Isaiah Marshall’s Performance Against Arizona State Shows Both Progress and Growing Pains
Isaiah Marshall’s performance against Arizona State gave Kansas another look at what its young quarterback can provide, but it also showed that there is still plenty of room for growth.
In Kansas’ 24-17 loss to Arizona State at Wembley Stadium, Marshall completed 17 of 33 passes for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He finished with a 115.3 passer rating and averaged 7.1 yards per attempt.
The numbers represented a step forward in several areas compared with his previous game against Missouri. Marshall threw for 168 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions against the Tigers, meaning his yardage increased by 67 against Arizona State while he cut his interceptions in half.
Marshall also made an impact with his legs. He carried the ball 13 times for 52 yards, averaging four yards per carry. His ability to extend plays outside the pocket gave Kansas another element offensively, particularly when Arizona State's defense made it difficult to consistently establish the passing game.
However, the biggest issue for Marshall and the Kansas offense was their inability to turn production into points.
Kansas finished with 414 total yards, including 235 through the air and 179 on the ground. The Jayhawks produced 22 first downs and converted six of 16 third downs, but they still managed only 17 points.
Marshall's biggest passing play came in the fourth quarter when he connected with Tate Nagy for a 38-yard touchdown. The play capped a five-play, 67-yard drive and cut Arizona State's lead to 24-14.
That fourth-quarter drive showed what Kansas' offense can look like when Marshall gets into rhythm. He delivered the ball downfield and helped move the Jayhawks quickly, but Kansas was unable to complete the comeback.
The interception was another important part of Marshall's performance. His lone turnover came as Kansas was trying to generate offense, adding to a season in which turnovers have already been an issue. Kansas ultimately committed three turnovers in the game, while Arizona State did not turn the ball over.
Still, Marshall's overall performance was productive. He accounted for 287 total yards between passing and rushing and showed improvement from his previous start.
For Kansas, the next step is turning that individual production into more consistent offensive success. Marshall has demonstrated that he can make plays. Now, the challenge is limiting mistakes and sustaining those plays for four quarters.
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Jimmy Adeniran is a contributor to JayhawksROUNDTABLE. He can be reached at [email protected]
