The light bulb went on in Lawrence Marsh’s head prior to Florida’s fall preseason football workouts. If he was going to start on the Gators’ defensive line, it was time for the redshirt sophomore to step up and earn his place.
“I went home [to Augusta, GA] and talked to my family,” Marsh related. “When I came back, I was ready to go get a starting position and help this team.”
No one ever questioned Marsh’s talent or his size (6-5, 305). Combined with his athleticism, Marsh is a perfect candidate for the nose guard position. His burly chin hair, which may reach the floor by the end of the season, is the only thing that may allow head coach Urban Meyer to keep him off the field if it isn’t shaved.
When the first snap on defense comes this Saturday against Hawaii, Marsh will be in the starting lineup for the first time.
“It’s been a long time coming, but I knew this day would come,” Marsh said. “I knew hard work would pay off, but I’ve got to keep working. It’s not over yet.”
Still, it’s hard not to stick out your chest when you’ve realized your dream.
“I was very excited,” Marsh said. “You think you’re going to start, but you don’t really know sometimes. Your play just takes care of it if you keep making plays and the coaches start believing in you. I’ve gotten the coaches to believe in me.”
Two incoming freshmen dominated the preseason talk. Matt Patchan dominated at the tackle position during the spring, and the Florida coaching staff couldn’t wait to see Omar Hunter in the fall. Some thought that they might even jump over the upperclassmen on the depth chart.
But Marsh and his older teammates took that talk as a challenge.
“No disrespect to Omar (Hunter) and (Matt) Patchan, but I’m older than they are,” Marsh said. “Omar came in and had some injuries, but I wasn’t basing my season on if Omar was going to come in and play. I base my season on working hard every day.”
Marsh and the others now know that nothing will be handed to them and their hard work must continue if there is going to be improvement on the defensive line.
“A lot of people are hungry and feel like we’re together now,” Marsh said. “Last year the coaches and players were singling out certain groups and this year we feel like it’s on the whole defense.”
Marsh will be lining up next to Terron Sanders. Javier Estopinan will also see some playing time. Sanders and Marsh both are redshirt sophomores and feel their time to step up is now.
“We knew that we wanted to get better and it was our time to shine,” Marsh said. “It was our time to do something for this team.”
Marsh and Sanders came on campus together and have developed a close bond. Marsh is hoping that friendship translates onto the field and allows them to make an impact.
“The chemistry is based on trying to do our job,” Marsh said. “He knows that I want to be good and I know that he wants to be good. We’re just picking each other up every day.”