UCLA Football: Former Wide Receiver Jadyn Marshall Shifts to Cornerback – Boosting Depth
Promising talent Jadyn Marshall makes a surprising switch to bolster UCLA's cornerback corps
UCLA’s secondary is facing some challenges, especially at the cornerback position. Currently, Jaylin Davies and John Humphrey are the top choices. Devin Kirkwood holds the third spot, and Alex Johnson is the starting nickelback.
Beyond these names, the situation becomes less certain. Croix Stewart, a redshirt freshman, shows great promise with his athleticism. Meanwhile, true freshman walk-on Kanye Clark has been spotted practicing with the team, and D.J. Justice, the son of former MLB star David Justice, is being considered for roles at both cornerback and nickelback.
Recently, Rivals.com journalist Tracy McDannald provided valuable insights into a potential solution to UCLA’s cornerback depth issue.
Former 4-star recruit Jadyn Marshall has made an unexpected shift from wide receiver to defensive back. This revelation is based on McDannald’s footage, which captures Marshall training with the cornerback group under the guidance of coach Kodi Whitfield.
Hailing from Northern California, Marshall, a redshirt freshman, has primarily served as a kick returner. In high school, he was a nationally-ranked hurdler and ranked as the 12th best player in California. Despite offers from powerhouse schools like USC, Auburn, Oregon, and Tennessee, Marshall chose UCLA.
Marshall is also an active member of UCLA’s track team, known for his exceptional speed. Although he possesses significant football potential, he has struggled to shine amidst UCLA’s deep roster of wide receivers. However, when evaluating his skill set and his physical build (standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 187 pounds), Marshall appears to be a natural fit for the cornerback position. His prior experience playing cornerback in high school only strengthens this notion.
In making this transition, UCLA not only gains speed and agility at the cornerback position but also adds much-needed depth to the roster. The Bruins are undoubtedly hoping that Marshall can follow in the footsteps of Fabian Moreau, who successfully transitioned from a skill player to a cornerback at UCLA and went on to have a fruitful NFL career.
