USC football is gearing up for the upcoming season with some practices during the summer. As the Trojans look to compete for not only a Pac-12 title but also a spot in the College Football Playoff next season, the team is incorporating its newest members into the mix. One of the mostly highly anticipated players coming to USC next season is freshman cornerback Iman Marshall. Marshall is a five-star player who was ranked the fourth-best player overall in his recruiting class. These accolades would lead many to believe that Marshall will immediately be placed into the lineup for the Trojans, however that might not be the case.
Iman Marshall is an electric player on and off the field. The cornerback from Long Beach Poly who goes by the nickname “Biggie” announced his decision to commit to USC with a music video that showed off his love for the city of Los Angeles. Marshall has a lot of natural abilities at his position that is only emphasized by his size and speed. His strength and ball-catching ability makes him a viable option as a corner in college.
Marshall figures to be a key player for the Trojans throughout his collegiate career, but he might not begin his time at USC as the starting cornerback.
The Trojans return their two starting cornerbacks from last season, both of whom have improved since last season and have solidified their positions on the field. Dynamic sophomore Adoree’ Jackson only continues to get better, and even though he might see more time on the offensive side of the ball this year, Jackson will still start the season as the Trojans’ best cornerback. Starting alongside Jackson will be senior Kevon Seymour. Seymour emerged as a leader for the Trojans throughout spring practices and his improved play has almost guaranteed that he will retain his starting spot in the defensive lineup.
Even though the starting cornerback positions are currently filled by Jackson and Seymour, this does not mean that Marshall will not see any time at the position during his freshman year.
One of the biggest problems the Trojans had last season was their lack of depth, especially on the defensive end. The offense rarely struggled to score points, so much so that they would not spend much time on the field. The team would drive down the field, score quickly and then force the defense to stop the opposing team. This would often lead to a fourth quarter collapse and a loss for the undermanned team.
Adding Marshall will do wonders for the Trojans’ depth throughout the year. Having someone with supreme talents as a backup player is something that the team could not rely on last year and it showed late in games. With Marshall, USC will be able to rest its starters more often so that they are fresh late in games when it matters most.
Marshall will end up being the starter for USC later on in his career, most likely as soon as next year. In his first appearance with the team this past week, he spent his time learning the ropes with Seymour, the player whose spot he will inherit next year when Seymour moves on to the draft.
For now, Marshall will spend the majority of his time as a second string player who will relieve the starters throughout the game. However, do not be surprised if Marshall’s skills and work ethic helps him find his way onto the field more often, either as a kick returner or as a hybrid player on offense. Marshall is destined to become the starter for USC down the road, but for now, his contributions off the bench will be vital for the Trojans’ success next year.
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