Jalin Marshall, former Buckeye and Middie, returning to NFL

Jalin Marshall is back in the NFL.

The Middletown High School graduate and former Ohio State standout signed a free agent contract with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday, marking his return to the big leagues a little more than a year after he was waived by the New York Jets.

In the meantime, the 5-foot-11, 205-pound receiver played for the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football.

>>RELATED: Marshall one of five former Buckeyes on AAF rosters 

Marshall scored the first touchdown in AAF history but was among the many people left without a job with when the startup league declared bankruptcy last month.

In February, Marshall told this news organization he had signed with the AAF after not receiving any offers from NFL teams last fall.

Prior to taking the opportunity with the Apollos, Marshall was preparing to return to school at Ohio State, where he still plans to finish a degree in journalism.

“It’s been a big rollercoaster ride for me with ups and downs, highs and lows and stuff like that,” he said in February, “but all throughout my journey I’ve learned a lot, whether it was being successful or going through a rough patch, I’ve learned to be a better man, a better person, a better player for all the things I’ve been through I think it has allowed me to put myself in a great situation now.”

He hoped to parlay his time in the AAF into another shot in the NFL, where he played 10 games for the Jets and logged 14 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

Marshall, who was quarterback at Middletown and slot receiver at Ohio State, also returned kicks and punts for New York.

“I think putting up good film and helping your team win to the best of your ability, for teams to see you play, some of us guys who have been to the NFL, we were like the last couple of receivers on the roster so those guys don’t really get a chance to put out their skills on national TV every week,” Marshall said of playing in the AAF. “So I think this is something that will give me an opportunity to show I am capable of playing at the highest level.”

A five-star recruit at Middletown, Marshall was one of the first players to join Urban Meyer’s first full-year recruiting class at Ohio State (2013).

>>RELATED: How Meyer’s recruiting compared to predecessors

After redshirting his first year, Marshall emerged as one of the playmakers for the 2014 national championship team

He logged 74 receptions as a Buckeye, totaling 976 yards (13.2 avg.) and 11 touchdowns through the air while also picking up 175 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Raiders have 12 receivers on the roster, including newcomer Antonio Brown, an All-Pro acquired via trade before the draft.

In the draft, they added Clemson standout Hunter Renfroe.

Marshall is one of three Ohio State players on the Raiders roster, joining cornerback Gareon Conley and defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins.

About the Author