Florida football cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. could have spent this week preparing for Pro Day, rather than going through spring drills at the Sanders Practice Fields.
Marshall was a projected first- to third-round NFL Draft pick entering his junior season with the Florida Gators last fall. But after a season that didn’t go as expected, Marshall opted to return to UF.
Marshall finished with a team-high 10 pass breakups in 2023, but no interceptions – he dropped a potential pick six against Kentucky. That factored into his decision to return. So did a chance to earn his degree in educational sciences.
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“I left a lot on the field, and then also to come back and get my degree, that was the biggest thing for myself and family, and then just to mention my team again,” Marshall said. “One last ride with them.”
Marshall admitted last season’s 5-7 campaign was frustrating but he was motivated to return to lead a young UF secondary that lost starters Jalen Kimber, Miguel Mitchell and Jaydon Hill to the transfer portal.
“Just taking on that leader role,” Marshall said. “I have a lot of young guys in the room now, I have to up my standards while upping their standards as well.”
UF also replaced secondary coach Corey Raymond with Will Harris, who will provide a different set of eyes for Marshall to learn from. Marshall said that Harris, a former assistant secondary coach with San Diego Chargers and defensive backs coach at Washington, made a good first impression.
“Him coming from the (NFL), he has a lot of experience, and that’s where I’m trying to go,” Marshall said. “So he’s just coaching me and giving me the steps on what I’ve got to do.”
Another motivation to return will come on Aug. 31, when Florida hosts in-state rival Miami at The Swamp. A five-star recruit out of Miami Palmetto High School, Marshall had both Miami and Florida in his final three before choosing the Gators. He has friends and former teammates from the Miami area who are on UM’s roster.
“Being from Miami, playing against Miami, growing up that was one of the team I watched,” Marshall said. “So I do have that game circled. I got a lot of friends that play on that team. Should be a good game.”
