Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Q&A with Academic All-American Jacob Marnin
10/24/2019 | 10:15:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Fifth-year offensive lineman Jacob Marnin has excelled on the football field and in the classroom for the Salukis. The Altoona, Iowa native has started in a team-high 36 games since 2016 and has helped pave the wave for a rushing attack with over 1,300 yards through seven games this season. Outside of football, Marnin was a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2018 and has twice been named to the MVFC All-Academic Team.
Has it hit that this your final stretch with the Saluki Football program?
It's starting to sink in as we get closer and closer to the end. I've had a good time here and have met a lot of great people. But all good things do come to an end.
Has your time here flown by or been a slow process?
It's been a little bit of both. You get into stretches where things just seem to drag on, but for the most part, it's flown by.
You have worked with offensive line coach Trevor Olson for the majority of your playing career at SIU. How has he helped your game?
Coach Olson is a very smart guy who knows what he's talking about on the field. He's been in our shoes as a player and has also been around as a coach for a while now. He knows how to get the best out of us. Every one of us needs a different style of coaching and he's able to adjust to each of our needs which puts us at our best.
What have you improved most on since your arrival to SIU?
The biggest thing for me was increasing my football IQ. That's ranged from being gap sound and understanding gap exchanges on twists to learning about defenses I go up against. I've become a better center because of it.
Ernest Dye Jr. (left tackle), ZeVeyon Furcron (left guard) and yourself have a combined 85 starts. Does it help having that much experience on the line?
Overall, I think every guy on our line is very reliable, but it's definitely nice to start next to those two guys each week. You get familiar with each others habits through experience. I know their strengths and weaknesses, just like they know mine. If I need help, I know I can count on them.
Do you have a most memorable play as a Saluki?
When I think about it, not really. There are a few plays that stick out every now and then, but most of my favorite plays are ones that result in touchdowns. That's when I'm most excited on the field. But one of the best moments I've experienced came when we played Western Illinois a few years ago. We were down 17 points and managed to come back and win the game. Pulling that off was a great feeling.
You recently played in your final Blackout Cancer Game. What has it meant to be a part of the yearly tradition?
It's a big deal because cancer has affected everyone is some type of way. My grandmother passed away from cancer before I was even born. It's nice to give people the recognition on the back of our jerseys. I hope it helps them know that we're there for them.
What have you taken away from this season so far?
The big thing is that you can't change the past. We just continue to look forward each week and improve. The goal is to make the playoffs. We're determined to make that a reality.
What can you do better as a group to make a playoff push?
Our pass protection can improve. We all kind of share the burden. If one of us gives up a pressure, the quarterback could be forced to step up into a different dilemma, where another defender is now trying to make a move towards a pressure or sack. We all have to stay strong. You are only as strong as your weakest link.
Asides from football, you have received recognition due to academic success. Did you ever expect to receive several academic-based awards?
I never expected to receive this much recognition for academics when I came to SIU. I try my best to work hard in the classroom and I've been lucky enough to earn a few honors because of it. Being named an Academic All-American was a cool feeling. Not many people get to experience that, but I don't think about it too much. My family is likely more excited about the awards than I am.
As a first-year graduate student, what is different about the studying and workload?
There is a lot more reading in grad school. After a long day of football and school, I don't always want to read or write, but I just tell myself to refrain from playing Fortnite and get the work done instead. Having a set schedule with football makes it easier though. It gives me a clear-cut time to focus on school.
What are you most looking forward to in your future?
I'm excited to set my own schedule. I've been in a structured environment for the last five years, so it'll be a big change once my time here is finished. But it's a change I'm looking forward to.
