Biggie Marshall embracing potential position change at next level

Iman "Biggie" Marshall was clearly USC's best cornerback last season -- too often the Trojans' only reliable cornerback, for that matter.

But that might not be his position at the next level.

After running through drills at USC's Pro Day on Wednesday, Marshall acknowledged that NFL teams have been gauging his interest and comfort in a potential move to safety (or nickel).

"Teams talk to me about moving everywhere," he said. "That's the thing. This game is becoming a more pass-oriented game, spread offenses, so you need a lot of safeties and corners that can play in the box, that can play upfield because you've got a lot of quick tight ends and stuff like that. …

"My transition to safety, my ability to want to play safety -- those are the similar questions I've been getting."

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Marshall already worked out for the NFL talent evaluators last month at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., but he saw Wednesday as another opportunity to make an impression and maybe answer those aforementioned questions.

"Just my ability to move around -- versatility -- show that I can play corner, nickel, safety all around the field. A lot of times at 'SC I only played corner, so I just wanted to show my versatility and my ability to play all over the field," he said.

Marshall logged a 32.5-inch vertical jump and got 9 feet, 9 inches on the broad jump Wednesday. He did not run the 40-yard dash at Pro Day after timing at 4.53 at the combine, and he did not bench press again after putting up 16 reps (of 225 pounds) in Indianapolis.

That 40 time had him outside the top 15 performers among cornerbacks at the combine (4.49 was the 15th-best time), whereas that time would have ranked 14th among safeties. His jumps also do not rank among the top numbers recorded by DB prospects this year.

But Marshall didn't seem focused on any of the numbers while talking Wednesday.

"At the end of the day it's football. I'm a football player, so when I get the pads on you'll see what I can do," he said.

Indeed, where Marshall did measure especially well was in the advanced metrics last season, as he ranked as one of the stingiest corners in college football according to Pro Football Focus' data.

Meanwhile, the game he feels best showcased his full abilities was his final one, against Notre Dame. He had 3 pass break-ups, 6 tackles and a half tackle for loss in that season finale.

That's what Marshall hopes NFL scouts look at when evaluating his potential.

"I had the ability to show my versatility, my ability to go against bigger dudes. I got attacked more in that game so I had the ability to show what I can do," he said. "I had the opportunity to play in run fits, I had the opportunity to play the pass against bigger dudes. It just showed my versatility."

And again, as it pertains to possibly moving to safety in the NFL, if that's what it takes, Marshall says he's fine with it.

"At the end of the day, I just want to play football. That's what it's all about -- just having the ability to play football," he said. "A lot of people don't have this opportunity so, man, wherever I can get on the field, play where I can play at, that's what I want to do."

So where does he expect to slot into the draft, which runs April 25-27?

That's not for him to worry about, Marshall says. He's done what he can to showcase himself, and he reiterates, whenever and wherever the opportunity comes, he'll continuing playing as if he has something to prove.

"You never know. I don't like making assumptions -- I just like to let this process play itself out," he said. "Whenever I get the opportunity to show people what I've been doing all my life, continuing to prove [to] everybody and show them what I know I can do, play ball and be confident when I go on that field and show the people that I'm going to be great and I am great."