ATHENS, Ga. — Trezmen Marshall went public with his commitment on Friday afternoon. His choice adds to a big week of moves and news regarding the future of the Georgia football program.
Marshall opted to stay at home and play for Kirby Smart and Glenn Schumann. His announcement came after Notre Dame graduate transfer Jay Hayes flipped from Oklahoma to join the 2018 Georgia team. The Bulldogs also picked up a likely future 5-star tackle in Broderick Jones on Thursday.
Marshall ranks as the nation’s No. 9 athlete and the No. 98 overall prospect for 2019 on the 247Sports composite.
The Clinch County standout knows how to win. He’s been a key cog on two state title teams in Homerville.
The 6-foot, 234-pound rising senior told DawgNation that he’s been a silent pledge since a weekend visit earlier this month.
He had a recent top 3 that included Clemson but that was out of date. The 4-star recruit felt that the Bulldogs won out over Alabama and Tennessee.
Why Georgia? This decision traces all the way back to former Bulldogs player Chauncey Manac’s time in Athens. He also played for Clinch County, but this story arc has a twist.
Manac transferred from UGA last August to play JUCO ball. He did so a few days before Marshall planned to commit to the program.
“Chauncey got me hooked on Georgia,” Marshall said. “But when he left, nothing really changed. He was like, ‘Bro, don’t let this with me make your decision,’ so I stayed with it and thought I wouldn’t like it up there after that. But I stayed with it and kept building that relationship with Georgia and everybody else and those coaches.
“Coach Schumann and I are real cool. Coach Kirby and I are getting closer. I’m talking to some of the players now and some of the recruits like Nolan [Smith] and Jadon Haselwood, too.”
Marshall relayed that he will not shut down his recruiting.
“I’m committed to Georgia but I’m still going to take all five of my officials,” he said.
Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Tennesse will get those official visits.
Trezmen Marshall’s view on G-Day
Marshall was at G-Day as a silent commit. He knew it would be his college home so he took in things a different way. He wanted to see Justin Fields do his thing.
“It was good,” Marshall said. “He showed out.”
But his main focus was on the linebackers.
“I watched Monty [Rice] really and that was mainly it,” Marshall said. “He played great, but he got hurt at the end.”
His eyes stayed locked on that No. 32 jersey.
“I feel like I am going to play beside him at Georgia one day,” he said.
Marshall has high hopes for his UGA career. He said he hopes to play running back and inside linebacker for the Bulldogs.
“I don’t know if it will work out, but I am at least going to try to play both,” he said. “I know my main spot right now will be at linebacker.”
The Red Devil from South Georgia characterizes himself as an all-around linebacker.
“I’m different because I am one of those big guys who can run,” Marshall said. “I think I can do a lot of things pretty equal. I can run and hit and I can run with that running back, I feel like. Then I can also jack up a lineman. I feel like I have it all and I can be a dominant threat.”
Kevin Sherrer once was his area recruiter, but he’s now at Tennessee. Schumann was able to more than make up for that lost relationship with the staff.
“Coach Schumann and I are tight,” Marshall said. “We don’t talk about football like that. Everybody else seems to talk a lot about football with him. We talk about more than football. We just talk about life, really.”
What the Trezmen Marshall commitment means for UGA
Marshall saw the Bulldogs pick up their 2017 SEC Championship rings at G-Day. He has bigger things in mind.
He’s hoping to win three state titles during his high school career. Marshall, who has even played quarterback for his team, wants that to carry over into college.
“I’m trying to win it all,” he said. “I know about that SEC Championship and I like that and all. But I want to see that national championship.”
His move continues to nail down the inside linebacker spot for the Bulldogs. Georgia is expected to sign three ILB prospects this cycle. J.D. Bertrand was the first last summer.
Marshall’s decision gives the Bulldogs another pledge as it tries to defend its 2018 honor of having the nation’s top-rated recruiting class.
UGA now has seven commitments, including three 5-star commitments. The Bulldogs are the only school in the nation with multiple 5-star commitments.
This commitment should move the Bulldogs back into the national top 5 among the team rankings for 2019.