Tag: Nate Marshall

Auburn showing interest in Florida DL commit Joseph Mbatchou

in the midst of a busy football season, Auburn is in a packed race to flip defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou from the Florida Gators

Auburn football is in the midst of its regular season, but nothing stops the recruiting game as prospects constantly make big official visits on game weeks, which have huge impacts on their decisions.

The Tigers are currently in the middle of a hectic race to flip another high school star in defensive lineman[autotag]Joseph Mbatchou[/autotag], who has been committed to the Florida Gators since July 31.

In the early going of the 2024 college football season, Mbatchou is traveling across the southeastern portion of the country to visit numerous programs in the SEC, which is significant due to the struggles that the Gators have fallen victim to.

While Auburn has extended an offer to the three-star product out of Grayson High School (Ga.), it is joined by the likes of Alabama, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and USC in this race.

Mbatchou visited the Plains in the Tigers’ week two matchup with California, and despite the loss, sees a lot of optimism in what the program can do for him as a player.

“I like the d-line coach ([autotag]Vontrell King-Williams[/autotag]) because he’s young and fresh,” Mbatchou said. “He builds relationships with his players. He was talking to me about how he got his job and was telling me that if I do everything I’m asked to do and put my all into football, I should be a first-round pick. The d-line played good at the game I was at, even though they lost. I can see myself fitting into their defensive scheme.”

The six-foot-four, 280-pound big man is currently the No. 457 overall player and No. 41 defensive lineman in the country according to the On3 industry ranking. He is also the No. 54 player in the state of Georgia for the class of 2025.

Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 5 in the nation and No. 4 in the SEC, making its mark with key commits such as EDGE [autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag] and defensive lineman [autotag]Nate Marshall[/autotag]. A commit from Mbatchou would only add to the talent that head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is attempting to build up for the Tigers’ future.

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Four star DL Nate Marshall flips commitment from Michigan to Auburn

Auburn snags the nation’s No. 12 defensive lineman for their 2025 haul.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has done it again.

In what has become a common theme with his recruiting strategy, Freeze has flipped another talented recruit away from a national power. On Friday, four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Nate Marshall[/autotag] announced that he has swapped his pledge to Auburn after spending the last four months as a Michigan commit.

Marshall’s commitment comes days after four recruiting experts from 247Sports and three others from On3 projected the flip. During a visit to the Plains in June, Marshall told Auburn Undercover that the Tigers were Michigan’s greatest competitor in his recruitment.

“Every time I come to Auburn, it feels like home,” Marshall said. “Now I really have just got to make that choice (between Auburn and Michigan) — those are really the last ones.”

Marshall is a four-star defensive lineman according to all major recruiting outlets. He is the top defensive lineman for the 2025 class according to Rivals and ranks as high as No. 29 overall for the cycle. With Marshall’s commitment, Auburn ranks No. 5 in both 247Sports and On3’s 2025 recruiting rankings.

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Michigan football loses prized 2025 commit to Auburn

Best of luck to him.

In the spring, Michigan football got a surprise commit from a defensive lineman that shocked the college football landscape, but it had been holding on for dear life since.

2025 Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick four-star Nate Marshall was the highest-rated pledge the Wolverines had in the class according to On3 and the fourth-highest according to 247Sports. Ranked No. 56 by the former and No. 80 by the latter, the 6-foot-4, 265-pound likely edge rusher was set to pair nicely with fellow Illinois-based four-star commit Jaylen Williams. However, Auburn kept looming.

Rumored to make a big NIL offer, the Tigers eventually got their wish, as Marshall flipped to Auburn on Friday.

Michigan was able to rebuff Auburn for some time, as Marshall reaffirmed his pledge over the summer. But the Tigers continued to press and Marshall was rumored to flip as of late on Thursday.

It’s unclear who Michigan will target next with Marshall having moved on to another school.

Michigan won the national championship last year and is looking to reload and remain among colleg football’s elite. Auburn went 6-7 last season in Hugh Freeze’s first at the helm.

It’s down to Auburn and Michigan for four-star DL Nate Marshall

Michigan pledge Nate Marshall is leaving the door open for Auburn to change his mind.

[autotag]Nate Marshall[/autotag] was a late addition to this weekend’s visitor list, and will leave with a tough decision to make.

The four-star defensive lineman is committed to Michigan, but his recent visit to the Plains has given Auburn almost identical odds to the Wolverines as far as his top school goes.

“It’s Auburn or Michigan,” Marshall said in a recent interview with On3. “I would say it’s pretty close, especially after this visit.”

This weekend marked the second time that Marshall has visited Auburn, his first since April. In a program that is looking to return to its prior glory, every Auburn coach is looking for players that can “change the culture.” Marshall is viewed as one of those players.

Marshall’s primary recruiter is defensive tackles coach [autotag]Vontrell King-Williams[/autotag], a fellow Chicagoan.  The relationship Marshall has built with King-Williams is a key reason why Auburn remains high on his radar.

“I like Coach Vontrell,” Marshall said. “He’s from where I’m from, so we have that connection. He’s been recruiting me for a year or two, so we have that relationship, that bond. He was an analyst here when JG (Jeremy Garrett) was here. For him to be here, it actually really helps Auburn’s chances. He’s a guy that I was already close to, talking to every day.”

Marshall is the No. 4 defensive tackle from the 2025 recruiting cycle according to On3 and ESPN rankings, and is considered to be the top prospect from Illinois by On3 and Rivals. Michigan remains the frontrunner, but Auburn can make one final push in late July as Marshall plans to return to campus for Big Cat Weekend.

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Michigan football finally gets a commitment in 2025

Got him over Alabama, Ohio State and others. #GoBlue

Michigan football hadn’t gotten a commitment in the 2025 class since Carter Smith pledged midseason in 2023. In fact, the Wolverines drought was more likely to see decommitments than commitments of late.

Finally, the maize and blue stemmed the bleeding and they did so in a big way.

The first pledge in the Sherrone Moore era, 2025 Fenwick (Illinois) Oak Park four-star defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall had seen enough and decided to pull the trigger for Michigan football on Monday morning.

Rated the No. 35 player in the country, regardless of position, on the 247Sports composite, Marshall is the highest-rated pledge since Will Johnson in the 2021 class.

The scouting report from 247Sports’ Allen Trieu:

Has a background that includes basketball and offense, where he sometimes splits way out wide and can be effective playing from that spot. Carries that athleticism over to defense where he is comfortable in space and pursuit. Can change directions and chase down plays. Shows motor and does not give up on plays. Shifts from outside to inside and has played up and down the line. Carries his weight very well so could continue to pack on pounds and be a combo guy in college. Does not currently have bad weight. Long-term projection is likely most likely as a five-tech but that depends on physical development. Combo of athleticism and versatility make him a high-end prospect. Has to continue developing from a technical standpoint with his hands and get stronger, but he looks like he will be a starter for high-major program and has the baseline tools to play beyond college.

Marshall had offers from schools such as Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Miami and Texas.

Michigan football gets prediction to land elite 2025 DL

Is #Michigan football about to get some good news on the recruiting trail? #GoBlue

It’s been slow in the world of Michigan football recruiting since last summer. Yes, the Wolverines have gotten some commitments since then, but they have yet to get a single pledge in the current year of 2024. In fact, the only news they’ve received has been a 2025 commit, Chris Ewald, choosing to back off his pledge.

Now that the spring game is in the books, there are some players who are now feeling the maize and blue. One appears to be 2025 Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick four-star defensive lineman Nate Marshall. Ranked No. 40 according to the On3 Industry Ranking, Marshall is the top player in the state of Illinois and the fourth-best defensive lineman.

And On3’s Steve Wiltfong just predicted he’ll end up a Wolverine when he makes his choice.

The scouting report on Marshall per On3:

Bendy big man that has unbelievable balance and body control for his stature combined with the power and explosiveness that makes him borderline unblockable at the point of attack. Two-way player that lines up at tight end and wide receiver as well. Measured in at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds during summer campus visits. Tested well in agility drills during camp settings. Great weight distribution throughout his frame. Possesses excellent raw power and shock in his hands. Has the ability to rush the passer from the edge if asked to do so. Will develop proper pad level and contact initiation at the next level with collegiate coaching. Has tremendous upside due to frame and athletic tools. Best football is ahead of him.

Marshall also has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, Texas, Oregon, Penn State, Florida, and many, many others.

It’s unclear whether or not this prediction correlates, but Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday night something cryptic indicating that the Wolverines had gotten good news — presumably on the recruiting trail.