Yellow Jackets: ‘We’re all in with TaQuon’

Georgia Tech quarterback TaQuon Marshall (16) runs for a touchdown in the first half at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, September 23, 2017. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Georgia Tech quarterback TaQuon Marshall (16) runs for a touchdown in the first half at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, September 23, 2017. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Georgia Tech quarterback TaQuon Marshall’s teammates have a lot of love for their offensive captain and shared it Tuesday at the team’s media availability. Wide receiver Ricky Jeune, A-back Clinton Lynch and left guard Parker Braun all offered their appreciation for what Marshall has accomplished in his first four starts for the Yellow Jackets as they head into a critical ACC Coastal Division matchup with No. 11 Miami.

“He’s just led the offense and just run it to perfection,” Lynch said. “He’s done an extraordinary job. I’m really proud of him because he was an A-back like me in the early years. It’s good to see all the success he’s been having.”

The success has been considerable. Marshall leads the ACC in rushing at 130.8 yards per game. His nine rushing touchdowns are tied for fourth nationally. Only three quarterbacks with enough passes and games played to qualify for national rankings have a higher passing efficiency rating than Marshall’s 182.3.

Braun said that Marshall made an impression on him with his poise against – no surprise here – Tennessee in his first career start in sold-out Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“He was just calm and he was cool and in a stadium, in an environment that was total pandemonium, he managed to stay even keeled throughout the whole thing,” Braun said.

Coach Paul Johnson made a similar observation about Marshall in the Tennessee game, when he ran for 249 yards, an ACC record for a quarterback, and five touchdowns, a school record for a player at any position.

Asked what had impressed him most, Johnson replied, “I think that just the moment hasn’t gotten too big for him. That’s the one thing I worried about, especially in the first game, getting starry-eyed. For the most part, he’s kept his composure really well and has gone about it. Now, it’s going to heat up (against Miami). It’s his first road game, too. I think he’s a pretty confident kid, works hard, wants to get better, so hopefully we’ll continue to see improvement.”

Wide receiver Ricky Jeune said that Marshall, who has completed 19 of 33 passes for 333 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, has likewise seen that diligence.

“Even in practice, when he misses a throw, we’re running the play over again to get it right,” Jeune said. “We’re all in with TaQuon.”