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Keith Marshall runs fastest 40 at NFL Combine (Video)

By Patrick Schmidt

Jan 2, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Keith Marshall (4) runs for a first down as Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (40) defends in the fourth quarter at EverBank Field. Georgia defeated Penn State 24-17 to win the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Keith Marshall (4) runs for a first down as Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Jason Cabinda (40) defends in the fourth quarter at EverBank Field. Georgia defeated Penn State 24-17 to win the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Injuries derailed what looked like a promising career at Georgia but Keith Marshall is ready to show the NFL he has what it takes to be an impact player after a great performance at the NFL Combine.

All eyes were on Ezekiel Elliott and Derrick Henry on Friday when the running backs had their workouts at the NFL Combine and ran the 40-yard dash, but it was former Georgia Bulldogs back Keith Marshall who helped himself the most.

Marshall ran the fastest 40 among running backs with an official time of 4.31 seconds as he looks to put the injuries that dogged him his last three years at Georgia in the rearview mirror.

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A former five-star recruit who came to Georgia the same time as Todd Gurley and was even a higher ranked recruit than the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. As a freshman, Marshall ran for 759 yards and eight touchdowns in 2012 and looked like he’d be the next great NFL running back to come out of Georgia.

However, injuries kept Marshall in the trainer’s room and off the field as he only appeared in eight games over the next two years before appearing in 11 games in a limited role.

Marshall had 68 carries for 350 yards and three touchdowns in his last season but couldn’t regain the form he showed before the injuries began to mount.

The old Marshall, however, made an appearance at the NFL Combine where he turned in an eye-popping 4.31 time in the 40 to top all running backs. The former high school track champion who boasts a 10.20 time in the 100 meters and 21.30 in the 200 has the burst and explosion back that made him such an enticing prospect years ago.

Marshall’s medical evaluations will be the biggest concern for the NFL teams that have to determine whether to spend a draft pick on him or not, but in 4.31 seconds he went from late-round afterthought to a player that teams are going to have to reevaluate as a mid-round prospect.

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If Marshall can overcome the injuries that stunted his development the last three years at Georgia, he could prove to be one of the best bargains for the NFL team that invests in his future.

His best football came in 2012 so he has a considerable amount of rust to knock off, but there may not be a running back who helped himself more at the Combine than Marshall.

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