReadingGrowing up in Minneapolis and playing Park Board football at Armatage Park (go SWAFA) was really the catalyst for what became my first love and lead me to my dream job: writing about MN Prep football for Northstar Football. Playing football for and in the city of Minneapolis during my youth contributed vastly to my wonderful high school experience playing for Minneapolis Southwest. I got to play with and against kids I had been competing against for my entire life, and the rivalries and bonds that created have been one of the things I have been most thankful for. Being able to do an interview with the first Southwest Laker to receive a Division 1 offer in over 20 years is something that I find both unique and exciting, but that excitement cannot compare to the enthusiasm that the coaches for whatever D1 school Demetrius (TK) Marshall decides to play football at will be feeling. The 6’0 190 lb. running-back has been tearing up the Twin Cities for three years now, and his diligence and tenacity have hit gold as the rising senior received scholarship offers from the University of North Dakota, the University of Northern Iowa, South Dakota State University, and last but not least, North Dakota State University since his junior season ended. Although Marshall has been through a ringer of an offseason having already visited and camped at Northwestern University for their showcase, Oregon State, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, and SDSU, he was kind enough to give me some insight on his recruiting and the Lakers upcoming season.
Credit: TK MarshallHoping to bounce back from a 3-6 record in 2018, Marshall and the Lakers will both benefit from a more experienced offensive-line. With three freshman starting on the OL last year, Marshall explained to me that “they really had to step up into the role of being starting varsity players pretty quickly.” He also told me that this upcoming season will be strong not only because of the returning OL experience, but some new additions to the team will aid in depth and strength. Marshall went on to elaborate that “our line has a strong returning core, our defense is amazing and I’ll argue is one of the best in the state, and I think this year will be a dominate year.” For his personal goals, he told me that there are a couple main areas that he has been focusing on, mainly “working on getting north and south with one cut and getting lower in my cuts and through the line. I see myself often taking more steps than necessary getting a little too high out of cuts or not getting low enough through the hole.” With these goals in mind and the grind that Marshall has put himself through this offseason, including a track season in which he led the Lakers to the 4th fastest 4×200 in the state, there shouldn’t be any doubt that he can build on his very solid junior campaign of nine games with 128 carries for 1043 years (8.1 npc/116 ypg) with 11 TDs while adding 6 receptions for 114 yards and 1 TD.
Credit: TK MarshallGoing into this upcoming season with momentum and confidence is extremely helpful, and Marshall has more than enough to be confident about. He stated to me that “camps went well. I think I got a good look from a lot of coaches. But I was going there as an unknown player, so at the beginning of every camp I would be doing drills with just the general population. Until they saw me perform and my stats I would then get moved to a select few groups. (I) got a lot of feedback from coaches.” So far however, Marshall told me that there has not been much contact from them. He is communicating regularly with NDSU, SDSU, and NIU the most however, and also gave me some insight that the “place that has stood out to me in all areas is NDSU, because of the success they show, they have nice facilities, but also the top tier stats to back them up.” I was excited by his insight, but conference foes such as North and Washburn don’t have much to be excited about at all when they face the Lakers. As Marshall said himself, “I think this is going to be a big year for us.”