'It's been a blessing:' Moeller celebrates Jordan Marshall as Mr. Football

Jordan Marshall was the guest of honor Wednesday morning as the entire Moeller High School student body gathered for a school assembly to celebrate his new status as Ohio Mr. Football.

Marshall, a Moeller senior, was more interested in honoring them in return.

Tim Stried, the director of media relations for the Ohio High School Athletic Association, presented Marshall with the trophy for being Ohio Mr. Football as voted on by The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.

Before doing so, Stried noted the accomplishments of several other Moeller varsity teams in 2023, including this past spring’s state baseball champions and last month’s state soccer runner-up team.

Marshall did that as well.

“I’m happy I got to do it here,” he said. “To have all these students in here from volleyball, lacrosse to soccer. This is among the best years that Moeller has had in all sports. We’re dominant right now. This award isn’t a testimony to me, it’s for everybody in this gym.”

Marshall is the fourth Cincinnati player to win Mr. Football, third in the last five seasons, and first Moeller player. The award has been given since 1987.

Several Moeller alumni came for the ceremony for Marshall, who will sign with Michigan Dec. 20. Michigan assistant coaches Mike Hart (running backs) and Steve Clinkscale (passing game coordinator) came down from Ann Arbor.

Charles Woodson, a University of Michigan football legend, Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Heisman Trophy winner, spoke to Marshall on his phone via FaceTime after the ceremony.

“It’s been a blessing to have all these great people around me to congratulate me and take time out of their day just to say ‘Good job’ and be proud of me,” Marshall said. “Being able to give that speech, talking to the student body about this award, is special. I’m excited to get this award and bring it to Moeller High School."

Marshall said he attended Michigan’s home game with Ohio State Nov. 25 and is looking forward to rooting on his future team in the College Football Playoffs. Michigan will play Alabama in the semifinals.

Marshall persevered through injury

Marshall rushed for 1,550 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. A member of the varsity team since his freshman year, Marshall set the career rushing yardage record this season.

Marshall’s season nearly ended sooner than expected when he injured an ankle Oct. 14 against Lakewood St. Edward in the team’s ninth game of the season.

Marshall missed two games but worked to return to the team’s second playoff game against archrival St. Xavier, a 10-7 Crusaders win.

“I saw him on Tuesday morning (that week),” said Marshall Hyzdu, Moeller’s president and a 1996 Moeller graduate. “I told him I’m really sorry, and without missing a beat he said ‘My leadership role just changed, and I’m here for the team and helping my team excel these last few games.’”

Head coach makes emotional speech

Bert Bathiany, who just completed his first year as head coach of the Moeller football program, gave an emotional speech before Marshall received the award, nearly breaking down in tears at times.

He focused on the pressure Marshall felt being the face of the program, and the hatred and negative social media posts Marshall received because he is going to the University of Michigan, a hated rival to in-state school Ohio State.

“They don’t see the process,” Bathiany said. “They don’t see the 6 a.m. workouts in the dead of winter. They don’t see the summer workouts and the hours he put in. They don’t see the number of hours that go into practice, film sessions and extra workouts . . . They don’t see the stress that falls on a family when they have to travel across the entire city to get here on time. They don’t see the stress of a mom who has to travel across the country to all these schools. They don’t see the constant amount of hate and daggers that he has to see every day on social media because some coward on a screen wants to take down a 17-year old. They don’t see the stress that falls on a young man who chooses the archrival of the school in this state because that’s the right school for him . . . They don’t see the pain that goes into the rehab, and the frustration in practice because he’s not himself. The don’t see the pain of him playing on one ankle in a playoff game because it might be the last game with his brothers.”

Marshall values his one season with Bathiany as his head coach.

“You can just tell it’s genuine,” Marshall said. “It means so much more when people are that way. This world would be such a better place if everybody was that way. I’m just thankful I could have him as a coach for one year. It’s been a blessing to be on this team, to be able to go out there with my boys, be up there with Coach B and try to help them make plays.”

Former Moeller head coach was big part of the ceremony

Mark Elder, who was Moeller’s head coach from 2020-22, Marshall’s first three years with the program, sat next to Bathiany up front during the assembly.

“When Jordan came in here as a freshman, he was obviously very talented and we saw that talent,” Elder said. “It wasn’t just his talent that allowed him to do this. It was also his maturity, his humility and his work ethic. (His work ethic) allowed him to go from what was a promising career, a very good one, to being one that is arguably the best in Moeller history. Every year, he worked hard. He didn’t read his press clippings, he was constantly working hard to strive for more. I’m confident he will still have unbelievable success (at Michigan) because of his strengths.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 'It's been a blessing:' Moeller honors Jordan Marshall as Mr. Football