Interview: 2020 Poly OLB/SS Marcelle Logan is a Standout in More Ways Than One
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
College coaches not only recruit off talent and production, but they also look for character. Not only do collegiate coaches have to instruct the young men brought onto the roster in a given recruiting class on the field, but they have to spend countless hours every day for years being around a player and his personality in meetings, on bus rides – you name it. For rising Class of 2020 Long Beach Poly outside linebacker/safety Marcelle Logan, he is the embodiment of student-athlete with amazing character and fortitude.
After a year of limited playing time with Downey, the 2019 season was Logan’s last opportunity to show four-year programs what he can do on the field. After his transfer, the Jackrabbits have bought into his talents lining him up at outside linebacker seeing their 6-1, 205-pound, defender put together an estimated stat line of 90 tackles with 30 solo stops, three tackles for a loss, three QB hurries, and a forced fumble. Logan’s physical abietites includes a 4.6 40-yard dash, a 325-pound bench max, 500 on squat, and a power clean at 300. Additionally, he is carrying a 3.2 cumulative GPA and has scored an 1130 on the SAT. To his character, he showed he will not give up on the field and shows he does what needs to be done off the field also working weekends at a local grocery store.
Logan has secured an offer from Northern Arizona and other west coast schools are finding him as the Jackrabbits (8-3) advance into the California Division I high school football playoffs. To learn more about Logan’s story and abilities, we got an exclusive in-depth one-on-one interview conducted.
Interview
Marcelle, the trust your coaches have in your abilities shows in where all you line up on the field. Where all are you lining up for the Jackrabbits and does it mix up depending on the schemes?
“Technically, I am considered an outside linebacker, but I am playing end, 3-tech, and nose guard this season. Because I am benching 325 and squatting 500, Coach (Stephen) Barbie (HC) likes to use my strength in the trenches. He is moving us around to mix it up. In a 4-4 look, I am at end as a speed rusher. Then I go back to linebacker; that is my true position. Against Millikan, I played the 3 tech and also against Serra (Gardena). I also lined up at nose guard a couple of times. Those centers were not quick enough to handle my speed.”
Are you dropping back into coverage in any of the schemes?
“In some, I am guarding the slot and running back. I man up on the slot at times. I have not dropped back to safety at Poly this season, but I do essentially play as a safety.”
Given all that you are doing, how did the regular season go for you?
“I think it went well. From not getting a chance last year at Downey, I got four sacks in one game last year, at Poly I have worked to get my starting role. My first varsity game of my career was at Serra against Narbonne and my first start for Poly was against Serra. This season has been a success. I have made lot of tackles and developed as a player. I can cover and I have showed that I am more than a hitter. I am a student of the game. Before, I was acting off instinct. Now I know the formations, I know the plays from watching film, and I am picking it apart.”
A minute ago, you mentioned your coverage as an improvement, where all are you showing the biggest improvements in your overall game?
“My biggest area of improvement is my cover skills and playing one-on-one. As mentioned, I am picking apart the game because I am studying so much film. Every week I am spending five to four hours watching film. Like my coach says, it is a cheat code for the game. When you get in the game after studying film, you do less thinking and more reacting. You can just go.”
Of all the positions, which is your favorite?
“My favorite position – outside linebacker is what I play, I love to play middle linebacker. You make all the tackles all day. The QB does not see you in pass coverage; you are making tackles and picking the ball off. I am good at outside linebacker but I love middle linebacker. I love playing strong safety. I love to walk down in the box, showing I can run with the fast guys. Strong safety might be my favorite.”
All players come across a challenge on the field in each season, what was the biggest challenge for you this year on the field?
“The first game I started (Serra), their offensive tackle was around 6-7 and about 340 pounds. I am playing standup end against him. I had to implement moves and power to get past him. Their quarterback, Doug Brumfield (UNLV), knows how to step up and run. I had to contain him against the run and not just use my speed to put pressure on him. Every tackle I have gone against this season has been at least 6-2 300-pounds. I learned to use strength to push them back, long arm them. Against Orange Lutheran, I had a pulling guard coming at me a lot; I put him on his ass.”
Of all the games, which has been your best?
“My best game was probably the Lakewood game. That was two games ago. I felt like everything was clicking. I watched a lot of film on them. They had a good offense. I contained their QB and running back at the same time. I walked out on a 6-3 receiver and I did not let him catch anything on me. They were pulling guards and shooting the gap. It was an amazing game given all the different things I did.”
With recruiting, you have an offer from Northern Arizona; which schools are showing interest?
“There are a bunch of schools showing interest, Colorado, Fresno State, Howard, Harvard, Yale, San Diego State, San Jose State, and Sac State.”
This fall, have you taken any visits?
“Yes. Last week I went on an unofficial to USC for a game day visit. On Saturday, I went to the San Diego State game day. I have been there twice for games now.”
Tell me about the USC visit.
“The USC visit went great. During my game visit, some of the coaches talked to me including their linebackers’ coach. They invited me back for a private campus tour after that. The game atmosphere was great. Their fans were involved in the game. There is so much history there. My dad grew up across from USC. When we were there, he was telling me about his experiences as a kid in that neighborhood. It was like I am seeing it through his eyes.”
Nice. And the San Diego State trip, how did that go?
“Excellent. They welcomed me with open arms. Their stadium is beautiful and their fans are involved in the game too. The fans were saying “you are the future of our school” and were inviting me to meet their kids and eat with them. I talked to their coaches during the visit and I talked to them about their weight program. They said, once I get there, they will get me up to 225 pounds over time. They told me I could play as a true freshman. At SDSU, they have a family atmosphere. I have good friends on the team. Their starting linebacker Kyahva Tezino and receiver Kobe Smith, I played with him at Serra. There are people I know there; they have talked well about the school.”
Are there anymore visits planned?
“Fresno State is a visit coming up, but I am not sure when. I plan on visiting Northern Arizona, La Verne, Azusa Pacific, and San Jose State after the season.”
Going into the classroom; what is your cumulative GPA?
“3.2.”
What did you score on the SAT?
“1130.”
Today, I am catching you after you have come home from work, which I admire greatly. Where are you working?
“At Food 4 Less.”
How many hours a week are you working?
“With football, I do not have that much extra time. I go to school early during the week and I workout on the field before school, then class at 7:45. We have blocked schedule, I lift before practice and then we practice. My job is in another city; I can’t get there quickly. I work on the weekends. I work eight hours a day, about 16 hours a week.”
Outstanding. What is your position at Food 4 Less?
“I am a utility clerk. I do everything in the store they need. I stock and put away go-backs. I am not a cashier. I am 16-years-old, I cannot run the register.”
Back to football. The team has been kicking butt getting a seventh consecutive victory topping OLU in the playoffs. How did the team look?
“We looked pretty solid. That was our best week of practice so far. We went out to do our chant, it shook the entire school. They could feel it in the stands. OLU is a Trinity league school, we wanted to chop the giant down. We want to bring Poly back to its glory. We have some things to fix for the next game. We cannot be complacent because we won. We got to look at Rancho Cucamonga now.”
You guys get an athletic and talented Rancho Cucamonga team next. What are you expecting from the Cougars?
“They have the No. 2 (2020) pro-style QB (CJ Stroud). I am expecting a lot of passing, not a crazy run game. We can match that energy. They have athletes at receiver and they pass well. We have to force them to run the ball and shutdown their passing game.”
Marcelle, it was great speaking with you today covering ground on your recruitment and season. Wishing you and the team success against Rancho.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Long Beach Poly HS/Logan family; Marcelle Logan
This Dude been a baller he gone go crazy when he get to college watch.