Devy Digest: Freshman Friday | Nick Marsh

The incoming freshman at Michigan State has little competition. Should you draft him in devy drafts?

Who is Nick Marsh?

Marsh was a four-star recruit in the composites who attended River Rouge in Michigan. As a freshman, Marsh was on the varsity team and helped bring a state title home, as he caught four passes for 85 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Marsh would have a fantastic high school career and, as a senior, would have 41 receptions for 718 yards, eight touchdowns, and added 412 yards on the ground and an additional six touchdowns on 46 carries. Marsh contributed in the return game as well. Marsh held 39 offers, but his heart was always with the Spartans; he made nine visits. Michigan State fired Mel Tucker early on, but that didn’t hinder the recruitment of Marsh, and he stuck with the Spartans and will lead the initial class for new head coach Jonathan Smith. Marsh is a fun player to watch. Marsh tracks the football very well and shows strong hands to come down with contested catches. He plays through hand fighting to come down with the ball and is willing to work in traffic and with multiple defenders on him. Marsh will highpoint the ball and win with physicality at the catch point. Marsh has been used as a returner and given manufactured touches on offense. He shows good vision and speed for his size and has proven to be a creator with the ball in his hands. Marsh is a good enough route runner and shows a good first step off the line. He’ll be utilized in the red zone at Michigan State and should be a friendly target for quarterback Aidan Chiles. Marsh was the best athlete in a lot of games he played, and he would line up everywhere and be given jet sweeps, push passes, and short area touches where they just gave him the ball and let him create; at the Power Four level, I don’t see him being used that way. I see him being a vertical threat and a good third-down target to move the chains. Marsh is an early enrollee and will have a full spring and fall camp to get a chance to make an impression on the coaching staff.

Not to helmet scout, but his game is similar to former Spartan wideout Keon Coleman.

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