Making the case: LSU vs. Texas A&M for Terrace Marshall

With the first-ever early signing underway and turning the college football recruiting world upside down, several of the nation’s top prospects are making their decisions this week.

MORE: Oregon vs. Notre Dame for Braden Lenzy

Today, experts from the Rivals.com network examine where five-star Bossier City (La.) Parkway wide receiver Terrace Marshall, Jr. will end up playing his college football. The candidates are Texas A&M and LSU.

The situation: After narrowing his list to four schools, Marshall spent the fall taking official visits in hopes of narrowing his list. After trips to Texas, LSU, Texas A&M and Florida State, Marshall’s process was thrown for a loop when Kevin Sumlin was fired and Jimbo Fisher ended up taking his place in College Station. LSU has long been considered the frontrunner, but can the combination of Fisher, a coach Marshall was interested in playing for and Texas A&M, a school Marshall was interested in attending, be enough to beat out the Tigers? Marshall will make his decision between the Aggies and Tigers on Friday. So where will he end up? We asked our team experts to state the case for their respective programs and let National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell issue a verdict.

“I believe that while Texas A&M has made things interesting with new coach Jimbo Fisher, it’s going to be too little too late for the Aggies. LSU has been recruiting Marshall for several years and it’s all about relationships. That, combined with LSU having to seriously reload its wide receiving corps, adds up to Marshall picking the Tigers on Friday afternoon.” – Mike Scarborough, TigerBait.com

“It looks like Marshall is down to Texas A&M and LSU, and this shouldn't be tough for a receiver. If you want to catch the football, you go to the school that isn't LSU. Their idea of a wide-open offense is putting two receivers on the same side of the ball (to block). In all seriousness, while Fisher may not be as pass-happy as Kevin Sumlin tended to be, his offense still puts the ball in the air a lot more than Ed Orgeron's. If you're going to college to maximize your your attractiveness to potential employers (i.e. the NFL), then this is a pretty straightforward decision.” – Mark Passwaters, AggieYell.com

“Marshall is LSU, with Texas A&M making a strong push under Jimbo Fisher. In the end I think the home state school wins out.” – Mike Farrell, National Recruiting Director