As the NFL Draft looms just under two weeks away, Terrace Marshall Jr. finds himself reflecting on the whirlwind journey he’s endured since hearing his name called in the second round of the 2021 Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Now 23 years old, seated in an office inside the NovaCare Complex, Marshall has just signed a one-year contract with the reigning NFC champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, and he’s embracing a fresh start with renewed purpose.

Back in 2021, Marshall was a 20-year-old phenom fresh out of LSU, where he had made his mark as one of the top wide receivers in the program’s storied history. His collegiate career included 106 receptions, 1,594 receiving yards, and 23 touchdowns. Five of those touchdowns came on the biggest stages—during the SEC Championship, College Football Playoff semifinal, and National Championship—capping LSU’s perfect 2019 season.

Now, three years later, Marshall is seeking a second chance, a revival of the promise he once embodied. “I’m growing, maturing. Trying to figure out who I am off the field,” Marshall said. “I feel like throughout these last four years, with everything that’s happened in my career and in life, I’m ready. I’m ready to take on whatever I need to, no matter what that looks like. I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge.”

The path back to relevance hasn’t been easy. Last season was particularly tough for the former LSU standout. He was released by the Panthers at the end of training camp, briefly signed to the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad, and later picked up by the Las Vegas Raiders, where he ended the season on their active roster.

“It’s definitely been a test,” Marshall said, referencing his deep Christian faith. “And with that test, it’s helped me grow and become stronger in every aspect. It just made me more patient and taught me to rely more on God than people, more on God than myself. He reminds you every day that He’s in control. What I do every day is surrender to Him and let Him lead the way.”

That spiritual grounding has helped Marshall maintain perspective through the ups and downs of his young career. “I’m going into this season with a pretty clear head. I’m pretty optimistic. My faith has grown this past year, so I’m walking into this season just trusting and being patient. That call finally came, so I’m really blessed to be here.”

Marshall is still just 24 years old and won’t turn 25 until just before training camp. He brings with him ideal size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and speed (clocking a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, with no NFL Combine held in 2021 due to the pandemic). His best NFL season to date came in 2022, his second year with the Panthers, when he caught 28 passes for 490 yards and a touchdown. He averaged a solid 10.4 yards per target, showing glimpses of the big-play threat he once was at LSU. Over his NFL career so far, he’s appeared in 43 games (starting 17), logging 67 receptions for 808 yards and two touchdowns.

But beyond the stats, Marshall has gained the kind of wisdom that only the harsh realities of professional football can teach. “It’s a blessing to be given an opportunity by an organization like the Eagles,” he said. “To come in and show what I can do, to help this team chase its goal again.”

Marshall also brings familiarity with wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead, who had once recruited him while serving as an assistant coach at Texas A&M. That relationship adds a layer of comfort as he integrates into a wide receiver room led by superstars A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, with star quarterback Jalen Hurts orchestrating the offense.

“It’s definitely a blessing, especially as a route runner,” Marshall said. “You know who’s behind you. You know that you’ve got a quarterback who’s going to deliver the ball on time. He’s going to make the right decision—not just for himself, not just for you, but for the team.”

For now, Marshall is focusing on the opportunity ahead of him. After a rocky start to his NFL career, he’s been given a new chance with a franchise that has its sights set on returning to the Super Bowl. With the maturity of someone who has endured more than most at his age, Marshall seems ready to make the most of it. His journey may not have followed the straight path many envisioned when he was drafted, but in Philadelphia, he sees a road to redemption.

Time will tell if this one-year deal is a launching pad or a last chance, but one thing is clear: Terrace Marshall isn’t finished writing his NFL story. Not by a long shot.