Former Aggie excited for NFL opening day
The bright lights of the National Football League burned bright once again Thursday evening, Sept. 1, and Jarrett Bush, a former Aggie, kicked off the 2011 season as his Green Bay Packers took on the New Orleans Saints.
Curtis Marsh, a former Aggie defensive back and current defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles, will have to wait until Sunday to suit up, but Marsh couldn’t be more excited to be playing at the next level.
“It’s been amazing — a dream come true,” Marsh said. “I couldn’t be happier. Just practicing and everything — it’s real competitive. Being a pro has been great.”
The Eagles drafted Marsh as the 26th pick of the third round. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound defensive back said he wasn’t surprised at all when the Eagles called his name on draft day.
“My agent had told me that I would get drafted somewhere between the second and fourth round, so that’s what I expected; it’s what everybody was saying,” Marsh said. “I was real excited and real thankful when it happened.”
Marsh joins six other Aggies, who are all currently in the NFL ranks. Tight end Chris Cooley is in his eighth season with the Washington Redskins, while Utah native Kevin Curtis is in his first year with the Tennessee Titans — in his eighth season overall.
Former quarterback Diondre Borel, long snapper Pat Scales, defensive back Rajiric Coleman and cornerback Chris Randle all signed free-agent contracts with NFL teams, but were recently cut. Offensive tackle Spencer Johnson signed a free-agent contract with the Eagles and was able to be with Marsh on the squad before he was also cut.
“I remember we were running around all day (on Draft Day),” Johnson said. I remembered wanting to get home to watch Curt get drafted. During one of the commercials, Curt got drafted and my house got so excited.”
It was no surprise to Marsh that some of his fellow teammates signed free-agent contracts with NFL teams.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Marsh said. “Those guys are tremendously talented. They give everything they’ve got. I’ve always felt that we had a really talented team at Utah State.”
Some kids dream of being in the NFL their entire lives. Marsh has had the opportunity to play against one of the most talented quarterbacks to play the game in Michael Vick.
“The best part about playing in the NFL is being able to compete against the best,” Marsh said. “Just being able say that you’re competing with some of the best in the world; getting to guard guys like DeSean Jackson in practice is the best part.
“I’ve been looking up to Vick since middle school — one of the most amazing athletes to come out in a long time. Ronnie Brown used to be one of my favorite running backs in college and high school. I was a little starstruck at first.”
Marsh still remembers his roots as an Aggie and is thankful for everything he learned. Marsh wasn’t always a defensive back, and he switched his junior season when Head Coach Gary Andersen came on the scene.
One of his most important lessons came during his practices as an Aggie.
“Just focusing on my technique as a player,” Marsh said. “My position coach at the time, Cory Raymond, just really focused on technique and that’s how you are going to win in the end. It was very true and I got to learn that in college.”
– ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu