Nick Marshall's Position Switch Proving Complicated after Auburn Pro Day

Auburn's Nick Marshall is sending out mixed signals.

Marshall was supposed to be making the transition from SEC quarterback to future NFL cornerback. Aspirations of becoming a professional quarterback seem to be hard to shake, though. 

The conversion project continues to hedge his bets by working both angles. 

The Pineview, Georgia, native continues to flip-flop throughout the entire draft process. 

Initially, Marshall accepted an invitation to play quarterback as the Reese's Senior Bowl. He originally turned down the invitation, because the event's executive director, former NFL general manager Phil Savage, asked him to participate as a cornerback. Marshall held out until an opening to play quarterback became available. 

Just prior to the first practice, though, Marshall decided to shuck the quarterback's golden practice jersey after making the abrupt decision to participate as a cornerback throughout the week. 

Marshall originally played cornerback for the Georgia Bulldogs before deciding to transfer. After one season at Garden City Community College, the Auburn Tigers offered the opportunity for him to play quarterback. 

Thus, the transition to defensive back wasn't foreign to Marshall as it would have been for others quarterbacks. He was OK once he officially made the decision to switch positions at the Senior Bowl. 

"It feels great for me that I got that off my chest," Marshall told Al.com's Brandon Marcello. "I didn't want to come up here playing something that I wasn't happy with and I wouldn't be able to perform at my best. I just wanted to play something that I was comfortable with.

"I'm all in now. I made my decision."

Marshall's decision lasted less than a month. 

At the behest of NFL teams, the former quarterback and his agent, Tommy Sims, decided to throw at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. He also participated in the defensive backs' positional workout. 

The former Tiger impressed with his combination of raw athleticism and willingness to compete at multiple positions. 

Height	Weight	40-yard dash	Vertical	Broad jump	3-cone	Short shuttle
6'1"	207	4.54	37.5"	10'4"	6.96	4.15

A week after the combine ended, Auburn held its pro day. Marshall didn't look quite like the same athlete Tuesday that showed up in Indianapolis a just over a week earlier. 

Al.com's Brandon Marcello noted Marshall's physical change: 

Rapid weight fluctuation should raise a couple red flags. 

First, did Marshall only lose weight to run faster at the combine? It's possible he's a step or two slower than his timed speed on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium. Marshall refrained from participating in running the 40-yard dash Tuesday, which only helps to pique curiosity about his actual speed. 

At 217 pounds, very few NFL cornerbacks carry that much weight. Patrick Peterson, Brandon Browner and Stanley Jean-Baptiste, who converted from wide receiver and was drafted by the New Orleans in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft, are the few who are similar in size or heavier than Marshall currently is. 

Either a cornerback requires rare athleticism or a very physical style of play to maintain that size and still remain effective. 

The Auburn product is even listed on the team's official website at 210 pounds. Clearly, he's added some bulk during the offseason. 

The added weight could help, though, if teams are considering him as a quarterback. 

Interest around the league remains lukewarm—at least publicly—regarding the possibility of Marshall remaining at quarterback, according to FOX Sports' Knox Bardeen: 

Even though the workout wasn't structured to highlight Marshall's passing ability, he performed relatively well in front of NFL scouts and decision-makers.

WBMA-TV's Joe Whelan provided a glimpse of his overall performance: 

There is still support within the Auburn program for Marshall to remain behind center. 

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn told NFL Network that he believes Marshall can play quarterback in the NFL (h/t ProFootballTalk.com):  

"

I know he can be a quarterback at the next level. It needs to be in the right system. You’re talking about a guy that’s probably one of the best zone-read quarterbacks in the history of college football. He’s got a unique skill set. He broke the school record against the most talented defense we faced last year [passing for 456 yards against Alabama]. So he’s got the ability, he’s got the knack to win games, when the game’s on the line, that very few quarterbacks have. So I believe he can play quarterback in the right system.

"

What Marshall truly provides is versatility. In today's game, numerous teams only carry two quarterbacks. Marshall can serve as the team's third quarterback, while also contributing in other areas. 

For example, the Auburn product's workout wasn't complete once he finished throwing the football. It was only about halfway done. 

Bardeen detailed the rest of Marshall's afternoon: 

Pro days are set up for players to shine in a familiar setting in front of NFL talent evaluators. 

Marshall displayed his big arm, overall growth during defensive back drills and even the possibility of contributing on special teams. 

This was the platform for him to do so. After all, versatility increases a player's value in the NFL due to limited roster space. 

But Marshall needs to shift gears and fully commit himself to one position. If he's going to grow into a legitimate NFL-caliber player, his development starts now. 

The former Auburn quarterback is generally projected as a cornerback. Marshall already committed to playing the position a little over a month ago. He reiterated his stance after his pro-day workout, per AuburnUndercover.com's Justin Hokanson: 

It's time for Marshall to stick to the plan. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL draft for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.