With the NFL Draft less than two weeks away, Terrace Marshall thinks back to the young man he was in 2021 when the Carolina Panthers selected him in the second round.
Just 20 years old at the time, Marshall finished his college career at LSU as one of the most prolific wide receivers in school history. He accrued 106 receptions for 1,594 yards and 23 touchdowns. Five of them came in the SEC Championship, National Semifinal, and National Championship Game to cap off an undefeated 2019 season.
Marshall reflected on his draft moment as he sat inside an office at the NovaCare Complex on Friday afternoon, shortly after signing a one-year contract to join the defending Super Bowl Champions.
"I was developing, growing. Trying to figure out who I'm like off the field," Marshall said. "I feel like over the past four years, with everything how my career and my life has gone, I feel like I'm ready. I'm ready to take on whatever it is I need to take on, whatever task that may be. Definitely looking forward to all of the challenges."
The past year was especially trying for Marshall. He was cut by the Panthers at the end of Training Camp. He landed on San Francisco's practice squad for a short time. He then signed with Las Vegas to its practice squad before finishing the season on the Raiders' active roster.
"It definitely has been tested," Marshall said of his devout faith. "With that testing, it helps you grow and become stronger in all aspects. It just helped me be more patient and just rely on God more so than man, more so than myself. He reminds you every day that He is in control of everything. My thing every day is to surrender to Him and let Him lead the way.
"I came into this offseason with a pretty clear head. I was pretty much optimistic. My faith grew in the last year, so I came into this offseason just grinding and waited patiently. That call finally came, so I'm just blessed to be here."
Marshall will not turn 25 until before Training Camp. He brings size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and speed (4.4 in the 40 at his Pro Day, no Combine in 2021) to the offense. He was on the rise in his second NFL season in Carolina, catching 28 passes for 490 yards and a touchdown. He was efficient, averaging 10.4 yards per target. He adds experience with 43 career games (17 starts), 67 catches, 808 receiving yards, and the touchdown.
He also has the wisdom that comes with traversing the ups and downs of the NFL.
"It's a blessing to be in a position for the Eagles organization to give me a chance to come in and show what I can do to help this team go back and get this goal again," Marshall said.
Marshall knows Wide Receivers Coach Aaron Moorehead from when Moorehead, then an assistant coach at Texas A&M, tried to recruit him to the school. He appreciates the opportunity to play in a talented position group headed by A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith while having an elite quarterback in Jalen Hurts leading the offense.
"That's a blessing for sure, especially as a receiver running routes, you know who's back there," Marshall said. "You know that it's going to be a quarterback that delivers you the ball, it's going to be on time. He's going to make the right decision, not just for him, not for you, for the team."
