Michigan RB Jordan Marshall praises bounceback, says they'll 'attack' Nebraska

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines are looking to start Big Ten play on a high note with Saturday’s opener at Nebraska, and sophomore running back Jordan Marshall wants to be one of the tone-setting guys who help that happen.

Marshall spoke to the media on Tuesday night, saying that toughness will be key in Michigan’s trip to Lincoln on Saturday (3:30 p.m., CBS).

“This starts Big Ten play and there’s a lot of season left,” Marshall said on Tuesday. “But we kind of talked about it today. We just want to go 1-0 in Big Ten play… so how do we do that? And I think that’s just being physical and tough. The Big Ten is all about being tough and it really comes down to the o-line play and d-line play, and it’s going to be exciting to go in their place and get to play.”

The Cornhuskers bring a stout defense into the matchup, headlined by the No. 1 pass defense in the country. Even though their last two opponents, Akron and Houston Christian, did not provide much resistance, Michigan still expects to be aggressive on Saturday.

“I think we’re going to attack them,” Marshall said. “We’re confident in our players here and the receivers, running backs, tight ends that we’re going to go in there, and if they’re the No. 1 run defense, the No. 1 pass defense, it doesn’t really matter to us. We’re just going to go in there and do what Michigan does, and I think we got a good view of that last Saturday of how explosive we can be in all phases.”

Michigan, sitting at 2-1 on the season, feels last weekend’s 63-3 win over Central Michigan was a turning of the page from Week 2’s 24-13 loss at Oklahoma. Marshall expects them to be all the better for it heading into a hostile Cornhusker crowd.

“I would say what we learned is we bounced back,” Marshall said. “I would say that’s the biggest thing, is we bounced back… no matter who we played, we bounced back. And to see Bryce [Underwood] take that on the chin and say, yep, it’s time to go back to work, and we have a lot of older guys, it’s time to go back to work. That’s what Michigan’s always been about, is putting your head down and going back to work. 

“And I think we learned from that road game is we’re going to play in more environments like that, and we’re going to have to win on the road. So this one is exciting for us, and it’s another challenge that we get to face and another stepping stone. And I think the guys are just embracing it. We get another chance to go on the road and play in a really cool environment, and take it on the chest. And I’m just excited to see what this team does, and we have so many guys that can go make plays for us, and I think we’re in a really good spot right now.”

Marshall has not had the season some envisioned so far, with just 109 yards through three games, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. His backfield mate, Justice Haynes, is 5th in the country in rushing with 388 yards and 6th in touchdowns with 5 so far this year.

Still, he feels like what he has brought to the Michigan run game is whatever the team has needed from him.

 ”Justice has played really well,” Marshall said. “All I can do is run hard when I’m out there. Sometimes I might not get the big hole or a 75-yard run, but you soften up the defense, and that is what you’re going to have with two backs. And it’s just about the rotation of the game.

“I’m a team guy and whatever I can do to help this team win is what I’m going to do. And if that’s 5 yards, 10 yards, if that’s pass blocking, catching, running a route, whatever that is, I’m going to do it. And for me, those first two weeks, I would soften up the defense and Justice had some long runs and I was just excited for him as he would be for me if that was me. You have to be like that. You have to be willing to put others before yourself. And that’s what this program is about at Michigan.”