Isaiah Marshall more comfortable, puts up big testing numbers
Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall is in his second fall camp and feels the progress after a full year in the program. The redshirt freshman quarterback is growing in the system and got a lot of snaps last spring when Jalon Daniels was injured.
“It’s been pretty good so far,” Marshall said of camp. “The offense has been doing good, and we’re getting good with the plays and just knowing how to play together since it’s kind of a new team. So, I think it’s going good so far.”
Growing through strength and fundamentals
Marshall’s physical development has come a long way since arriving in Lawrence last year. He gave credit to Director of Sports Performance Matt Gildersleeve and the strength staff for his gains.
He was one of the testing standouts in the program with his vertical jump.
“Shout out to Coach Sleeve and his whole strength staff and also the nutritionist and everybody else,” Marshall said. “It’s been pretty good. I feel like I improved a lot since I first got here. Jumping to 39.9, I wish I got that 40. Just little stuff like that. It’s definitely helped me translate that on the field too.”
He gave other examples how his numbers have improved since enrolling early.
“In January, I ran a 21.01, and then recently I ran a 20.8, so I jumped up a lot,” Marshall said. “And then my vertical was probably like a 34, and now it’s a 39. I got stronger, I lost body fat, and I feel like I’ve eaten better, shout out to the nutritionist.”
Marshall has also worked on the fundamentals to improve the quarterback part of his game.
“Just more on the fundamentals, just the small things,” he said. “Like, staying balanced in my drop. Work more on protection and know my protections like the back of my head.”
Quarterback competition and chemistry
With a full year of experience in the program, Marshall feels more relaxed in his second fall camp.
After leading his high school team to the Michigan state title, he was on campus two months later to begin his freshman year early last January. Enrolling early gave him a head start.
“My first camp, of course I had nervous chills, all that,” he said. “But my second camp, I know more, and I know what to expect more. I just go out there and do what I do best and take it play by play, day by day.”
The competition in the quarterback room is steady. It starts with Jalon Daniels and friendly competition with the group including Cole Ballard, David McComb and Mikey Pauley.
“They’re all my best friends around here,” he said. “We’re very good friends, and I feel like we always compete with each other. At the end of the day, I’m just worried about myself just trying to get 1% better each day.”
“Knowing protections more and be stronger with my cadence. Besides that, just work on the small stuff again, like fundamentals, footwork, stay balanced.”
Building a fast brotherhood
Marshall has noticed how quickly the new-look Kansas roster has formed strong relationships. There are close to 50 new scholarship players on the roster.
“We definitely built a brotherhood very fast,” he said. “I feel like we’re very close with each other. I can talk to the linebackers. I’m very cool with the linebackers, the D-ends, all that. I trust every one of them. I trust everybody.”
When asked about veteran quarterback Jalon Daniels, Marshall said he’s taken notice of how he approaches the game. There has been a lot of talk in fall camp how Daniels has enhanced his game mentally.
“I feel like the way that he attacks each day is very good. It’s like a pro,” Marshall said. “The way he treats his body, the way he’s in the training room a lot. I try and pick up on that a lot.”
