"They are just quality young men," Montclair coach John Fiore said of the seniors. "Two leaders on our team. Two leaders in the hallway. Two leaders academically."
Marshall, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound weakside linebacker who will play strong safety at Temple, is academically ranked in the top 10 percent among approximately 600 classmates at Montclair. Ellis, a 6-2, 220-pound middle linebacker, is in the top 20 percent.
The two high-character players push each other in the classroom and weight room and on the field.
"This is like one of my brothers," Marshall said of Ellis, who lives two blocks away from his home. "We are going to continue to push each other."
Playing together on the next level had been a dream for some time.
"We were joking around," Ellis said. "But we never thought it would come to this point."
The jokes turned into a serious conversation during the drive back from Temple's one-day camp June 23.
The two compared notes and kept talking about the benefits of becoming Owls.
"Of course, they asked me my opinion," Fiore said. "I told them it was a no-brainer. Temple is a great university. You are getting a great college education. You are playing for some great men" on Temple's coaching staff.
Ellis orally committed to Temple on June 28, two days after taking an unofficial visit with his parents to the Broad Street campus. Then, on June 29, Marshall gave his oral commitment without even taking an unofficial visit.
Despite his size, Marshall routinely used his speed and unmatched intensity to finish with a team-leading 118 tackles.
