From Transfer Portal to Triumph: Caden Marshall’s rise at Bowling Green
- USA Top 100
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
By Erin Reid Bowling Green, OH – July 21, 2025
Bowling Green, OH — For Caden Marshall, becoming one of the most promising linebackers in Bowling Green is more than a dream—it’s a story of grit, resilience, and unwavering ambition.
Marshall’s football journey began when he was just five years old, diving into flag football under the watchful eye of his father. “My dad inspired me to play,” Marshall reflects.
“He was my coach from my Pop Warner days through middle school.” Football, it seems, runs deep in the family. His older cousin, Caleb McCutcheon, was also a source of inspiration.
After a standout high school career at Henry County High School in Paris, Tennessee, Marshall—now standing a powerful 6’2” and weighing 217 pounds—took his talents to Tennessee State.
But the leap from high school Friday nights to the rigors of college football was anything but smooth. “It was a challenge, athletically and personally,” he admits.
“The physical demands, the mental aspect, the speed of the game, the time commitment. College football is like a job—it requires everything from you.”
Marshall seemed poised for a breakout freshman season at Tennessee State after an impressive fall camp, but adversity struck when he broke his right foot in a clash against North Dakota.
Ten weeks of recovery tested his patience and resolve, but Marshall emerged stronger—ready to face the next chapter.
“I faced a lot of adversity sitting out and getting back to game shape,” he says. That resilience led him to follow head coach Eddie George and linebackers coach Joe Bowden to Bowling Green, Ohio, where he now plays under the same supportive staff.
On Coach Eddie George—a Heisman Trophy winner turned program leader—Marshall is emphatic:
“He’s a good person, and a great coach.
He knows how to develop talent and bring out your best.”
He’s equally grateful for Bowden, his longtime position coach. “Coach Bowden keeps it real no matter what. He’s like a father figure.
He makes sure you become better than you were—both as an athlete and as a student. Academics always come first with him.”
Training five to six days a week—sometimes twice daily—Marshall’s focus is clear: regain game speed and get even stronger. “My goal is to be an All-Conference linebacker, an All-American, and the best LB in the country,” he says, his ambition unmistakable.
Marshall’s vision extends to team success: “I want to win the MAC championship—and beat the team up north, Toledo.”
For him, the grind is personal but never selfish. He’s already intent on leaving a legacy for athletes who follow: “Keep God first, stay dedicated, trust the process, and outwork everyone. Adversity will come, but it’s all about how you respond.”
As Marshall steps onto the field this season, his story is still being written—a story propelled by family, challenged by injury, and fueled by relentless drive. For Bowling Green, Caden Marshall isn’t just one to watch—he’s one to emulate.
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