Corey Marshall and Luther Maddy are the only Tech players to set foot on the field during a 10-win season at Virginia Tech. Both guys played in 2011 and redshirted later. As a result, they understand the winning history of the program better than any other player in the team. On Monday, Marshall made it known that he’s ready to help this team win down the stretch.
“I think it’s time to lead by example,” Marshall said. “We’ve got about three or four games left, and what are you saving it for?”
Tech’s senior defensive tackle hasn’t had the senior season he wanted. He’s been bothered by plantar fasciitis all season. He’s missed two games, and made only three starts. He has four tackles for loss and a sack on the season.
Nevertheless, Marshall is ready to help this team achieve their goal of making a bowl game.
“We can write the end of this story, it doesn’t have to play out the way it’s kind of falling right now,” he said. “We can correct these things in these last couple games and get it right.”
The Hokies have lost a lot of close games recently, even dating back to last season. Their most recent loss was the 4OT defeat at the hands of Duke.
“We keep taking losses like that, it eats at your pride,” Marshall said. “A lot of these guys come from winning programs, and we don’t want to be the group that has our head down knowing we let that [bowl] streak get away. That streak is older than me.”
However, according to Marshall, it’s about more than the streak. It’s about winning for Frank Beamer.
“He takes a lot of s—, excuse my language, that he shouldn’t have to take and we feel for him, and we wanna win for him,” Marshall said. “I came here five years ago because that was the guy I wanted to play for, and I feel like he’s fully capable of leading this program.”
Virginia Tech has four remaining games, and they have to win three of them to become bowl eligible. Can they do it? They have the ability to do so, especially if they follow the lead of their senior defensive tackle.
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Great leadership by Mr. Marshall!
Hey CC, Ryan Malleck played in 2011.
For a guy that had his struggles, you have to really like the young man Corey Marshall has become!