A position that has lingered as a biggest question mark on Georgia’s team may finally have its answer.
Running back Keith Marshall committed to the Bulldogs during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at his high school in Raleigh, N.C., choosing UGA over Clemson.
"It's where my heart is," Marshall said. "I woke up this morning and I knew that's where I wanted to go."
Marshall is expected to enroll early in time for spring practice. When he does, it will officially give Georgia the nation’s No. 1 tailback prospect for the second year in a row. But even with 2011 SEC freshman of the year Isaiah Crowell on the team, the uncertainty at tailback did not diminish much for the Bulldogs this season. And given Marshall’s positive off-the-field reputation, you could make the case that he looms as the program’s most valuable addition in years.
It was with some drama that Marshall made Tuesday’s announcement to head to UGA, as ACC champion Clemson made an 11th-hour surge and nearly persuaded Marshall to head that direction.
Marshall said he stayed up "pretty late" making his decision Monday night and wasn't sure about a decision when he went to sleep.
"I was never a silent commitment," Marshall said. "I liked Georgia and they were the silent leader until Clemson came along. (Georgia) was the leader for a couple months. ... I didn't know where I was going last night. It was just something in my heart and I woke up ready to go to Georgia."
UGA running backs Bryan McClendon had the lead on Marshall's recruitment and visited him in Raleigh alongside Mark Richt on Sunday evening.
Marshall said he called Richt about 1:45 p.m. Tuesday with the news.
"I like Coach Richt and Coach McClendon a lot," Marshall said. "They had a good year this year and they should be able to do it again next year. ... I like Georgia a lot and I was just wanting to make sure that (Richt) would be the coach."
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Marshall is rated by 247Sports as a five-star prospect and the nation’s No. 12 overall recruit for 2012.
247Sports' Jon Leggette contributed to this story
- Gentry Estes
- Georgia Insider - Dawgs247