College Football Top Performers Week 13: Receivers, Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and a Defense

Nov 22, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Jalin Marshall (17) celebrates after scoring against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 42-27. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Jalin Marshall, Wide Receiver, Ohio State Buckeyes (Defeated Indiana Hoosiers 42-27)

5 Receptions for 95 Yards and 3 Touchdowns, 1 Punt Return for a Touchdown, 151 Total Yards

The Ohio State Buckeyes looked to be in trouble. They couldn’t move the ball at all. They were down 20-14 to the Indiana Hoosiers, the worst team in the Big Ten.

And the Hoosiers had the ball. Everything they were playing for: the College Football Playoff, J.T. Barrett’s Heisman Trophy campaign, even the Big Ten Championship, could have been in jeopardy.

Enter Jalin Marshall. Marshall gave Ohio State the lead by returning an Indiana punt for a touchdown. With a 21-20 lead over the Indiana Hoosiers at that point, Marshall continued his dominance in the fourth quarter.

Marshall saved Ohio State and helped pad Barrett’s stats by catching three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. All of a sudden, Ohio State was up 42-20. And they never looked back.

Yes, it was against Indiana. Yes, the Hoosiers have a terrible defense. But Barrett had a horrendous first half, and the offense throughout the day was out of sync. The defense was struggling at times too, and it was obvious that the players had no momentum.

Marshall’s punt return changed that, as did his fourth quarter dominance. So he gets a spot on our College Football Top Performers list for this week.