Purdue football: Marshall emerges as option at receiver

Bilal Marshall came to Purdue as a dual-threat quarterback.

That was 2012 when the Boilermakers had nine – yes, nine – quarterbacks at the start of training camp in coach Danny Hope's final season. The next season, first-year coach Darrell Hazell decided Marshall was better suited at receiver.

More than two years later, Marshall has developed into an intriguing option.

"Sometimes, it takes those guys a little bit longer to figure it out," Hazell said. "He's worked hard it. It's been very important to him. He's not a top elite guy, but he's got enough skill to contribute quite a bit for us next season."

The 6-foot-2 Marshall is also healthy for the first time since making the switch. It showed in Saturday's spring game when the Miami native caught five passes for 81 yards. In the jersey scrimmage the week before, Marshall made three catches for 17 yards.

He's spent time working with the first-team offense throughout spring practice and continues to show improvement in route running, body control and making catches. Marshall knows where he should be since he's a former quarterback.

"I feel like I'm starting to put myself in a better situation because I'm starting to learn how to be a receiver, really starting to learn how to release off the line against press coverage," Marshall said. "I know how to get open. I played quarterback and I know all the cover lanes and I can find the holes the quarterback wants me to be in. That's going to benefit me down the line."

The absence of Danny Anthrop, who is recovering from knee surgery, allowed more opportunities for all the receivers during the spring. Outside of Anthrop, the group didn't perform well last season and nearly all of the positions are open as the Boilermakers continue preparing for 2015.

Does Marshall believe he can eventually earn significant playing time?

"I've been working on my craft this whole offseason," he said. "A lot of people don't understand I've only been doing this for 2 1/ 2 years and I'm starting to get the hang of it. I understand we're all pushing each other, but at the end of the day, I'm very confident with my ability that I can be out there."

For what it's worth, quarterback Austin Appleby – who would be considered No. 1 at this moment – has established chemistry with Marshall. With a commitment to pushing the ball down the field in the passing game, Appleby says Marshall is an effective option.

"Time after time in practice, you'll see him blanketed and I just throw it up for him because I know he's going to go give me everything that he can and go make the play," Appleby said. "That goes the same for the rest of the receivers. It's a level of trust that we've built in the offseason – the lonely work when no one is looking."

Marshall accomplished one of his goals now that spring practice has ended – staying healthy. He's now driven to improve throughout the summer and start training camp in August in a better position to succeed.

It also doesn't hurt to have teammates who share the same goals.

"I have to give a lot of credit to DeAngelo Yancey and Greg Phillips for pushing me in the offseason, just getting up every morning at 6:30 when I didn't want to get up," Marshall said. "They pushed me to be great because we're all in this together."