ATHENS, Ga. - A year after Todd Gurley elected to forgo his final season of eligibility as a Georgia tailback, Keith Marshall has decided to do the same.
Marshall recently approached Bulldogs coach Mark Richt about participating in the senior ceremony before Saturday night's game against Georgia Southern. The 5-foot-11, 212-pound redshirt junior from Raleigh, N.C., has been a member of the SEC honor roll throughout his time at Georgia and soon will graduate with a degree in finance.
"Obviously he has come in and played extremely well for us throughout his career," Richt said Tuesday. "He just wants to graduate and go on and take his shot at the NFL when this season is over."
Marshall and Gurley arrived as top-50 national prospects in the 2012 signing class and quickly formed the "Gurshall" tandem for the Eastern Division champions. Marshall rushed for 759 yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry as a freshman, including a 164-yard performance in the 51-44 win over Tennessee at Sanford Stadium.
His first trip to Tennessee, however, was disastrous, as Marshall tore his ACL during the 2013 meeting and took longer than expected to recover. He attempted a return last year but rushed just 12 times for 24 yards in three games before being shut down for the season.
Marshall has appeared in nine of 10 games this season, rushing 49 times for 255 yards (5.2 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. He missed last Saturday's win at Auburn after suffering an ankle injury the previous week against Kentucky.
"He's one of those guys you just have to have in a program," senior center Hunter Long said. "He's a guy who every coach wants to coach. He's one of the hardest working guys, and it's been tough to see some of the injuries he's had to fight through.
"He's done all he can to keep playing, and I think it's just his time. He's done a great deal for Georgia."
Theus, Theus, Theus
Brothers John and Nathan Theus will take part in Georgia's senior ceremony before competing for a final time at home. John is a senior tackle who has started all four seasons, while Nathan is a fifth-year senior who is in his third season as the starting long-snapper.
"The Theus brothers have been great for us," Richt said. "They have done well in school, and they have done well on the field. They've represented Georgia well, and we'll definitely miss them."
John and Nathan will be greeted by their parents at the ceremony and also by younger brother Jeremiah, a freshman offensive lineman for GSU's Eagles. Jeremiah played in one game before injuring his shoulder and undergoing surgery.
Richt said it's the first time he can remember a senior ceremony including a player from the opposing team.
"There are mixed emotions from the family, but I know John and I are pumped up to play Georgia Southern," Nathan said. "Jeremiah texted us today to ask us something, and John said he wasn't going to talk to him this week. The family definitely is having fun with it."
Collar ceremony
Georgia will formally introduce Uga X, also known as "Que," as its official English Bulldog mascot Saturday. Que replaces Uga IX, who was also known as "Russ." Que has been on the sideline for nine Georgia games this season, missing only the 31-14 win at Vanderbilt.
Odds and ends
Receiver Malcolm Mitchell and outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins have accepted invitations to the Senior Bowl. The Bulldogs will have 30 scholarship and walk-on players honored before Saturday's kickoff. In its 45-10 win at Troy last weekend, Georgia Southern had an eye-popping 42 minutes and 55 seconds of possession time. The Eagles have made 11 consecutive fourth-down conversions.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.