Isaiah Marshall Emerging as One of the Big 12’s Most Intriguing Quarterbacks
Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall has shown flashes of being one of the Big 12’s more exciting young quarterbacks, and his numbers through the early part of the season help explain why.
According to Pro Football Focus, Marshall ranks inside the top 10 in the Big 12 in both big-time throw rate and turnover-worthy play rate. Those two statistics tell different parts of the story surrounding the Kansas quarterback. His big-time throw rate highlights his ability to make difficult, high-level throws, while his turnover-worthy play rate shows an area where he still has room to become more consistent.
Marshall has already provided plenty of evidence of his ability to make difficult throws. Against Arizona State, he completed 17 of 33 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown while adding 52 rushing yards. His performance came after a difficult outing against Missouri, where he threw two interceptions.
The big-time throws are particularly important for Marshall because Kansas has relied on his ability to create plays when the offense needs them. His arm talent allows him to make throws from different platforms and outside the structure of the offense. That ability was on display earlier in the season, including a remarkable completion against Missouri when Marshall spun away from pressure and delivered a pass while falling out of bounds.
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham also took notice of Marshall’s ability to make difficult throws before the teams met in London.
“There’s times he throws some absolute unbelievable throws,” Dillingham said.
That playmaking ability gives Kansas an important dimension at quarterback. Marshall is not simply being asked to manage the offense. He has shown he can create explosive plays through the air and with his legs.
At the same time, the turnover-worthy play numbers show why consistency remains important. Marshall had four turnover-worthy plays entering the Arizona State game, according to PFF, which ranked second-most in the Big 12 at that point.
Marshall threw only one interception against Arizona State, cutting his interceptions in half from his previous game. However, Kansas still committed three turnovers against the Sun Devils and ultimately lost 24-17.
The challenge for Marshall moving forward will be finding the balance between aggression and taking care of the football. His ability to produce big-time throws is a major part of what makes him dangerous, but limiting turnover-worthy plays could be just as important.
With Kansas entering its bye week, Marshall has an opportunity to build on his progress. If he can continue creating explosive plays while becoming more consistent with his decisions, his PFF numbers could become an important indicator of his development throughout the season.
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Jimmy Adeniran is a contributor to JayhawksROUNDTABLE. He can be reached at [email protected]
