2021 NFL Draft: Terrace Marshall Jr. is not just the other receiver from LSU

In the 2021 NFL Draft class, there are a lot of great pass catchers who will make an immediate impact in the NFL, just like Justin Jefferson out of LSU did this year. There is another receiver in the draft from the same school as Jefferson by the name of Jamar Chase who is arguably the best receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft class. If you are a college football fan, you will remember that LSU team with Jefferson and Chase who went on to win a National Championship and also remember there was a third guy who had similar production but not as much name recognition.

That guy is Terrace Marshall Jr. who in that 2019-20 college football season had 46 grabs, 671 yards, and 13 touchdowns while being the third option for the LSU Tigers behind Chase and Jefferson. In only seven games this season, Marshall racked up 48 catches for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns. It is easy to say he would have had a 1,000-yard season if COVID didn’t impact college football.

Marshall is an intriguing prospect who stands at 6-foot 3 and weighs 200 pounds and is one of the more physical receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Though Marshall is known for his size, he has other great abilities that make him a potential later first-round to early second-round selection.

Let’s begin with Marshall’s great size and athleticism. Marshall is an angry runner with the ball in his hands and uses his big body frame to gather yards after the catch with power and speed. Even with a bigger frame, Terrace Marshall Jr. has great speed and acceleration. Marshall may not run a 4.29 like Rondale Moore but he has football speed which is what matters when you strap on the pads.

With his great speed comes great route running ability in many different positions at LSU. Because of his size, most would figure that Marshall would be a traditional outside receiver, Marshall lined up in the slot often where he was a mismatch machine.

A big knock on Marshall this year was him running into a problem of dropping balls late in the season. Although, according to PFF, Marshall caught 82% of contested passes this season, the highest in college football. Being able to catch under pressure is crucial to making the next step to the NFL.

Marshall is a great fit for many NFL offenses for his ability to grab 50/50 balls and effective route running. Where Marshall showed great route running in short and intermediate routes many times speed was slowed down at top of routes and using size to outmatch guys. The completion of routes and not just relying on his physical attributes needs improvement, but he has those assets to develop in the NFL.

Overall, Terrace Marshall Jr. does not have any red flags that may cause some struggle adapting to the NFL. Marshall is one of the more physical pass-catchers in the 2021 NFL Draft as well as has numbers to back up his play. Even though Marshall played behind Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson, he really showed he could be a number one target this season with Chase deciding to sit out and prepare for the draft. Terrace Marshall Jr. has first-round talent, but will most likely be an early second-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.