Jimmy Marshall signed a letter of intent to play football with Middle Tennessee State today. While the 6’5″, 215 lb WR had several different schools show interest during the recruiting process, Marshall eventually chose Division I school Middle Tennessee State.

Marshall showed early signs of greatness when he first started at Tattnall but suffered a devastating injury during the first football game of his sophomore season. “He could have easily given up, but he didn’t. He spent a lot of time with Jody Burnett and our trainers to get back on track,” recalled Travis Absher. Absher, TSA’s Defensive Coordinator, also spoke of Marshall’s drive in the classroom, “He works hard with his teachers to make sure that he thrives academically.”

As he spoke at the signing, Head Coach Chance Jones recalled two instances during Marshall’s senior season that demonstrated Marshall’s athleticism as well as his competitive edge. “There were two games that really showed me how much heart he has. One was against Stratford, and the other was against ELCA in the semi-finals when one of their guys broke free about 30 yards down the field, and we just saw Jimmy sprinting as he ran past everyone to catch this guy,” stated Jones.

After signing, Marshall thanked his family, his teachers, and several coaches who played critical roles throughout his athletic career. However, the most touching moment came when the senior standout thanked his biggest fans, the elementary students who Marshall specifically requested be allowed to attend his signing, for inspiring him every time he visits their classrooms. “No matter how far I go, I will never forget Tattnall. If I wasn’t running out of years at Tattnall, I would stay forever,” smiled Marshall.

Marshall, an All Region/All State honoree, had 42 receptions, 611 yards, and 6 touchdowns during his junior year and 18 receptions, 300 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 touchdown passes his senior year.