Audio and More: Lawrence Marshall on McDowell, U-M
The Huge Show's Bill Simonson hosted Michigan class of 2014 defensive end signee Lawrence Marshall of Southfield, Mich., Wednesday, and Marshall dropped a surprise in addition to talking about what he'll bring to U-M after signing his letter of intent.
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His teammate, five-star defensive lineman Malik McDowell, had been considered a Michigan lean until the fall. That's when Michigan State started to make a move, and he finally ending up committing to MSU. McDowell's mother, however, has refused to sign his letter of intent, and Marshall said his teammate came to school telling him he might not land there.
"I told him he should go there if he wanted to - I'm happy for him at MSU," Marshall said. That was the school he wanted to go to. But he came to school today and was basically telling me he was going to Michigan. When the letter was on the table and he signed it, I thought he was going to Michgian.
"When I first got there this morning he was leaning toward Michigan and telling me he was going to Michigan, so when he announced it, I was shocked."
It remains to be seen where McDowell will end up. Marshall, though, stayed true to his pledge and found what he was looking for at U-M.
"It's a great school academic and football wise," he said. "Coach [Greg] Mattison coaching the d-line, it doesn't get better than that.
"I like the loyalty toward he players. I always wanted to go to a school where the players praised the coaches and the coaches praised the players. A degree from Michigan sets you apart from everything else. Football only lasts so long."
Marshall, now 240 pounds, believes he has what it takes to play this year.
"I think I provide the best pass rushing moves to play early as a freshman," he said. "I'm a speed rusher. I'm going to get to the quarterback and going to make a big impact. He'll either fumble the ball or he's going to feel that hit. I've got a motor that won't stop, and I don't take plays off. I just go hard."
Marshall was an Ohio State pledge earlier in the process before opening it up and switching to U-M.