Some athletes just have an "it" factor when it comes to making people around them better and doing everything humanly possible for the betterment of the team. Michigan sophomore running back Jordan Marshall is exactly that kind of athlete.

The 5-11, 216-pounder thought he was going to be RB1 this year, but then Alabama transfer Justice Haynes arrived on campus. Haynes has earned the top spot on the depth chart, which could've pushed Marshall right out the door. Instead, Marshall has embraced it and has made Michigan a much better team in the process.

"Whatever this team needs me to be, I'm going to do it," Marshall said during Monday's press conference. "This team means the world to me. This coaching staff means the world to me. This program means the world to me. And it's a commitment that that I made a long time ago."

Marshall even goes on record whenever he can to lift up Haynes as a teammate and fellow running back, even though the two are competing for playing time and carries.

"His explosiveness and seeing how he practices, how he how he takes care of his body outside of this building is something that I've definitely looked up to a lot. That's something that I'm going to definitely take into my game," Marshall said of Haynes. "Me and him are super competitive, and again, it's competitive to a point where we love to win, but we also are excited for each other's achievements and goals."

The relationship between Marshall and Haynes seems to be as healthy as possible and it's making them both better, which is such a positive for the locker room. Marshall could've felt threatened and hit the portal, instead, he's an asset for the running back room and for Haynes. As a result, the overall team is better.

Recently, during a more specific moment, Marshall's makeup was able to shine through again. Michigan got a big win over Michigan State in East Lansing this past weekend, and it was Marshall's 56-yard touchdown run that put the nail into Sparty's coffin. Instead of making the moment about himself, Marshall explained why the run was so important to him.

"I got the opportunity to have a home run, and I got to take it and score and put that game away. It was a great feeling," Marshall said. " For [Max Bredeson] Breddy, Gio [El Hadi], [Derrick] D Moore — all these guys that it's going to be their last time playing in this rivalry. Jaishawn [Barham], a lot of these guys, it's their last time.

"So going out there and playing for those guys is something that I always remind myself. I still have time, but how can I play and prepare to make sure that I don't let my teammates down? And those are guys that I look up to every single day, and I'm just trying to put my best foot forward. So to run and go score and put that game away for those guys, and so that we can be state champions, and we are. So I'm just excited to go out there and play for those guys."

Sentiments like that are why Marshall will be a team captain someday. It may even happen next year during his junior season. He'll likely be RB1 next year and certainly has everything else that would make him an easy, obvious and defendable choice to be a captain.