Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Thursday, Marshall said he expected that kind of reaction but the only support he needed was from his family.
“I talked it over with my family and my coaches and it came down to the decision that it was time for me to take the next step and that I was prepared enough to play,” Marshall said. “I think I surprised a lot of people. I knew that was expected. But me and my family sat down and talked about it, and that really matters the most to me, that I have their support and that they’re going to support me til the end.
“I felt like I helped impact our team a lot and we had two successful seasons when I played there and I had a lot to do with that,” he added. “And I felt like I was ready to go.”
Marshall, who is one of 14 OSU players at the Combine, including nine underclassmen, admitted that head coach Urban Meyer and receivers coach Zach Smith tried to convince him to stay.
“They told me, ‘We’d like you to stay, but we’ll support your decision, whatever (one) you make,’ ” Marshall said. “That meant a lot to me. I love Coach Meyer and Coach Smith and love Ohio State, but I felt it was my time to go.”
Marshall is projected as a mid- to late-round pick, but the former high school quarterback said he thinks his versatility, particularly as a punt returner, will raise his value in the eyes of NFL scouts and coaches.
“I feel like I can be very versatile for any team that I play for and can help the team in many ways,” he said. “I sell that a lot. I sell that I can play returner and I can also run down there and be a gunner if I need to. And I can play running back, wide receiver, slot. Whatever they need me to do I’ll make sure I do it to the best of my ability to help the team win.”
As for Mayock and others who questioned his decision to leave school two years early, Marshall thanked them for the inspiration.
“It just motivates me to go out there and prove myself this week,” he said. “I made it this far. I don’t know if they had anything to say about that, but I made it this far and all I can do is get better from here.”
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