Mar 30, 20218 min read

TERRACE MARSHALL SR INTERVIEW: ALL ABOUT HIS SON'S #NFLSU FUTURE & LEGENDARY LSU PAST

Updated: Apr 2, 2021

by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

@LonnPhillips

LONN: First off sir, thank you very much for joining us, I wanna ask you how you all are feeling right now about the upcoming NFL Draft? What's it been like?

TERRACE SR: Oh man, it's been...it's been...it's been a blessing first of all, it's a feeling you know you've never had before...you've always....you know you get to a school like LSU or NFLSU...they call it that because a lot of players go leave LSU and go off into the NFL, so you know we've kinda just been in line, kinda just been waiting...waiting patiently, cause you know God had other plans for him at the next level.

It's been one of those things where it's been a process, but it's been a wonderful feeling man, I can tell you that, a great feeling as you just watch him prepare for the next level.

LONN: Which specific NFL teams have reached out to you about Terrace Jr?

TERRACE SR: I think we heard from all of 'em.

LONN: Which team does your family prefer he go to?

TERRACE SR: Whichever one picks him, brother. Wherever he land, it's all in God's hand.

LONN: Has there been any legendary former Tiger pros who've given your son advice or kinda put their arm around him and said "hey, this is what you should expect during the NFL Draft phase"?

TERRACE SR: Oh yeah, well you know he's friends with Justin Jefferson, he had another guy, I think it was Josh Reed, a receiver from LSU who gave him some great advice; he got great advice from a few other guys.

That's the thing about LSU wide receivers, they always come back and give the younger guys advice to take them on the same path.

LONN: What about Terrace's upbringing has brought him to this day? What has strengthened him most?

TERRACE SR: He came up working real hard as a kid. He's always been different.... he's always been just set aside...he's always been a hard worker, he always stays focused; he's always been an obedient child...so you know, he's been training for this process his whole life.

I remember when he was a kid, I wouldn't even let him get a bicycle because I didn't want nothing to happen to him, I didn't want him to break his knee...because I always knew God had something for us. So you know, I've always seen his day comin'.

He's worked real hard for this day, man.

LONN: When did you first realize your son would be making this leap?

TERRACE SR: I realized when he was 4 years old.

LONN: Did you play wide receiver, too, sir?

TERRACE: Yes I did at Northwood High.

LONN: Let me guess: are all the men in your family over 6 feet?

TERRACE: Yes we are all over 6 feet.

LONN: I knew it!

You mention God, what role did faith play in your son's rise, his ability to overcome injuries... do you think it gives him an edge?

his mother Moeshia to his left, Terrace Jr in the middle and Terrace Sr to the right.

TERRACE: Yeah I really do, I think so man, I do, he's been through so much.

All the things he's been through are things people give up on all the time, but he came out stronger every time, so that made him know....

...like his logo, his brand "Meant To Be" just goes to show that everything he does, after he comes out of his trials and tribulations, he comes out even better.

So, that just let him know that everything he had going for him was meant to be, you know?

So... that had a strong hold on him, ya know, going through all the trials and tribulations, man, just comin' up, that's a big part of his faith.

LONN: He's got that humble, quiet vibe to him... has he always been quiet?

TERRACE SR: Always.

LONN: Does he ever get loud and crazy in private?

TERRACE SR: Never, never, not even in private. He's a different...he's a different animal, man, he's a special one.

LONN: Back in his high school days, LSU were going for him hard of course, Louisiana-native, 5 star, can you take me back to that process on how the Tigers were able to get his signature?

TERRACE SR: I'm going to tell you, before he committed to LSU they were always known to run the football. But Terrace...he had faith...he prayed about it and God had showed him if he had faith and believed, then they were going to throw the football.

And when they told him they were going to throw the football, he believed it.

And when he signed with LSU, the rest was history.

We can all see that the 2019 team was the top passing team and so you know.... everything was just fate.

LONN: Wow...that's a crazy story about the 2019 team I hadn't heard yet.

Your family had a wild journey in 2019 watching your son win a title, how did that feel for you as a father?

TERRACE SR: Oh my god...that feeling man....I still think about it all the time. That feeling was just...a feeling I'd never felt before...it was an unbelievable feeling I wish everyone could experience, but I know not everyone gets to. It was an awesome, awesome feeling.

LONN: Your family was there seeing the title game at The Superdome, did Terrace finally let out some wild energy and get loud after the Championship? Or was he still quiet?

TERRACE SR: I think after the game maybe on the field he celebrated a little bit...but he was still quiet, yeah man he was...(laughs)...he was excited and everything but he was still going with the flow. I say it all the time, man it's like he doesn't get excited, he just keeps on working, keep his head down and keep working.

LONN: That was the secret to his success. He had both Jefferson & Chase ahead of him in the depth chart, but yet he was still Ensminger & Joe Brady's preferred target in the red zone. The NFL is all about finishing, I want every NFL general manager or owner to read this:

Terrace is an elite finisher who can score from anywhere on the field, one of the best to ever play in an LSU uniform...and Tigers receivers are about to run the NFL.

To segue from that, Joe Brady was one of those guys alongside WRs Coach Mickey Joseph running the show with the WRs: How much of an effect did Joe Brady have on your son and his development?

TERRACE SR: Oh yeah, most definitely. That summer they caught 10,000 balls...so....the teachings that he brought most definitely helped him, plus add in all that he (Terrace Jr) had in his abilities. When you have a great coach who comes in and teaches you what they know and then you combine it all together, then you got greatness.

LONN: Speaking of that 2019 season, who do you think were the guys Terrace Jr was closest to?

TERRACE SR: Him and Ja'Marr and Jets, they were pretty close but I know him and Ja'Marr are really close.

LONN: Well and I sometimes wonder what 2020 would've been like with those two together on the field as a tandem.

But about this past season, your son caught a touchdown from three different quarterbacks....what do you think that tells NFL GMs about his pedigree at the next level?

TERRACE SR: It just lets them know that he's ready for the next level, he can be that guy that they can throw to and count on at anytime of the game, he can be that guy.

If they need him, he's going to be there and will be ready to take on any challenge that they have.

LONN: We were talking about Joe Brady's developmental skills a bit ago, who do you think had the single biggest role in developing your son's talents?

TERRACE SR: You know, I can't answer that...I think only Terrace can really answer that. That would be a question for him.

LONN: How did you feel last year about your son playing in the pandemic season? Were there any worries?

TERRACE SR: No man, we didn't have any problems with it. He wanted to play, he knew he wanted to go out and show that he could do what he did in 2019 again.

LONN: Do you believe he should've opted out before the season or are you okay with how things turned out?

TERRACE SR: We didn't have any trouble, like I said everything was good with me and built on faith.

I was built on faith...

I think everything was meant to be so I mean, we was ready for the season.

I wanted him to have a season so he could go out and show that he could be that guy...to improve his draft stock and....that's what he did.

LONN: Your son definitely did! And it's because he rose his NFL Draft stock that he made the decision to opt out after the A&M game.

After the opt out, did you expect criticism or support from the LSU fans?

TERRACE SR: I understand that you opt out they feel like you're giving up on your team, but the time he did it was actually the time for him to get ready for the combine so....you know he did it in a timely fashion.

I look past the criticism, I don't pay attention or listen to it.

Like I say, he worked hard for what he has, he worked hard for it, so I never paid attention to it.

LONN: I must say, I didn't see too much criticism aimed his way from Tigers fans, I saw more support, it was good to see that.

Speaking of the NFL:

Every team should be hoping they can get their hands on Terrace Marshall Jr...

This is a dumb question, but sometimes it reveals some really cool answers, sir:

What do you think your son is capable of at the next level?

TERRACE SR: He's capable of going into the NFL and having a great career. He's capable of going in and scoring a lot of touchdowns; he's capable of multiple Pro Bowls...he's just a good kid. He's capable of just letting God use him on and off the field...reaching a lot of kids and showing kids that...even if it's not football, just try to obey your parents, do the right thing, pray and anything you want in life, God will give it to you.

I think he's capable of being a good leader.

LONN: You just said the word "leader":

Your son, even though he's a young man of few words, when he felt someone needed to step up before the Arkansas game this year, he stepped up and called a player's only meeting and led everybody to a huge victory after...what was it? 3 weeks without a game?

What did that tell you about your son?

TERRACE SR: It just shows his leadership and that he can step up and lead the younger players. He has leadership in him: he's a leader, he's not a follower.

It just shows his ability and his hard work, dedication and what he had to do to get the gift that he has. He showed that he can talk to the other kids so everybody can be on one page and not fall off track.

LONN: What moment at LSU taught you the most about your son (that you may not have known about him before)?

TERRACE: Well, I said to him 'you know you've always been the same growing up'; there's nothing I really didn't know, 'cause I always knew he was a leader, a good kid, and he works hard. It's just one of those things, when I first cut his hair, he never cried. He just sat there in the chair like he was 21 years old...it's just one of those things, man I've always had faith in my son.

He never ceases to amaze me 'cause I always knew......

He's just a different kid.