Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 90th overall pick in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Marsh said that it was his own idea to move from running back to cornerback after the conclusion of the 2008 collegiate season.
"We lost three seniors at the cornerback position the year before and we were kind of stacked at the running back position so I saw an opportunity to help the team because I had played corner before," Marsh said. "I knew that I was capable of playing at a high level and I knew that also it was my best shot for the NFL with my skill set. I saw it as an opportunity to come up to coach (Gary Andersen) and approach him about switching positions."
Despite playing on a completely new side of the ball, Marsh says that it took him less than a year to become familiar with the position of cornerback.
"I'd say it took that whole spring ball," Marsh said. "I moved January ('09) and then we went through spring ball, so it took that whole spring ball for me to feel acclimated. That summer, working out and coming into my junior season of fall camp, that's when I started to really feel like I was in the groove. Once spring ball hit my senior year, I felt all the way acclimated."
Marsh will get to work with head coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, but he won't forget about his private coach at home. His father, Curtis Marsh Sr., played three seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers, and two in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
"It helps because I can come and ask him questions if I need to. He's my inspiration. When I was younger, the only reason I really wanted to play football was because I wanted to be just like him," Marsh said. "Everyone thought it was so cool that he was in the NFL. That was kind of my inspiration for playing the game. If I ever need to ask him questions, it is real convenient."
Although he played cornerback for just two seasons, and only one as a starter, Marsh has the talent to make the successful transition into the NFL. He has size (6-0, 197), speed (4.42 in the 40-yard dash), strength, and intelligence, particularly his ability to quickly learn defensive schemes. He turned quite a few heads with an impressive 2010 season that culminated in an invitation to the Senior Bowl.
"Right now, I feel like just any other corner in the country," Marsh said. "I don't feel like I'm making a transition. I'm just out there playing and I felt like I was playing at a very high level at the end of the season. I feel really comfortable at corner and I'm just really anxious to learn NFL schemes, to learn Philadelphia schemes and depths and contribute substantially to the team."
