Auburn's Nick Marshall made the decision weeks ago to pursue an NFL career as a defensive back, making a difficult switch from quarterback, and put his coverage skills on display for NFL scouts at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., last month. But the former Tigers star has been grouped with the quarterbacks on the list of participants for the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Feb. 17-23.
It's not uncommon for prospects at the combine to work out at more than one position, however, and Marshall told College Football 24/7 that he has every intention of covering wide receivers in Indianapolis, not throwing to them.
"I wasn't even familiar with that. This is my first time hearing that," Marshall said of his official position grouping. "But I'm planning on doing defensive back drills at the combine."
Teams can request a look at the prospects on hand at the combine to alternate positions. Marshall, for his part, expects defensive back to be the only request.
The Tigers' two-year starter at quarterback decided after the season to change positions to help his chances at an NFL career. He trained as a defensive back for a couple of weeks before the Senior Bowl, but initially intended to participate in the annual all-star game as a quarterback. He made a last-minute decision to show scouts what he could do at the cornerback position. Against some of the top wide receivers in college football -- the Senior Bowl receivers represented the event's deepest, most talented position -- Marshall struggled in coverage at times. But he showed the size and athleticism that NFL coaches prefer at a position that is evolving toward a bigger player to combat the size of modern pro receivers.
He had a stellar year as a quarterback for the Tigers, and AU coach Gus Malzahn has said he believes Marshall could play that position at the pro level. He completed 178 of 293 passes (60 percent) for 2,532 yards and 20 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions. He also took four fewer sacks, in 59 more pass attempts, than he did as a junior.
As for Marshall's training schedule, there won't be much time between the combine and Auburn's pro day, which is scheduled for March 3, less than two weeks after the combine breaks.
If he needs a role model for making the switch from college quarterback to pro cornerback, NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt points to a great one.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*
