Healthy Byron Marshall Shows Versatility at Pro Day
03/11/16 | Football
By Nate Krueger
GoDucks.com
It's been more than five months since Byron Marshall has been able to showcase his abilities on the football field. On Thursday afternoon in the Moshofsky Center, Marshall showed roughly 24 NFL teams the kind of player they could acquire in the upcoming NFL Draft, participating fully at Oregon's 2016 Pro Day.
More important than anything, Marshall showed scouts – and himself – that he was finally fully recovered from the leg injury he sustained against Utah on September 26.
“I felt good. I felt like myself, felt fresh. I felt healthy,” Marshall said.
Marshall traveled to the NFL combine in late February, but was limited only to the bench press (17 reps) because he wasn't fully medically cleared at the time. He was a full participant in all drills at Pro Day except for the bench press, posting the top times of the day in the 40-yard dash at 4.57 and 4.59. He also ran 4.28 in the 20-yard shuttle, 11.51 in the 60-yard shuttle, 6.95 in the three-cone drill and a put up a mark of 9-feet-3-inches in the broad jump.
The road to recovery was a long one, but ultimately one that Marshall values as a growing experience.
“It's kind of a shaky process, and it sucks going through it, but I think it was necessary,” Marshall said. “I think it helped me get my mind right and get ready for the next level. It just showed me all of the stuff that I need to get better on, how to work through adversity and things like that. It sucked at first, I can't lie, but I think overall it was better than anything.”
Marshall, the only player in Pac-12 history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (2013) and compile 1,000 yards receiving in a season (2014), demonstrated that versatility on Thursday, participating in wide receiver, running back and returner position drills. Marshall showed off precise route running and good hands while catching balls from Vernon Adams Jr.
“I thought it went well. I didn't drop any balls, did good on the running back stuff, felt like my routes were crisp, so I thought overall it was a pretty good day,” Marshall said.
On the last throw of the day in the receiver/quarterback drill, Adams turned to Marshall and said, “Let's let it fly.” Marshall flew down the left sideline on a go route, and Adams indeed let one fly. The ball sailed just long, but there was little doubt among scouts or spectators that Marshall was back, healthy and ready to compete at the next level.
“I think I surprised some people being able to come out here and do Pro Day, and look good doing it,” Marshall said. “Now it's out of my hands. I feel like I performed pretty well, and now we just wait.”
Among the players to participate at Oregon's Pro Day, none had more eyes on him than DeForest Buckner, a projected top-10 pick in the upcoming draft. Buckner pushed out 21 reps in the bench press, and then went through the defensive lineman drills.
“I just wanted to show the coaches that I move good,” Buckner said. “The position drills were a big deal for me, just showing them that I can move and can do all the little things they're looking for.”
Joining Buckner from the defensive line were Alex Balducci and Christian French. Balducci put up 25 reps on the bench press, posted a broad jump of 9 feet, 5 inches, and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.05 and 5.03. French ran the 40 in 4.77 and 4.75, and got cheers from his teammates after posting a time of 7.28 in the three-cone drill.
Tyler Johnstone, Matt Hegarty and Matt Pierson were the offensive linemen to participate, with all three running through the position drills and Hegarty and Pierson running the agility drills. Pierson pushed up the bench press 24 times and ran the 40 in 5.33 and 5.37, while Hegarty posted a 19 in the bench press.
The departing linebackers who participated were Joe Walker and Tyson Coleman. Walker had the top broad jump of the day with a mark of 10-feet-4, and ran a strong 40 with times of 4.60 and 4.63. Coleman ran the 40-yard dash in 4.81 and 4.82, and performed well in the three-cone drill with a mark of 7.25.
Adams impressed in his quarterback drills, completing roughly 29 of 35 throws to Marshall and Bralon Addison. Adams showed off his mobility in the pocket on his sixth throw of the day, rolling out right and throwing on the run to hit Marshall on the sideline. Adams posted times of 4.85 and 4.88 in the 40-yard dash. Addison had a couple drops in the receiver drills, but had a strong showing in the three-cone drill with a mark of 6.83. He ran the 40 in 4.70 and 4.69.
Also returning to Eugene to take part in Pro Day were defensive back Avery Patterson and linebacker Josh Kaddu. Both participated in agility drills and their respective position drills.
Until the NFL Draft on April 28-30, Oregon's Pro Day participants will continue working out and meeting with individual teams as the spring months wear on.
