Preseason Profile: Texas A&M WR Chris Marshall

Can freshman wideout Chris Marshall crack the starting lineup in his first season?

Going into the 2022 football season, Aggies Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas A&M roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Jimbo Fisher this season.

Chris Marshall is entering his true freshman season at the wide receiver position for Texas A&M, joining fellow freshman and 5-Star wide receiver Evan Stewart, with the two looking to form a dangerous duo at the position for years to come. Marshall came on the football scene late, not playing until his junior year during the 2020 season due to his focus on basketball at the start of his athletic career. During that season, he immediately broke out, playing in 12 games while recording 44 receptions for 1,008 yards and 17 touchdowns, while being named the District 11-5A-II Offensive MVP in his inaugural season. In his 2021 senior season, Marshall refined his game and became one of the more dangerous vertical threats and red zone targets in the country, and while only playing in 7 games while tallying 15 receptions for 466 yards and 11 touchdowns on the year.

Chris Marshall’s ranking at the position began to skyrocket after his senior year, receiving a 5-Star designation and was ranked as the 3rd wide receiver in the 2023 class. With his final school list consisting of Alabama, USC, and Texas A&M, he the Aggies three times in 2021, soon committing on Nov. 6, 2021.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Missouri City, Texas

Height: 6-3

Weight: 195lbs

247Sports Composite Ranking

Class in 2022: 5-Star player ranking, 7th ranked player in Texas, 3-ranked wide receiver prospect in the country

Depth Chart Overview

Chris Marshall is currently projected as a backup/potential starter at the Z wide receiver spot in Texas A&M’s pro-style offense, led by head coach Jimbo Fisher, and offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey. He is slated as the primary backup to wide receiver Chase Lane (Redshirt Junior). From a scouting perspective, Marshall is well proportioned at the position, standing at 6-3, 195lbs, with his height alone giving him an advantage in out jumping and out muscling defenders (utilizing his basketball skills) due to his large catch radius.

Marshall is ahead of schedule in his trait development as a wide receiver, displaying deceptively quick feet, great burst off the snap with burner-like speed as he hits his second gear, and insanely impressive body control down the field, which heavily aids him during ball tracking, and at the catch point. He is an adequate route runner at this stage and will need to continually learn in the ins and outs of Jimbo Fisher’s extensive offensive system.

For Texas A&M, the need to create more explosive plays in the passing game has been sorely needed since Jimbo Fisher took control of the offense in 2018, with much of that has to do with recruiting the right athletes for proper execution to take place. That said, Chris Marshall has all the tools to get the job done at the Z position for as long as he’s wearing maroon and white due to his natural ability as a vertical threat, and his quickness and physical size advantage in the open field. As one of the more exciting players to join the program in a number of years, I know we’re all very excited to watch him step on the field for the first time during the 2022 season!