By Aariston Dawson
Sports Editor
For junior Lawrence Marshall, putting in effort and hard work is his life. And one day he expected that hard work to pay off, but who would have thought that day would come so soon?
It’s only the start of Marshall’s junior year, and he has already received full ride scholarship offers to District 1 schools. Amongst the list of interested schools are Bowling Green State University, San Diego State University, University of Toledo, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Syracuse University, University of Pittsburgh and Indiana State University.
Also, Marshall received an honorable mention from Michigan’s All-State team.
Marshall says he began getting offers as a freshman. The first was from Bowling Green.
The 6’3 athlete weighs 225 pounds and has played football since he was 8 years old. When other kids would play football during the season and be finished until next season, it was Marshall who remained on the field. Marshall attended several camps off-season and trained year long, working with no days off. “That’s what makes me different from other athletes,” says Marshall. “I always go that extra mile.”
His parents were always there to drive him to and from camp, back and forth from training centers and gyms. He says there were nights he would stay at the gym for 4 hours, training nonstop.
Junior Joseph Clark, who’s played football with Marshall since the seventh grade, is proud of him. “I knew he was going to get some scholarships just because I remember how hard working Lawrence would be off season,” says Clark.
It seems as though all of that training is finally paying off.
To junior Jacob Studdard, Marshall is like a brother.
Studdard recalls the days when he, Marshall and Clark would spend workout sessions together at the gym, just training. All three are close friends and all play varsity football. “I enjoy playing football with him,” he adds.
One thing for sure, Clark and Studdard agree that through all of Marshall’s hard work, he has improved greatly in football and deserves the opportunities that have come his way.
Marshall’s uncle, Aaron Marshall, who coaches for the Southfield Jay Hawks, says his nephew is an extremely hard worker who volunteers to mentor the youth football team. “He also coaches them, and the kids really look up to him,” Aaron Marshall says.
Coach Vernon Burden, Marshall’s position coach, says he hopes that the athlete enjoys all the opportunities he has and represents Southfield High School in a positive way.
Marshall is now listed on scouting websites such as scout.com and scoutingmichigan.com, as speculation on his future rises.
Since the offers, Marshall says nothing has changed. He still plans to continue playing football and working hard, as he has always done. Only time will tell what lies ahead for this accomplished athlete.