Homegrown Marstall looks past stats in his legacy at ESU

Before this football season even began, head coach Garin Higgins gave each of his quarterbacks a packet. It wasn’t full of plays or formations but at the very top it read: How to be a Tough ESU Quarterback.

Inside, the packet included lines such as “tough quarterbacks always know the situation” and “tough quarterbacks can handle adversity,” along with several other attributes of a “tough quarterback.”

Higgins wanted to remind each of his quarterbacks just how tough they must be to play in the MIAA, arguably the nation’s best Division II football conference.

There’s one quarterback Coach Higgins knows he can trust. Every week, this player has to step onto the field and exemplify toughness, leadership, and accountability. He’s got his guy. It’s Braxton Marstall.

“He’s not only gotten better as a player,” said Higgins. “But he’s also taken on the responsibility that you want your quarterback who’s a veteran to do.”

Marstall, a 6 foot 2 redshirt-junior who grew up in Emporia, played high school football for the Spartans. He’s familiar with ESU’s Jones Field at Welch Stadium, which is also where Emporia High played their high school home games on Friday nights.

Marstall was a three-year starter at quarterback for Emporia High. He was an All-League selection in both his junior and senior seasons and was named Honorable Mention All-State his senior year. He threw for over 4,000 yards and 43 touchdowns for the Spartans, although his final year was cutshort due to a collarbone injury.

Now, Marstall steps onto that same field to play football, but this time on Saturdays as a college athlete. He admits that during his high school career, he didn’t think he was ever going anywhere else.

“I honestly didn’t have any other offers,” said Marstall. “Coach Higgins is the only one that gave me a chance…and here I am.”

Higgins never doubted Marstall’s ability. Getting the chance to watch him in Emporia was convenient; however, it wasn’t his hometown that earned Marstall a spot.

“We didn’t want him just because he was from Emporia,” said Higgins. “To be honest with you, I was glad nobody was recruiting him, I could tell he had some toughness to him. I had thoughts in my mind that he could be a starter here.”

Coming in for his freshman season in 2014, Marstall knew he had a lot to learn. He tried to observe and model the play of 2015 Harlon Hill finalist quarterback Brent Wilson. Little did Marstall know, his time was coming sooner than expected.

After Wilson and backup quarterback Ty Reasnor both went down with injuries, Marstall’s redshirt status was pulled and he was put to the test. His first start came in St. Joseph, Missouri at Missouri Western State University, which saw him pass for 233 yards and two touchdowns, leading his team to a 30-10 victory over the Griffons.

“My true freshman year, I was not ready to play college football, that’s for sure,” Marstall said. “I had to play though because Brent and Ty went down.”

After getting a taste of what college football was like his true freshman year, Marstall then redshirted his sophomore year after the return of Wilson for his senior campaign. Marstall believes some of his biggest strides as a quarterback were made during that time.

“I’d say I matured most from my sophomore year just watching Brent,” said Marstall. “Just being able to watch one of the greats do it helped me mature most.”

Wilson graduated in 2015, handing the reigns to Marstall. Marstall passed for 3,599 yards and 31 touchdowns while leading the Hornets to an 11-2 season, the best in school history since joining Division II.

Suddenly, a Kansas kid from Emporia that didn’t have many offers out of high school was gaining some attention.

In 2016, Marstall was an honorable mention All-MIAA Selection. This year, he was named a Preseason All-American quarterback by Street and Smith’s, a list of some of the best college football players. In the midst of these honors, Marstall is quick to credit the man who first took a chance on him and one who once played the same role himself.

“Playing for Coach Higgins is fun,” said Marstall. “He expects the most out of his quarterbacks because that’s what he played. He’s a smart guy and he makes my job a lot easier.”

While playing quarterback can bring a lot of added pressure, Marstall has learned to be a calm player with a high football IQ.

“As quarterback, playing it for so long you understand the ball’s in your hand almost every snap so what you do with it is pretty important,” said Marstall. “Everybody has their role on the team and I have to do mine as well.”

Statistics aside, Marstall is looking to leave his mark another way. Whether the post-season honors pan out or not, he knows exactly how he wants to be remembered when his career at ESU is over.

“A good teammate,” said Marstall. “I want to be known as someone who can lead a team and someone that was a good teammate, a good friend.”