Jalin Marshall suspended four games for PED use
According to the New York Daily News, former Ohio State Buckeyes' wide receiver Jalin Marshall will be suspended for the first four games of the 2017 season. Marshall, a rookie with the New York Jets last season, violated the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Apparently, the drug was Adderall. Maybe it's hard to focus with the Jets.
The Jets are going through an overhaul and Marshall seems to be part of their future. Marshall caught 14 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns during his rookie season. He also returned 18 punts for 100 yards in 2016. However, those are more numbers than anybody expected him to have as a pro.
First of all, Marshall left college with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Instead of becoming the main attraction in the Buckeyes' offense, Marshall opted for greener pastures of the NFL Draft. Well, the talented offensive player fell through the cracks and finished the weekend undrafted. As a result, the Jets found a gifted player without using a draft pick a year early.
Marshall played two seasons for the Buckeyes prior to entering the 2016 NFL Draft. During his time in Columbus, Marshall scored 12 touchdowns on 74 receptions. He amassed 976 yards receiving with the Buckeyes. Marshall also earned 27 rushing attempts, gaining 175 yards during his tenure with the Buckeyes.
He could have earned All-American honors last season. However, Marshall's decision to leave early really magnified Curtis Samuel's game in 2016. Both players seem to have similar skillsets. Instead of sharing the H-back position at Ohio State, Samuel became the Buckeyes' most dynamic offensive threat. As a result, Samuel scored 15 touchdowns last year.
As a result, Samuel scored 15 touchdowns last year. Remember, Marshall scored 12 touchdowns during his entire college career. Now Samuel has a chance to become a second-day draft pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He also made one of the Buckeyes' most iconic runs against the Michigan Wolverines.
Meanwhile, Marshall is making $540,00 on his rookie contract. However, Marshall will lose money due to the suspension. Hopefully, Marshall can make an impact on the Jets in the final 12 games of the season. Otherwise, pundits will look upon this suspension as a reason for the lost season.
