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The long wait for Biggie to be selected in the 2019 NFL Draft finally came to an end as cornerback Iman Marshall was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 127th overall pick in the fourth round.
Measurables
Height: 6’1”| 207 lbs.| 30 3/8 Arms | 9 1/2 Hands |
Bench: 16 reps
40-Yard Dash: 4.53 seconds
The senior cornerback was a former five-star recruit out of Long Beach Poly High (Long Beach, Calif.) and was instantly slotted opposite former Trojan Adoree’ Jackson. In Marshall, the Baltimore gets a physical corner who is highly competitive ad has experience playing against top competition.
In 2017, we wrote a piece asking Can Iman Marshall be the NCAA’s best player in 2017, and our breakdown of his abilities are still true today:
Marshall has an ideal build for the position—long body with above-average arm length and clear definition throughout his muscular frame. He doesn’t have blazing speed like the aforementioned [Adoree’] Jackson (not many do), but make no mistake, Marshall is fast. However, speed isn’t how Marshall wins nor plays the position.
There is an uncanny fire in Marshall which is evident in his physical and aggressive style of play. He wins off the line, using his long arms to jam receivers and off the snap and his strength keeps them close to the hip.
The trouble for Marshall is a lack of refinement in his technique. Too often, he will have trouble dealing with faster receivers, so if can’t catch them off the snap, he’ll get lost and eventually beaten.
The same still rings true for Marshall, as there are still questions about his ability to cover in man-to-man after being torched throughout 2017—yet was one of the better lockdown cornerbacks in the Pac-12 in 2018. As physical as he is, Marshall has the traits to be converted to safety, where his playmaking can shine for the Ravens and they can potentially end up with a Pro Bowl-caliber steal.