College Football Championship 2015: Under-the-Radar Players to Watch
Even casual college football fans know the main pieces for both Ohio State and Oregon as the national championship game approaches, but showdowns like this often come down to the under-the-radar players.
That means someone besides Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott will have to make critical plays in crunch time.
With that in mind, here is a look at a couple of under-the-radar players who will play critical roles Monday.
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WR Jalin Marshall, Ohio State
Ohio State’s playmakers were on full display in the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama.
Elliott gashed the mighty SEC defense for 230 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Devin Smith tallied 87 receiving yards and a monumental second-half touchdown as the deep-ball threat, Michael Thomas (Keyshawn Johnson’s nephew) caught a critical touchdown pass in the closing minutes of the first half, and Evan Spencer threw a touchdown and snagged an onside kick in the final minutes.
Lost in the shuffle was one of Ohio State’s best playmakers all season: Jalin Marshall.
Marshall may not be a traditional under-the-radar threat, because he played such an important role this season, but much of the focus is now directed elsewhere. On the season, Marshall had 447 receiving yards, 142 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns.
One of those touchdowns came on a punt return against Indiana, which helped rescue the Buckeyes from a lackluster effort as the heavy favorites.
Marshall could be a problem for Oregon if he gives it a taste of its own medicine. He is a speedster who does most of his damage on end-around plays and shovel passes by bursting to the outside and getting to the edge. He is also a dangerous punt returner who could break a game open with a special teams play.
Another aspect to consider with Marshall is the fact that he played high school quarterback. Dave Biddle of Bucknuts.com noted that Marshall was being treated like the backup in the last game:
If the Ducks load the middle to stop Elliott or drop some safeties back to contain Smith and Thomas, Marshall can get the ball in space underneath and use his speed to accelerate to the next level or perhaps even find the end zone.
OT Jake Fisher, Oregon
It doesn't get more under the radar than an offensive lineman, but Jake Fisher is critical to what the Ducks do on offense.
The low point of Oregon's season came when Fisher was out with injury, as the Ducks allowed 12 sacks against Washington State and Arizona. Fisher’s presence helps set the tone for the rest of the line, and the Ducks were much better at protecting the passer for the rest of the year after he returned.
Fisher has the agility and explosiveness to get downfield on running plays or stay in front of Mariota on passes. His versatility also stands out, as he was a right tackle last season but played left this year after Tyler Johnstone went down with injury.
Fisher is the No. 10 offensive tackle in CBS Sports' draft prospect rankings. His talent is clear, but he is even more important than usual in this game, and he understands who will be standing on the other sidelines, per Steve Mims of The Register-Guard:
Fisher leads an offensive line that has to deal with first-team Associated Press All-American Joey Bosa and third-teamer Michael Bennett. Bosa led the Big Ten with 13.5 sacks and spearheads a defensive group that racked up 40 sacks on the season.
Oregon's entire offense relies on the line giving Mariota enough time to either go through his progressions on passes or read the defense on speed-option plays. It is critical for the Ducks offensive line to prevent Bosa and Bennett from occupying blockers or getting to the quarterback and disrupting those plays.
If Fisher and the rest of the front can’t do that, it could be a long day for the Heisman Trophy winner.
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