Marshall’s plan: make name in pros

The tweet went out Saturday: "I'm not Brandon Marshall from the Bears."

Brandon M. Marshall, which is how this Brandon Marshall lists himself on Twitter, definitely is a different person.

But he wants to get to where the other Brandon Marshall resides - not necessarily Chicago, but somewhere inside the NFL fraternity.

And he wants to make a name for himself. His own, unique name.

This Brandon Marshall - the one devoid of off-field controversy, who went to Cimarron-Memorial High School, who last season led UNR in tackles at linebacker - hopes to hear his name called this week in the NFL Draft.

"It's kind of surreal because it's something you think about as a kid," said Marshall, who plans to watch the draft in Las Vegas. "You've dreamed about this moment and wished you were one of the people going through it."

Marshall said he's heard from teams that he could go in the fourth or fifth round, which would be Saturday. The NFL Draft begins Thursday with the first round, and the second and third rounds are Friday.

"I expect to be drafted," Marshall said.

National Football Post college scouting director Wes Bunting said in a text message that Marshall (6 feet 1 inch, 242 pounds) could go in the late rounds or sign as an undrafted free agent.

Bunting wrote that Marshall is "always flowing toward the football, has some POP."

Marshall led UNR in 2011 with 102 tackles, including 7½ for losses. He has been a mainstay in the Wolf Pack lineup, starting every game his final three seasons and six as a freshman.

"NFL guys would be crazy not to take a shot on a guy who can do all the things he can do," Wolf Pack associate head coach Ken Wilson told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "But I'm confident that if it doesn't work out, he has a good future no matter what."

Marshall's production earned an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine in February. Invitations go out to those most likely to be drafted. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.69 seconds, but was happy he improved it to 4.62 at UNR's pro day.

Scouts at the East-West Shrine Game told Marshall they were interested in him at middle and outside linebacker. Marshall played on the weakside for three seasons with the Wolf Pack and on the strongside as a junior.

"I think he was one of the most driven guys," Wilson said. "He loves the game of football. I don't think we've had many guys who have put in as much time watching film, lifting, making themselves better football players than Brandon."

Now Marshall hopes an NFL team notices. The Jacksonville Jaguars flew him out for a visit, so that's one possibility, but it's all a guessing game.

The answers, thankfully for Marshall, will come soon.

"Maybe I shouldn't watch espn or nfl network all week to make this week go by faster," he tweeted Monday.

Yes, it's difficult to wait.

He hopes this is the week the country learns about a different Brandon Marshall. And for this Brandon Marshall to begin living the dream he's had since he was a kid.

"You hope one day you're in it," he said of making the NFL. "It feels good, but I've got to stay grounded."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.