Georgia or Auburn? That's David Marshall's dilemma

THOMASTON -- The doors to the fieldhouse at Upson-Lee are pretty normal.

It's a good thing they're not revolving, or there might be constant gusts of air smacking people on the inside lately.

Such is a facility's life when it's home to high school football players like David Marshall, whom college coaches visit and visit and visit some more.

On Tuesday, for example, Georgia assistant coach Jim Chaney was there fairly early in the day, and colleague Tracy Rocker walked out of Upson-Lee head coach Tommy Parks' office around the time school let out. A day earlier, Auburn was represented by head coach Gus Malzahn, new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and defensive line coach -- and former longtime Georgia assistant -- Rodney Garner.

Marshall has committed and de-committed and re-committed to Auburn, a decision noted by one website covering recruiting as a "soft verbal."

It got softer when Georgia, which had made only routine contact with Marshall, went through a coaching change.

"They came straight at me when Kirby (Smart) went to Georgia," Marshall said. "At first, they didn't offer me. Coach Rocker told me when Kirby came, he said, 'Y'all been looking at David?' "

Rocker answered that it wasn't an intense recruitment -- Marshall said he apparently didn't fit into former defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt's overall scheme -- and Smart wanted that to change.

"He said, 'Y'all need to go over there and see David and offer him,' " Marshall said.

The offer came a day after Smart was introduced at Georgia, and Marshall took an official visit two weekends ago. It was a good visit, coming a few days after an in-home visit from Smart and defensive assistant Glenn Schumann that included a picture of the three and Marshall's tweet: "Great visit #DawgsOnTop."

Now, Marshall won't say he has de-committed from Auburn, but it's clear he's torn between the Tigers and Bulldogs.

And then there was this tweet on Sunday afternoon after an unofficial visit to Athens for the weekend: "What a great time in Classic City ... Can't wait for Wednesday to decide (no interviews)."

Marshall missed most of his junior season with a knee injury and was already high on many lists -- he said his first offer came from Mississippi as a sophomore -- his reputation only growing during a senior season in which he helped Upson-Lee to the postseason for the first time since 2011 and second time since 2005.

As of Sunday afternoon, 247Sports.com has him with a three-star composite rating and as the No. 21 strongside defensive end in the country, the No. 41 player in the state. Marshall isn't on by Scout.com's national 300, and Scout rates him as a three-star prospect, 46th among high school defensive end. He isn't on Rivals.com's top 250 nationally but is 41st (listed at defensive tackle) and 52nd overall in Georgia.

Marshall is No. 259 nationally by ESPN.com, 25th at his position, 123rd in the South and 28th overall in Georgia as a four-star.

Of course, he's listed as a different size by those ranking him, his weight ranging from 255 to 280. They note his official 40 time as 5:21 seconds, but he reports a 4.8 best and that he's at about 270 pounds.

While Auburn might have been No. 1 throughout the recruiting process -- Marshall believes that the first college football game he went to was at Auburn -- there have been one or two leaders along the way. Right now, Georgia is just about between 1 and 1A on Marshall's list. It's that close.

His wardrobe has expanded, but is now pretty much down to items with the colors and logos of the Knights, Tigers and Bulldogs.

He'll make the announcement at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, an hour before highly touted defensive line prospect Derrick Brown of Lanier will make his, and Brown is down to Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. As is the case each recruiting season with major prospect, the two defensive linemen have become friends, so it will be an anxious hour in meeting rooms in Athens and Auburn. Marshall could really mess with people's heads by mixing and matching his attire for the day, with maybe some Auburn sweats and a Georgia shirt in the morning, and vice versa in the afternoon.

"Oh no," he said with a laugh.

Marshall chuckled at the mention of former Macon County linebacker Roquan Smith, who was set to sign with UCLA on signing day a year ago and changed his mind, waiting to sign financial aid papers, a major change in the signing process.

Is there a chance Marshall might do the same Wednesday?

"No," he said with a laugh, affirming that he'll sign. "Yes, 100 percent."

This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Georgia or Auburn? That's David Marshall's dilemma ."