Recruiting Report: Marlon Wiley (2019)
In 2017, the Jordan Hubmen football program had one of their most successful seasons in the history of the program. After a 5-3 regular season, they advanced all the way to the Class AAA title game. The Hubmen’s success did…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIn 2017, the Jordan Hubmen football program had one of their most successful seasons in the history of the program. After a 5-3 regular season, they advanced all the way to the Class AAA title game. The Hubmen’s success did not end with the football team. The track team advanced to true team state and placed fourth. In the middle of both state tournament runs was Hubmen junior Marlon Wiley. Partly because of his success in both arenas, his teams not only succeeded, but college programs across the nation have also taken notice.
“We built off our previous season,” Wiley said. “We lost in the section championship last year. We had a new head coach, and we built off that. We came into the season with a whole different mindset. It was a family atmosphere, and I think that led to our success.”
The Hubmen run a spread offense.
“We passed the ball well,” Wiley said. “The chemistry between our quarterback (Jonathan Draheim) and the receivers – we worked on it religiously during practice and after practice, running routes and getting our timing.”
“Defensively we had the mindset that we were going to pitch a shutout,” the junior continued. “We went out there to stop the run.”
Jordan head coach Bo Wasurick likes to play 22 starters. With players as talented as Wiley the coach bends his rules a bit. The junior started the season on defense and saw spot duty on offense, but Wiley’s position in that 22 changed mid-season.
“I started the year as the starting free safety, but in the second or third game we were down 14-0 at halftime,” Wiley explained. “I started the second half at wide receiver and caught a seven-yard hitch route, and I took it for a 54-yard touchdown. I think after that the coach realized with my speed; I had more potential on offense. We had a good safety to take my spot.”
Wiley would line up in the slot and would occasionally line up in the backfield.
“I caught a lot of screens, ran routes across the middle and I would run a lot of jet sweeps.”
Now primarily an offensive player, Wiley would play twenty to twenty-five defensive snaps a game. He would play safety in nickel, dime and goal-line situations.
That first touchdown catch that moved Wiley to offense highlighted his biggest strength.
“Yards after catch is my strength,” Wiley told northstarfootballnews.com. “I think I am an intelligent player – knowing the plays, the defensive schemes. On defense, I think my strength is my intelligence back there. My sophomore year I played corner, but they moved me to free safety to be the quarterback of the defense. I can use my speed to make plays on the ball.”
Wiley has an unorthodox pre-game ritual.
“I like to read books before games. It helps me concentrate,” Wiley explained. “Most guys like to listen to music, but I am an avid reader – really any fiction.”
Wiley spent the winter in the weight room – focusing on different versions of the bench press, the clean and squats.
This spring he ran track.
“The track season was successful for the team,” NFN’s 15th ranked player in the Class of 2019 said. “We won the conference, we won sections and made it to State. We had eleven people go to State. I don’t know if Jordan has ever sent that many before. We placed 4th at State. Individually I won the 100-meters for the second straight year.”
Wiley’s decision to run track was a tough one. While football is his first love, he played baseball for most of his life. He knew track would be more beneficial for football, so he made the switch.
In addition to the 100, Wiley also runs the 200, the 4X100 and competes in the long jump. His track and football skills have caught the eye of recruiters from both sports.
“Right now, I have four (football) offers. Howard, Concordia-St. Paul, Bemidji State and Southwest Minnesota State,” said Wiley – who gets the feeling he is being recruited mostly on the offensive side of the ball. “For track South Dakota wants me to come for an official, and I have been talking to Northern Iowa and Iowa. For football, I have also been talking to New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa State, Minnesota, Winona State, Pittsburg, Northern Iowa, North Dakota and North Dakota State.”
With another year of high school to go, he has a chance to help keep the Hubmen programs competing at a high level and keep his college prospects – in two sports – high as well.