It took several weeks, but Rice football has found their offense once again thanks to a strong performance from new starting quarterback Evan Marshman.
Rice began fall camp with an open competition for the starting quarterback position. Jackson Tyner, sam Glaesmann and Shawn Stankavage split reps with the starters. Glaesmann was moved to wide receiver and Tyner has been bumped behind two freshmen on the depth chart. Stankavage was the starter through the first seven weeks before his injury against UAB opened the door.
Redshirt freshman Evan Marshman, who began the fall on the scout team, beat out true freshman Wiley Green for the start against FIU. After struggling to move the ball with Stankavage (and briefly Tyner) at the helm of the offense against UTSA and UAB, Marshman led the team on two touchdown drives against FIU.
Rice quarterbacks combined to lead one scoring drive in the eight quarters leading up to the FIU game. That includes outings from Stankavage, Tyner and Marshman. Against FIU, Marshman led the Owls on three scoring drives, taking both touchdowns in himself.
It’s impossible to separate how much of Marshman’s performance was his natural talent versus improved scheming and execution from the offense. Regardless, he put points on the board. If he can keep doing that, the Owls will be just fine. They’ll find a way to pick up their first conference win soon enough.
Marshman was quickly ushered to the medical tent following his second touchdown run, but was able to reenter the game. Green played sparingly and was unable to generate much offense, throwing two interceptions and completing one pass for eight yards. Marshman will be in line to start again next weekend against North Texas. That’s an encouraging sign for a once-struggling Owls offense.
