Big Role Looms For Marshall, Indiana Receivers

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - For Miles Marshall, it's testosterone-fueled simple -- impose your will and don't let defenders keep you from the ball.

Yes, there's nothing simple about being a dominant major-college receiver, but that misses the point, which is Marshall has that chance at Indiana, and co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Grant Heard aims to get him there.

It starts with this message:

Take what is yours.

"He has a complete understanding of what we are trying to do," Heard says. "I feel good about that part.

"We are trying to get him to play more physical and let people feel his presence with his blocking and 50/50 balls."

With two seasons of eligibility remaining, the 6-4, 212-pound Marshall imagines the possibilities.

"I hope my role increases," he says. "That's up to me. I have to keep working hard. I have to get faster. I've got to work on my hands and releases. I have to become a better player to do the things I want to do."

Playing in the NFL is high on that to-do list. Marshall isn't ready yet, but he pushes to get there.

"My goal is to end up in the NFL, so I have a couple more years to achieve that."

Marshall looms as IU's next big receiving threat, following Whop Philyor and Ty Fryfogle in recent years.

Philyor is heading to NFL opportunity with a thousand-yard 2019 season on his resume. Fryfogle is back looking to improve on his Big Ten receiver-of-the-year numbers (37 catches, 721 yards, 7 touchdowns, consecutive 200-yard receiving games), but he can't bear the outside receiving burden alone.

Enter Marshall, part of a talented receiving group that reflects strong recruiting and player development.

IU can't have enough receiving weapons in offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan's diverse attack, especially with do-it-all quarterback Michael Penix Jr. back following ACL surgery.

While Fryfogle figures to top the go-to list, defenses will try to take him away. At least one other receiver will have to take charge on the outside, and Marshall is a prime candidate.

He has shown flashes of potential during his first two seasons, catching 35 passes for 486 yards and two touchdowns. That's an average of 13.9 yards a catch.

Last season, in seven games, he caught 19 passes for 290 yards, an average of 15.3 yards.

Marshall's upside was on display as a record-setting receiver at Georgia's Parkview High School, highlighted by the 73 catches for 1,118 yards, and 15 touchdowns he totaled as a senior.

Heard broke him in slowly as a Hoosier. Marshall played one game as a true freshman in 2018 before redshirting. He played in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman reserve in 2019 before making a bigger impact last season.

Now is the time for the next step, and Heard wants more than numbers.

"We are trying to get him to be a true vocal leader," Heard says. "He's been there. He's one of the veterans.

"That's my challenge for him – every day is an opportunity to get better."

Marshall embraces it.

"I'm learning. I haven't been in a leadership role since I've been here, but now I'm pushed into it. I'm trying to make sure all the young guys stay in the playbook and do all the right things.

"Whop was a great leader, but he left. Now it's up to me and Ty to lead the (receivers) room."

As for Fryfogle, how do you top a season that ranks among the best in program history?

Heard has plenty of ideas.

"We have been able to move him around more this spring. He needs to continue to understand coverages, how people are trying to play him, and work on his weaknesses."

Strength coach Aaron Wellman will have a big role in that.

"(Fryfogle) will get a little faster and more sudden," Heard says. "He has to keep developing and catching 50/50 balls.

"He had a lot of opportunities last year and he made a lot of them. I want him to make more. That's the challenge for him."

One way to negate don't-let-him-beat-us defenses is with movement.

"Being able to move him around, do some different things, use him in different ways with the skillset he has to offer, and allow him to use it," Heard says.

Fryfogle says he returned because he needs to get better ("I had a lot of great accomplishments, but there are things I need to work on") and because the Hoosiers have "A lot more we can accomplish" and that "we can accomplish anything we want this season. It's all on us."

There's plenty of other receiving talent, including newcomers D.J. Matthews and Jordyn Williams. Matthews is a grad transfer from Florida State with 84 career catches. Williams is a 4-star prospect out of Georgia.

"They have been a great addition as far as fitting in personality-wise," Heard says. "Everyone has taught them the ins and outs, taught them about my personality and how I react to things.

"They are learning and battling every day. They are trying to get better, trying to see how they can help this team win."

Matthews, set to take over the slot position Philyor vacated, already has made a big impact on Marshall.

"He is a great route runner. He is very elusive, very silky, very smooth in his routes. He adds a lot of explosiveness."

IU cornerback Reese Taylor, who has covered Matthews in practice, can vouch for that explosiveness.

"He's a real twitchy guy, real quick off the line of scrimmage. If your eyes isn't right, he's going to get you," Taylor said. "He's a real fast and electric guy, elusive. You have to make sure you come out with your A-game every time you guard him."

Don't forget young receivers such as Jacolby Hewitt, Javon Swinton, Da'Shaun Brown, and David Baker.

Add Peyton Hendershot, one of the nation's best receiving tight ends, along with the strong-armed Penix, and you have the foundation for a potentially dominant passing attack.

Players Mentioned

David Baker

Da'Shaun Brown

Ty Fryfogle

Peyton Hendershot

Jacolby Hewitt

Miles Marshall

D.J. Matthews Jr.

Michael Penix Jr.

Whop Philyor

Javon Swinton

Reese Taylor

Jordyn Williams

Indiana University Athletics