MSU's Nick Marsh Named Alexander Award Player of the Week

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Just two games into his collegiate career, Michigan State freshman wide receiver Nick Marsh has not only made a name for himself in East Lansing, but in all of college football after delivering a career day against the Maryland Terrapins and being named the Week 2 Shaun Alexander Award Player of the Week by the Maxwell Football Club on Sept. 10. 

After totaling just 1 catch for 11 yards for the Spartans (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten Conference) in their season-opening win against the FAU Owls, the Detroit native put Big Ten defenders on notice by racking up nearly 200 yards receiving on 8 receptions and a touchdown against Maryland (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten). 

Marsh’s Career Day

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Marsh was quarterback Aiden Chiles’ favorite target in the game, amassing 194 yards (24.25 yards per catch average) and helping set up the Spartans for a game-winning field goal with one second on the clock to down the Terrapins. Trailing 24-17 late in the fourth quarter, Chiles connected with Marsh, who beat two defenders, on a deep throw down the middle of the field for a 77-yard touchdown that tied the game 24-24 with 4:11 left to play.

On what would be the game-winning drive, Marsh had another catch to put the Spartans in position to kick the game-winning field goal by kicker Jonathan Kim with one second left on the clock. 

Marsh’s performance also etched his name in the Michigan State record books. His 194 receiving yards were the second most by a freshman in school history, trailing only Ricky White’s 196-yard day against the Michigan Wolverines in 2020. For the season, Marsh has 9 catches for 205 yards (22.8 ypc) and a touchdown. The Spartans will take on the Prairie View A&M Panthers (1-1) on Sept. 14 at Spartan Stadium.

The Shaun Alexander Award

One of the Maxwell Football Club’s most prestigious awards, the Shaun Alexander Award is presented to the best freshman player in college football each year. Originally named the College Football Freshman Player of the Year Award, the award was established in 2019. The inaugural winner was quarterback Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, while former Alabama and current Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs won the award in 2023.