AUBURN, Ala. - Nick Marshall should have plenty of confidence going into today’s game against LSU.
The last time anyone saw the Auburn quarterback on the field, he was putting the finishing touches on a game-winning drive against Mississippi State. It was a possession dominated by Marshall. He accounted for 85 of the 88 yards the Tigers gained on the final scoring drive, capping it with a touchdown pass to C.J. Uzomah.
The drive typified what Marshall had been known for in high school and junior college but had showed in only brief glimpses as a Tiger. He kept plays alive with his feet and, when needed, he just kept the ball to himself.
“I thought he really grew up a lot,” fullback Jay Prosch said. “He has an unbelievable amount of potential, and I think he’s starting to get into that. His confidence is building every week. That was just a huge step up and a big sign that he’s progressing.”
Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said he was pleased with Marshall’s progress through just three games as the starter.
“His ability to ad lib and keep plays alive is definitely a strength and something we saw when we decided to go with him,” Lashlee said.
LSU presents a different challenge today.
Auburn travels to Baton Rouge to face No. 6 LSU in Tiger Stadium, one of the toughest places to visit in all of college football. Auburn hasn’t won there since 1999.
Making sure Marshall is comfortable will be important, and Uzomah said teammates have done their best to explain to Marshall what chaos awaits in Death Valley.
“We don’t have any doubt that he won’t maintain his composure, but we have been telling him it’s going to be crazy,” Uzomah said. “From us pulling in on the bus, people yelling at us, to talking into the stadium to anywhere in between, it’s going to be like an atmosphere he hasn’t encountered before.
“We told him that we’re going to be with him and we’re going to be able to capitalize as an offensive unit to [help him] relax out there.”TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Vanderbilt at Massachusette, 11 a.m.
North Texas at Georgia, 11:21 a.m.
Arkansas at Rutgers, 2:30 p.m.
Tennessee at Florida, 2:30 p.m.
SMU at Texas A&M, 6 p.m.
Colorado State at Alabama, 6 p.m.
Troy at Misssissippi State, 6:30 p.m.
Auburn at LSU, 6:45 p.m.
Missouri at Indiana, 7 p.m.
Sports, Pages 25 on 09/21/2013