Marshall confirms he’s ready for Ohio State: 'I wouldn’t miss it.'

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After sustaining a shoulder injury against Northwestern, running back Jordan Marshall traveled and suited up for the Maryland game, but he didn't take a snap, with Bryson Kuzdzal getting the nod. With Marshall sidelined, it casts doubt on whether or not he'd be able to go against rival Ohio State this Saturday.

However, on Tuesday, Marshall confirmed that he will be playing against the Buckeyes.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Marshall said. "I'm just excited. It's a great opportunity for our team, for our coaches, for this university. Again, you only get so many opportunities to play in ones like this, and the best rivalry in sports. Taking it day by day, getting better every single day for Saturday, and just taking it one day at a time."

And if you think this is something like Blake Corum suiting up and getting a couple of snaps against OSU before exiting as he did in 2022, think again. As Marshall says, he's pretty much at full strength at this point, certainly disappointing anyone from the other side who had hoped that the star tailback from Cincinnati would be watching from the bench.

"I was pretty much, after the game two weeks ago, I was fine," Marshall said. "Moving around, getting moving, ready to go. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to hit somebody. I'm ready to run in that end zone again.

"Again, it was exciting to watch those guys that I helped coach. That's what this is all about is seeing everybody else's success. That's when you know you're doing a great job. For me, getting to see those guys do that was exciting. I'm just excited to go out there and go to war with them."

Marshall confirmed he absolutely could have played against Maryland, but it was going with the wiser decision to sit out and let Kuzdzal, Jasper Parker, Micah Ka'apana, and Tomas O'Meara get reps in advance of The Game.

Call it a selfless decision, given his desire to get out there, but one that certainly ended up benefitting the team.

"Yeah, I wanted to step out there and play," Marshall said. "Again, you've got to think about the team, and that's really what it was. I talked to all my coaches and made sure that we were all in a good place. That's what the decision was made, and my part that day was to lead on the sideline. I think I did a good job helping the young running backs. They played great, and that was my role for Saturday.

"Whatever I can do to help the team, like I said, a lot of times this year is what I'm going to do."

Michigan and Ohio State will kick off at 12:14 p.m. EST at The Big House, with The Game set to be broadcast on Fox.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Jordan Marshall declares he’ll play in The Game after shoulder injury