Marshon Lattimore

Marshon Lattimore's Biography

Marshon Demond Lattimore was born on May 20, 1996, and emerged as a dynamic player in American football. He was selected to play for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) as a cornerback, a much-coveted position in football. He is best known for his agility, skills and an uncanny ability to predict the opposition’s moves.

Marshon’s journey in football began at Cleveland’s Glenville High School, where he notably played both as a cornerback and wide receiver. His senior year marked a milestone when he notably ended up as one of six finalists for the mighty U.S. Army Player of the Year Award. This recognition further solidified his stature as a promising player. Recognized as a four-star recruit, Lattimore made a significant commitment to Ohio State University, where he was eager to play college football and display his talents on a grander stage.

However, his initial run at Ohio State saw him redshirting in his first year, 2014. Due to a series of unfortunate hamstring injuries, Lattimore could only participate in seven games during his redshirt freshman year in 2015. Despite initial setbacks, Marshon returned stronger in 2016, fully recovering from his injuries and securing a position as a starter. Testament to his inspirational comeback was his selection as the First-team All-Big Ten Conference by the coaches on November 29, 2016.

As Lattimore prepared to graduate from Ohio State, he was projected as a first-round pick by most NFL experts and analysts. Despite this promising projection, he opted out of the shuttle and bench press exercises during the NFL Combine. Going ahead further, at Ohio State’s Pro Day, Lattimore decided to perform only positional drills for the representatives and scouts present.

Although his history of hamstring injuries and limited starting experience led to apprehensions, Marshon’s potential did not go unnoticed. Multiple sports outlets and NFL analysts ranked him as the top cornerback prospect in the draft. The New Orleans Saints selected Lattimore in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft, making him the first of five cornerbacks picked in the first round that year.

Despite initially expecting to take Lattimore’s progress slowly, the Saints’ Head Coach Sean Payton eventually named him as the third cornerback after Delvin Breaux sustained a fractured fibula. Lattimore’s career kicked off with two regular-season games, opening to remarkable performances. However, his journey was again hampered by a concussion. However, this did not deter him from becoming the starting cornerback prior to Week 4.

Marshon’s performance peaked towards the end of 2017. He was named the National Football Conference (NFC) Defensive Rookie of the Month in October 2017, and in December the same year, he was selected to play in the 2018 Pro Bowl. Despite missing Weeks 12-13 due to an ankle sprain, Lattimore finished his rookie year with a commendable score sheet.

Lattimore played an instrumental role in the Saints finishing first in the NFC South with an 11-5 record. Playing his first NFL playoff game on January 7, 2018, Marshon’s performance played a critical role in the Saints’ 31-26 NFC Wild Card round victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Even though the Saints lost their first match of the new season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Lattimore bounced back strongly in the subsequent games. During the 11th week against the Philadelphia Eagles, he made his first interception of the season. Lattimore concluded his second professional season with impressive stats, ranking 20th among all qualifying cornerbacks.

The end of his second professional season saw Lattimore recording two interceptions against the Eagles in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Despite a controversial loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game, Marshon’s performance throughout the season remained consistently high.

Marshon’s third season saw the Saints again finish atop the NFC South with a 13-3 record. However, major upsets during the season included a 48-40 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But Lattimore’s unwavering spirit kept him and the team going.

His performance in Week 5 against the Washington earned him the prestigious title of NFC Defensive Player of the Week. But he faced hiccups in between. During Week 2 against the Buccaneers, he was ejected after a scuffle. Later, in Week 5, Lattimore suffered a lacerated kidney.

Amidst struggling with injuries and setbacks, Marshon signed a contract extension worth $97.6 million for five years with the Saints on September 12, 2021. However, on November 25, 2023, he was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury during Week 10.

Apart from his successful football career, Marshon Lattimore had a run-in with the law as well. He was arrested on March 25, 2021, for possession of a loaded handgun believed to be stolen, leading to felony charges. Despite these ups and downs, Marshon Lattimore’s legacy in American football continues its journey, shaping up a promising career for the Ohio State Buckeyes star.