Marshall Redmon arrived at Rhodes College in the fall of 1980 from New Orleans via the Isidore Newman School. He was an undersized tight end and linebacker at the Newman School, also participating in soccer and track. Despite lacking gridiron size in high school, Marshall overachieved by sheer grit, determination, and tenacity. Recruited by former head Lynx football coach Gary Troll and mentored by Hall of Fame football coach Gordon Ellingsworth, Marshall would become a steady leader and anchor of a Rhodes defense that perennially finished at the top of the Collegiate Athletic Conference in all defensive statistical categories.
In just the fourth game of his freshman campaign, Rhodes defensive coordinator Gordon Ellingsworth would convert Marshall from his natural linebacker position to nose guard in order to fully utilize his quickness, strength, and natural football instincts for always locating the ball carrier. Ellingsworth preferred using his quick defensive linemen, anchored by Marshall, to keep opposing offenses off tempo and out of rhythm by calling multiple slants, twists, and stunts in the Lynx 52 defense. In Marshall’s junior season, Coach Mike Clary shifted the Lynx defense to the linebacker-heavy Split 4 defense, thus enabling Marshall to move back to his natural inside linebacker position. This move allowed the Lynx to remain at the top of virtually all the Collegiate Athletic Conference defensive rankings and led to having Marshall selected as a three-time All-Conference selection.
Marshall was durable, never missing a practice or game in his four years on the Rhodes football team. He would average 10 solo tackles per game over his career, 336 combined career tackles, recording three fumble recoveries and two interceptions, returning one for a game-sealing touchdown. Even as a four-year defensive starter, Marshall additionally played on all Lynx special teams. He was elected captain by his teammates his senior season and was selected not only as defensive MVP his senior season but also overall team MVP for 1983.
Marshall is best remembered as a solid teammate, extraordinarily dependable, a leader that set the tone at practice and on game day. A fellow defensive starter made the comment, “Marshall was fierce and highly competitive at practice; he showed no favors, but was always quick to help you up after a hard tackle with encouraging words. He truly led by example.”
Marshall and the Redmon family call Rhodes home, with wife Missy a graduating member of the Class of ’82, son Jordan a member of the Class of ’13, and daughter Melissa a member of the Class of ’15. Rhodes is honored to induct Marshall Redmond into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame on this 2nd day of November, 2024.
