Georgia RB Keith Marshall to graduate and enter NFL draft after season

Following his knee injury, Keith Marshall underwent two battles.

One was to rally from the torn anterior cruciate ligament that derailed his career as a sophomore in 2013. Having arrived at Georgia as a five-star recruit in 2012, Marshall showed his potential as a freshman, running for 759 yards and eight touchdowns.

But Marshall tore his ACL on Oct. 6, 2013 in a game at Tennessee, which ended his season and forced a long and extensive rehabilitation process. Marshall was determined to make it back to the field and prove why he was billed as such a star running back coming out of high school.

But he had another issue to deal with while continuing to rehab his ailing knee through the 2014 season.

Nick Chubb and Sony Michel burst onto the scene and established themselves as Georgia's top two backs for the future. As a result, Marshall was relegated to third on the depth chart to start this season. His reps were scarce, even after Chubb suffered his knee injury this year.

Therefore, with Marshall graduating in December, he spoke with head coach Mark Richt about his future with the program. Marshall decided this will be his senior season and that he'll enter the NFL draft process. When senior day arrives Saturday against Georgia Southern, Marshall will participate in the pregame festivities with the football class of 2015.

"He just wants to go ahead and move on and take his shot at the NFL when this season is over," Richt said. "He wants to finish strong like the rest of the seniors."

Since Marshall played less than 30 percent of the 2014 season due to the injury's lasting effects, he's eligible to apply for a medical redshirt and receive a fifth year of eligibility. Earlier in the season, Marshall said that was something he would consider.

Marshall's case is similar to that of receiver Malcolm Mitchell, who also tore his ACL in 2013 and had just as long of a rehabilitation period. But Mitchell was able to come back this year and step into the role of Georgia's No. 1 receiver.

Asked how Marshall's case compared, Mitchell shook his head and called the Raleigh, North Carolina, native's return "rough." For as talented as Marshall is, Mitchell understood why the coaching staff has been unable to get him on the field more than it has this year.

"His fight back was a lot different than mine -- not to say that I didn't have to overcome great obstacles and great players to be able to play again. But Keith was battling with Heisman candidates," Mitchell said. "Not to say he doesn't possess the potential to be one of the best running backs in college football, but if you're a coach, after Nick Chubb's freshman year, who would you play more? I think that's a safe comment to make."

Marshall's teammates say he never once complained about the lack of carries this year. Marshall accepted a special teams role to get on the playing field early in the year and has been someone looked at as an example, considering how hard it was to work his knee back in playing condition.

"I think from a psychological standpoint, it takes a toll on you not only physically but mentally," fullback Quayvon Hicks said. "It's hard to have the guts and the balls to come back and go through the pain and suffering you go through. I know he's a very intelligent guy and has a bright future."

Outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins said Marshall's been wrestling with this decision and has changed his mind a bunch during the past few months. Jenkins was unsure when Marshall made the final decision to turn pro.

Marshall was not made available for comment Tuesday.

Marshall's career might not have gone as expected at Georgia. But he's left a lasting impression on the teammates he has had the past four years.

"I'm really proud Keith has handled his rehabilitation with coming back and how he handled this season," tight end Jay Rome said. "Not getting the snaps he's usually seeing but still being a leader on the team, a positive guy on the team. I'm really proud of him and think he has a good shot at the next level."

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Georgia RB Keith Marshall to graduate and enter NFL draft after season."