Did Indiana Wide Receiver Nick Marsh Show Elite Traits at Michigan State?

There are a number of NFL Draft platforms that have mocked Indiana transfer wide receiver Nick Marsh as a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Fox Sports, Athlon Sports, USA Today, CBS, Pro Football Network, SI, Sporting News, Bleacher Report, Pro Football Focus, Yahoo Sports, The Athletic, and ESPN have done so just in the time span between August 1 and November 13, 2026 (NFL Mock Draft Database).

But for me ⎯

I believe in gaining as much film perspective as possible on prospects.

That meant going back and studying every snap Marsh played in during the 2025 season for Michigan State.

Did he look solid?

Yes.

Did he look elite?

No.

First round means elite.

First round means special.

Ummm….

What are some of the positive NFL traits he showed on film?

• Quickness
• Excellent route-running skills in the short to intermediate route levels (0-19 yards)
• Toughness
• Competititveness
• Blocking

What are some of the negative NFL traits he showed on film?

• Inconsistency creating separation
• Below average in contested catch situations
• Struggled winning deep

Possession receiver material

Here’s the issue⎯

Marsh has decent straight-line football speed.

Not great.

Not even what I would call good.

It’s decent.

One-gear.

He didn’t blow the doors off anyone on Michigan State’s schedule in 2025.

Yeah- he managed to slip behind defenses a couple of times. But he’s not going to make a living deep downfield in the NFL.

There’s no way.

Not based on what he put on tape.

One more thing⎯

Marsh didn’t show that coveted burst of speed that helps upper-echelon receivers create separation either.

Nope.

Marsh won because of his sophisticated route running, above-average athletic ability, and his raw effort in the short-to-intermediate route levels.

Fits NFL’s timeline?

No quesiton⎯

Most of the play scripting in the NFL is in the short-to-intermediate route level (0-19 yards). That ties right into Marsh’s wheelhouse.

Theoretically, that fits, but 1) He’s going to need a great NFL quarterback who can deliver the football with pinpoint accuracy; 2) His hands.

Marsh showed time and time again⎯

He has a VERY AVERAGE CATCH RADIUS. If the passes came in anywhere but in the numbers, it was a problem on his 2025 film. In terms of his hands, I counted six drops, and overall, I thought his hands were decent. Again, not great, and not good.

Per Pro Football Focus (2025):

• 97 targets
• 58 receptions
• 59.8% reception rate

NFL projection

Let’s put it this way⎯

I think his route running is good enough that he will win some reps at the next level, but what percentage of the time will he win is the question.

I see Marsh as a solid add at this point- a role player – not as a game changer.

#6 (his jersey number at Michigan State) Nick Marsh 6-foot-3, 210 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2026 Fall Grade: Third-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First-Round prospect as of November 13, 2026

2025 game film evaluated: Western Michigan, Boston College, Youngstown State, USC, Nebraska, UCLA, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State, Iowa, and Maryland (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Left the Youngstown State game “due to a right leg injury” (Sports Illustrated)

2027 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Solid prospect. Emotional. Long arms. Thicker thighs. Strong build. Lined up out wide and in the slot. Took a few end-around handoffs for minimal yardage. Gains initial route leverage. Quick and choppy movements. Waits until the last second to break off and front-face on routes. Can slam on the brakes and come back downhill effectively. Showed head fake (6x) and swim move over a corner (1x). Bends route stems. Sometimes drifts toward the ball when it’s in the air. Decent YAC upside; can gain a few yards here and there. Doesn’t run away from defenses. Not the easiest to bring down. Finds soft spots in zone. Didn’t work back to the quarterback well when he was in trouble.

What to watch for during the 2026 college football season

1. Dropping passes?

2. How does he look deep?

3. How does he look on contested catch situations?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as appearing as a guest on ESPN Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and Fearless with Jason Whitlock. Featured in USA Today. For more information, visit whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.