College football recruiting: Four-star Ohio RB Jordan Marshall chooses Michigan over Ohio State
The rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State has extended further into the college football recruiting realm and once again the Wolverines came out on top, this time in the recruitment of running back Jordan Marshall.
Marshall announced his commitment to Michigan over Ohio State, picking up a consensus top 100 player nationally, a prospect ranked as the No. 2 overall in the state and the No. 3 nationally, according to Rivals.
Where things stand: 2024 College Football Recruiting Rankings
Marshall is also the fourth recruit from the state of Ohio to pledge to the Wolverines, joining offensive tackles Luke Hamilton and Ben Roebuck and defensive tackle Ted Hammond.
Marshall's commitment represents a more aggressive approach by Michigan and head coach Jim Harbaugh in the state of Ohio, after he and the school were being criticized for not taking full advantage of the state.
What Michigan gets in Jordan Marshall
Marshall "has been a star and highly productive against very good high school competition," according to 247Sports recruiting analyst Allen Trieu.
The running back "has an innate feel for the position, good vision, and finds running lanes. Reads his blocks and shows good patience."
Hailing from elite Cincinnati-based high school program Archbishop Moeller, the running back "has good straight speed," and though "not used as much as a downfield receiver," he "shows good hands and natural pass-catching skills."
Why it matters for Michigan
After facing some questions from the faithful as to why it hadn't been more attentive to the state down south, the addition of Marshall is proof that Michigan continues to expand its sights on the recruiting trail.
The implications of signing a top 100, four-star skill player from Ohio are important. Marshall has the opportunity to become a very talented player on offense, and his choosing the Wolverines over the in-state Buckeyes is huge.
Marshall has as much potential as any player in the country at his position, boasting a combination of physicality and agility, and fits in very well to Michigan's preferred style of power football.
If the Wolverines can retain Marshall's pledge through to February, his addition should be seen as one of the biggest recruiting gains of the 2024 cycle.
Michigan overtaking Ohio State
After more than a decade of the Buckeyes owing the rivalry with the Wolverines, developments continue to reveal that the tide may be turning.
Ohio State's transition to the Ryan Day regime have so far supplied plenty of recruiting gains and wins on the field, but it's also produced two straight defeats against Michigan, and now this loss in the talent acquisition game.
Michigan, meanwhile, boasts those two impressive wins over the Buckeyes, a pair of Big Ten championships, and two College Football Playoff appearances.
Now Harbaugh and the Wolverines have invaded deep into its rival's backyard to take one of the state's top offensive recruits in the 2024 class.
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