After a 1,972-yard season in 2023, Marcus Carroll is anticipated to be a major contributor to Missouri’s offense in 2024. Finishing 10th in the nation in rushing yards, just seven spots behind Cody Schrader, Carroll transferred from Georgia State to Missouri.
Ranked as the No. 21 running back in the transfer portal by 247Sports, Carroll is expected to lead the Missouri Tigers’ rushing attack alongside Appalachian State transfer Nate Noel.
Carroll has a significant role to fill this fall, but his track record shows he’s capable of elite performance, having rushed for 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. As Cody Schrader has shown, impressive stats are valuable regardless of the conference or competition level.
Here’s a closer look at Missouri’s new running back:
**High School:**
Carroll was a three-star recruit from Hapeville Charter in Atlanta, Georgia, ranked as the No. 150 running back in the Class of 2020. In his senior year, he was named Offensive Player of the Year in region 6-AA. He received 19 offers, including from Maryland and South Florida.
**Georgia State (2020-2023):**
Carroll stepped into a starting role in his last two years and ended his Georgia State career with 2,136 rushing yards, the third-most in school history. Over the past two seasons, he rushed for 1,972 yards and 19 touchdowns on 401 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
His 2023 season performance made him a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award. His best game in 2023 was against Georgia Southern, with 208 yards and two touchdowns. He had seven games with over 100 rushing yards in 2023 and entered the transfer portal on December 4, 2023.
Fit with the Tigers:
Carroll is expected to share carries with Noel, each bringing unique skills to the field. Carroll, at 5’10” and 210 lbs, is a lighter runner compared to Schrader. While Schrader excels in downhill running, Carroll is quick and agile, able to maneuver through defenses.
With Carroll and Noel, Missouri’s running back room boasts significant experience, both having over 450 career carries. Carroll’s productivity suggests he may be the primary runner initially. Missouri running backs coach Curtis Luper likened the duo to Tyler Badie and Larry Rountree from 2020, highlighting their complementary styles.
Adjusting to the SEC will be a significant test for Carroll, but his impressive resume makes him a promising addition to Missouri’s offense this season.
