Friday, April 29, 2011
Posted: 9:50 p.m.Updated: 11:48 p.m.
By Reuben Frank and Gordie Jones
CSNPhilly.com
The Eagles drafted Utah State cornerback Curtis Marsh in the third round of the draft Friday evening, the second defensive back they selected on Day 2 of the draft.
Earlier Friday, they selected safety Jaiquawn Jarrett from Temple.
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The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Marsh played running back his first two years at Utah State, before making the transition to defense. He was an All-Western Athletic Conference second-team pick in 2010, recording 45 tackles, two interceptions and 13 pass deflections. He also appeared in the Senior Bowl, and said he felt he was performing at a very high level by the end of his career.
I feel really comfortable at corner, he said via conference call from his home in Simi Valley, Calif., and Im just really anxious to learn NFL schemes, to learn Philadelphias scheme in depth and contribute defensively to the team.
Marsh, whose father, Curtis Sr., was a wide receiver for the Jaguars and Steelers (1995-97), changed positions two years ago because Utah State had a glut of running backs, and a shortage at the corner.
I saw an opportunity to help the team, the younger Marsh said, because I had played corner before in high school, and I knew that I was capable of playing at a high level. And I knew it was also my best shot for the NFL, with my skill set.
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Eagles coach Andy Reid called Marsh a phenomenal athlete, and said he is very, very intelligent. And while Reid acknowledged that there are other cornerbacks in the draft with more experience, he believes Marsh will develop quickly.
We felt that this kids upside was good enough to be a starter, Reid said.
Marsh, for his part, is quite certain his father will able to help him with the transition to the NFL.
Hes my inspiration, he said. When I was younger, the only reason I wanted to play football was because I wanted to be just like him.If I ever need to ask him questions it is real convenient, especially him being a receiver and me being a corner. He can let me know a lot of what to expect in the next couple months.
This is only the fourth time in franchise history the Eagles have selected two defensive backs in the first three rounds of a draft. They last did it in 2002, when they picked three (Sheldon Brown, Lito Sheppard, Michael Lewis) and also in 1993 (Mike Reed, Derrick Frazier) and 1969 (Leroy Keyes and Bill Bradley)
The Eagles picked Marsh with the 90th pick overall. They traded their original third-round pickNo. 85 overallto John Harbaugh and the Ravens for a sixth-round pick, No. 191 overall.
That leaves the Eagles with eight picks on Saturday, Day 3 of the draftNo. 104 and 120 overall in the fourth round, No. 149 and 153 in the fifth round, No. 191 in the sixth round and No. 227, 237 and 240 in the seventh round.
As of now, the Eagles have 11 total picks in this draftsecond-most among all NFL teams.
This is the 12th consecutive year the Eagles have engineered at least one trade somewhere in the first three rounds.
Related: Feisty Watkins gives Eagles a 'guard dog'Eagles take Temple safety Jarrett in second round