Trey Marshall’s uphill climb from undrafted college free agent to starting Broncos safety required an underdog mindset adopted as a teenager while practicing in helmet and pads amid the hazy Florida heat.
Columbia High School in Lake City has produced a number of prominent NFL players, including Eagles defensive tackle Tim Jernigan and Texans offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. Marshall dreamed of a similar path to the pros, but he was forced to wait for a starring high school role. Then, as a senior, Marshall suffered a ruptured stomach in a game that required emergency surgery.
He relates much of the experience to his first taste of NFL adversity with the Broncos: Only 22 snaps played, all on special teams, over his 2018 rookie season.