Lemar Marshall
Encyclopedia
Lemar Willie Marshall is a former American football
linebacker
. He was originally signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football
at Michigan State
.
in 1995. He played in 11 games as a true freshman, including two at cornerback. As a sophomore in 1996, he posted 54 stops in 12 games. He started four of 12 games at strong safety as a junior, recording 79 tackles in 1997. As a senior in 1998, he finished third on the team with a career-high 101 tackles, and also recorded two interceptions, breaking up 16 other passes. At Michigan State, Marshall lettered all four years, compiling 261 tackles and 27 passes defensed. He was a merchandising management major.
as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in 1999. He spent parts of 1999 and 2000 on the practice squads of the Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles
.
before being released in early September. Marshall signed with the Washington Redskins in late 2001.
. He went on to play all 16 games as a reserve linebacker and on special teams coverage units. He posted nine total tackles, mostly on special teams.
was sidelined with a knee injury. Marshall stepped up, recording 69 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
August 23, 2007, two days after a surprise move by the Washington Redskins
who released him in training camp. He appeared in four games for the Bengals, starting three, and recorded eight tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 safety.
However, he was placed on the injured reserve with a ruptured achilles tendon after his fourth game. He was not retained by Cincinnati, and he has yet to re-enter the league.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He was originally signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
.
High school career
Marshall was a first-team All-State pick as a senior at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1995.College career
Marshall was recruited by Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1995. He played in 11 games as a true freshman, including two at cornerback. As a sophomore in 1996, he posted 54 stops in 12 games. He started four of 12 games at strong safety as a junior, recording 79 tackles in 1997. As a senior in 1998, he finished third on the team with a career-high 101 tackles, and also recorded two interceptions, breaking up 16 other passes. At Michigan State, Marshall lettered all four years, compiling 261 tackles and 27 passes defensed. He was a merchandising management major.
1999-2000
Marshall entered the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in 1999. He spent parts of 1999 and 2000 on the practice squads of the Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
2001
In 2001, he spent training camp with the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
before being released in early September. Marshall signed with the Washington Redskins in late 2001.
2002
In 2002, He made his professional debut in Week 1 against the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He went on to play all 16 games as a reserve linebacker and on special teams coverage units. He posted nine total tackles, mostly on special teams.
2003
In 2003, Marshall played in 12 games, primarily on special teams units but also logged some action at reserve linebacker, getting ten total tackles and 0.5 sacks. He was inactive for four games.2004
In 2004, Marshall had a breakthrough season, starting 14 games at outside linebacker when LaVar ArringtonLaVar Arrington
LaVar RaShad Arrington is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. He was drafted second overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State for coach Joe Paterno.A two-time All-American at Penn State, Arrington played...
was sidelined with a knee injury. Marshall stepped up, recording 69 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
2005
During the 2004 season, Marshall started all 16 games, recording 98 tackles and 2 sacks, as well as four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one defensive touchdown. Marshall anchored the middle of the defense as the Redskins made the playoffs for the first time since 1999.2006
In 2006, he didn't perform as well because he was bothered by knee and ankle injuries. However, he managed to get a career high of 104 tackles. This was the first time in his professional career that he had over 100 tackles, along with his 1.5 sacks and 1 safety.2007
Lemar Marshall signed a one-year contract with his hometown-BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
August 23, 2007, two days after a surprise move by the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
who released him in training camp. He appeared in four games for the Bengals, starting three, and recorded eight tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 safety.
However, he was placed on the injured reserve with a ruptured achilles tendon after his fourth game. He was not retained by Cincinnati, and he has yet to re-enter the league.