Oak Park, Illinois Nathaniel Marshall, a defensive lineman for Fenwick, committed to Michigan on Saturday after visiting the university for the Wolverines’ spring game. He made the announcement on Monday. Given that Marshall is Sherrone Moore’s first official pledge as head coach, this is a major victory for the new coach.
Additionally, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and defensive line coach Lou Esposito, who are also part of Michigan’s defensive staff, are making their first commitment.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Marshall made the decision to end his recruitment and commit before receiving official visits from Illinois, Alabama, and Miami.
Marshall is ranked by as a top-75 overall prospect. He played both inside and outside for Fenwick, so in college, he should be able to continue circling the line of scrimmage.
In addition to being a gifted athlete, he has a strong basketball family history, having had a grandpa (Ken Norman) who played in the NBA.
“It’s obvious that the talent is unbelievable,” says Matthew Battaglia, head coach of Fenwick. Regretfully, I doubt I will ever be able to train a player with such skill again. He is an intense rival. Much of that is a result of his family’s strong athletic heritage. Grandfather Ken Norman is a Hall of Fame basketball player who played at Illinois and in the NBA, and mom Khara Smith is also a Hall of Fame basketball player. His parents instilled in him the value of competition at the highest levels, and he has a strong competitive heritage from them.
In the 2025 class, Marshall becomes Michigan’s fourth commitment. He is the first student in the class from Illinois, a place where Michigan is anticipated to continue to have recruiting success given that Moore and Esposito have both successfully recruited the state for them.