EAST LANSING, Mich. – After scoring his first touchdown of the season against Western Michigan, Nick Marsh found himself in elite company - being compared to Lions legend Calvin Johnson.
For the Detroit native, it’s a comparison that he said feels like a dream.
“That’s crazy, actually -- it’s one of the people I look up to,” Marsh said. “I’ve been watching him since I was a kid -- just to be compared to him is something crazy.”
The comparison isn’t without merit. At 6′3″, Marsh stands just an inch shorter than Johnson’s 6′4″ frame, and their sophomore year weights are nearly identical.
For Marsh, the similarities go beyond physical measurements. He says it’s all about the athleticism.
“Being a bigger body receiver that can move as fast as smaller receivers... just being a bigger size and being able to do that is pretty cool.”
Football wasn’t always the dream for Marsh. Originally, it started as “just something to do.”
It was the conversations with mentors that opened his eyes to the sport’s potential to change his life.
“They just said I had the potential to be a star one day,” Marsh recalls. “I started to think about the opportunities I could have for my family and myself. I started to take that to heart, started to train even more, and apply everything in football to real life.”
Marsh’s journey hasn’t been easy. Growing up in Detroit, he faced homelessness and had to mature quickly.
“Having to grow up fast, mature faster - that affects me a lot and affects the way I think now,” Marsh said. “It could be in a negative way or a positive way -- it’s all about how you respond.”
The responsibility of stepping up at home prepared him for his role as a playmaker, which became evident during his freshman season.
He emerged as a key offensive threat, building a connection with quarterback Aidan Chiles that only grew stronger as defenses tried to contain their chemistry.
Marsh embraced the challenge, viewing the extra attention as a chance to elevate his game.
“I’m really fortunate to do that at a young age,” he said. “I’ve got time to develop, time to actually master my craft and figure out how the defense plays. I think this is the best time to figure it out.”
With several veteran transfers joining the wide receiver room, Marsh is excited about the offense’s potential.
“We’ve got some guys that can move in the room... everybody can roll, we can beat our guys one-on-one,” he said. “We’re all about selflessness, and I think this room is going to be pretty good.”