I realize that, in fact, the beginning of football season doesn't officially kick off for 6 long months. However, now that Marshall is a college football player, we are without track season to distract us in the spring. But we DO have an interesting 2 months known as Spring Football. It was the anticipation for Spring Football, and a new article on Rivals.com, that prompted the Football Freelancer to once again dig for that all-important gridiron news and send it your way.
Instead of posting the link to the Rivals.com article, I'll be copying and pasting it here. Since Rivals.com is a paid site I'm not sure everyone would see the actual article and picture.
Lately, Oklahoma's Rivals has been counting down the top 20 players to watch in the spring, starting with #20 and counting up to #1. Marshall is this spring's # 13!
March 8, 2010
Spring Watch: No. 13 Marshall Musil
Carey Murdock
SoonerScoop.com Editor
During Oklahoma's spring football practices coming up next month, there will be plenty of veterans like Demarco Murray and Jeremy Beal who won't have a lot to prove. For them, spring practices might be a bit repetitive or even mundane at times.
But for some of the younger players on the Oklahoma roster, spring football will be a chance to springboard their way into star status next season. SoonerScoop.com Editor Carey Murdock takes a look at which players will need to have key springs in order to become an even bigger factor for the Sooners next fall.
No. 13
Marshall Musil
Position: Fullback
Class: Redshirt Freshman
Size: 6-2, 218
La Crosse (KS) La Crosse HS
2009 Season: Redshirted.
Why he makes the list: The Sooners head into 2010 looking to re-establish the fullback position after injuries and a shift in offensive philosophy derailed the use of the fullback in 2009. The most likely candidate to bring the fullback position back from life support is Musil.
Musil's background fits the blueprint for Kevin Wilson to find a capable blocker. The small-town Kansas prospect was offered almost immediately two years ago after showing up and working out sans pads during an OU summer camp. Wilson tabbed him as his fullback of the future before he even played a down as a senior in high school.
Since arriving at Oklahoma, Musil has continued to impress Sooner coaches and he will battle former linebacker Brandon Crow for the starting fullback job in spring practices.
Best case scenario: Musil comes out of the spring as the next great fullback prospect. It's a pretty open and shut case if he proves he can be a solid lead blocker for Demarco Murray and others. He'll have every opportunity to make that happen and more.
Musil was recruited because of his athleticism and Oklahoma likes to throw the football to the fullback out of the backfield. If he has a great spring, he'll prove he can do just that.
Reynolds can fit in as the triple threat, who can get behind defenses focused on containing Broyles and taking away Miller across the middle of the field. That's truly how he can most effectively affect the passing game in 2010.
Questions to be answered: Is Musil ready to be dominating as a blocker taking on linebackers and creating seams in the running game? Can he be a consistent and dependable receiver out of the backfield when Landry Jones needs an outlet in short-yardage situations.
Crow comes into spring camp with Kevin Wilson's eye as a lead blocker, but he's not considered an accomplished receiver. Musil should have an edge on Crow in that respect. But he still has to prove it.
Best guess: Musil doesn't completely nail down the starting spot coming out of the spring. Part of that is due to the fact Oklahoma just doesn't do a lot in the running game during spring practices. But there should be enough tape gathered during inside drills to help Wilson determine if Musil is ready to be that dominant lead blocker.
I think Brandon Crow comes out of the spring as a viable option. He's already a grizzled veteran and he understands how physical players have to be at this level.
Musil will have to amp up his intensity even further into the fall to prove he is the best option at the position. In the end, I think Musil becomes the guy in 2010 because of his overall athletic ability.
But coming out of the spring, I'm not sure the OU coaches will be ready to go back to the fullback quite yet. The days of J.D. Runnels being the standard bearer at the position will still be around for at least another year.
Keep checking back for more Spring Football updates!!
We love our Sooner <3
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