Elijah Brooks’ smile widened as he delved deeper into his assessment of MarShawn Lloyd, a rising sophomore running back who possesses a dimension the DeMatha coach has never seen before.
“As far as his physical ability — his ability to go from zero to 100 — it’s unlike any back I’ve seen here,” said Brooks, a former Division I running back who is entering his seventh season at the helm of DeMatha. “He’s the most explosive back I’ve seen come through DeMatha.”
Any high school football fan in the DMV knows DeMatha churns out the cream of the crop, especially in the backfield. The list of notable ball carriers during Brooks’ tenure includes 2013 Gatorade Player of the Year and current Wisconsin running back Taiwan Deal; Lorenzo Harrison and Anthony McFarland, two cornerstones of Maryland’s backfield; and Mark Allen, now part of Penn State’s rushing attack.
And who could forget Steve Smith, a captain on Penn State’s 1986 national championship team, or NFL great Brian Westbrook?
But Brooks is quick to pump the brakes on placing Lloyd among them just yet.
“Yes, we’ve had talented backs, but MarShawn is unproven right now,” Brooks said. “He’s still green in a lot of areas, but you can’t deny his talent.”
For those who followed DeMatha last season, Lloyd needs no introduction. For everyone else, remember the name. With just 31 varsity carries to his credit, Lloyd is set to become the Stags’ featured running back this fall—and he already holds offers from Kentucky, Maryland, Rutgers and Virginia Tech.
“It’s unbelievable to hear that even come out of his mouth,” Lloyd said of Brooks’ praise. “Hearing that from him is an honor.”
Asked about his new role, Lloyd added: “I’m just getting physically prepared for it. I know it’s a big legacy that I have to follow with all the great backs who came through here—Anthony McFarland, Lorenzo Harrison. That’s really big. I know I have big shoes to fill.
“It’s a lot of pressure, but I also feel honored. Playing after them and having the chance to carry on what they left behind — being able to have this opportunity and the same opportunity they had — is a blessing.”
Lloyd, who totaled 319 yards and six touchdowns on 31 carries as a freshman last season, means that wholeheartedly. One reason the Middletown, Del., native decided to attend DeMatha was the opportunity to follow the trail blazed by Westbrook, the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer.
“He played for my favorite team. I love the Eagles,” Lloyd said. “He’s great — a legend.”
But Lloyd has traveled only a few feet down the path Westbrook helped pave. As Brooks said, Lloyd possesses the potential to become one of the greatest ball carriers in Stags history, but he still has a long way to go.
Over the offseason, Lloyd increased his weight from a lean 190 pounds to a chiseled 210. He also found another gear, shaving his 40-yard dash time from 4.50 seconds to below 4.4. His stride, already smooth as butter, has become even more fluid, and he isn’t afraid to charge full speed into some of the nation’s toughest defensive fronts.
“You know, it’s the late-night work here and there,” Lloyd said. “It’s finding any way to put in the extra work. Coming to practice every day, working really hard and having the right mindset. I’m trying my best on each and every rep.”
Along with putting in the extra work, Lloyd has tested himself against elite competition. In July, he competed in the FBU All-American freshman game in Georgia and later attended Ohio State University’s Friday Night Lights camp, where Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer and running backs coach Stan Drayton approached him with praise.
“They said, ‘Dang, you’re huge—and fast,’” Lloyd recalled. “All I said was, ‘Thank you.’”
His quarterback, senior Ty Lenhart, views Lloyd much the same way.
“He’s the most gifted back I’ve seen,” said Lenhart, who has attended DeMatha since his freshman year.
He snapped his fingers.
“He can turn on the speed like that,” Lenhart said. “Zero to 60 in the blink of an eye. It’s going to be awesome to see what he does. A lot of people don’t know about him, but they will pretty soon.”
As the Stags’ featured back, Lloyd will be thrown into the fire immediately. DeMatha opens the 2017 season Friday, Aug. 25, on the road against Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas, the second-ranked team in the nation according to MaxPreps. Oh, and the game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
“It’s crazy,” Lloyd said.
But that isn’t even his biggest concern.
“The traffic around here—now, that’s the worst,” Lloyd said. “Games like those are why I’m glad I chose to come here.”
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Lloyd will participate in heavyweight matchups like the one against Bishop Gorman for the next three seasons. That alone gives Brooks every reason to smile.
“I’ve never coached a back like him,” Brooks told 247Sports. “You will be hard-pressed to find another sophomore or junior back better. He’s the most explosive back to come through DeMatha in the last 20 years.
“If you remember Reggie Bush at USC, he’s like that — but MarShawn is 210.”
One thought on “Meet MarShawn Lloyd, DeMatha’s next running back sensation”
Comments are closed.