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Trey Marshall


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Trey Marshall’s uphill climb from undrafted college free agent to starting Broncos safety required an underdog mindset adopted as a teenager while practicing in helmet and pads amid the hazy Florida heat.

Columbia High School in Lake City has produced a number of prominent NFL players, including Eagles defensive tackle Tim Jernigan and Texans offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. Marshall dreamed of a similar path to the pros, but he was forced to wait for a starring high school role. Then, as a senior, Marshall suffered a ruptured stomach in a game that required emergency surgery.

He relates much of the experience to his first taste of NFL adversity with the Broncos: Only 22 snaps played, all on special teams, over his 2018 rookie season.


“It was a humbling experience,” Marshall said. “I just went back to how I was like in high school. I stayed quiet to myself and put the work in until it was my time.”

Last Sunday, in a 27-17 Broncos victory over the Lions, Marshall made good on his mission. He tallied a team-leading nine tackles while playing all 50 defensive snaps in the Broncos’ secondary in place of suspended safety Kareem Jackson.

“It meant a lot,” Marshall said of his first NFL start. “But I’m not even thinking about it anymore. I’m just ready for the next one.”

The 6-foot, 207-pound safety was branded a nimble heavy hitter after four seasons at Florida State. It’s why the Broncos re-signed Marshall to their practice squad after being initially cut as a rookie, and how he rose up the depth chart with special teams excellence to essentially replace Su’a Cravens on the active roster this year.

Marshall carries his physical reputation proudly, with one notable catch: “I want to be known as a cover guy, too.”

Marshall credits tireless film study and attention to detail for the growing mutual trust among his coaches. In meeting rooms, Marshall has modeled his preparation after veteran teammates with the mindset he will start — even if he is buried on the depth chart.

“You could look back through all my notes and it’s the same routine every week,” Marshall said. “I just stayed in that routine and got a chance.”

Teammates were thrilled when it finally arrived.

“I was excited for him,” safety Will Parks said. “He’s been playing the position since last year. Obviously, this is his first time going out there as a starter. … For him to go out there at the caliber that he did, and make a couple of key tackles for us and pick up the slack for us on the back end, it’s pretty awesome.”

Marshall also left the Lions game with several key teaching moments. Defending a third-and-long early in the fourth quarter, he hovered over a deep ball intended for wide receiver Kenny Golladay with cornerback Chris Harris in coverage. But Marshall mistimed his leap for an easy interception, and instead collided with Harris as the football fell incomplete.

 

 

 

 

 

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