Marshal Yanda attended Anamosa High School in Anamosa, Iowa where he was a three-sport athlete as a member of the football, basketball, and track and field teams. Marshal threw shot put and discus on the track and field team. He played offensive and defensive tackle on the football team, earning all-conference honors in both his junior and senior seasons. He served as team captain his senior year. Marshal went on to North Iowa Community College in Mason City, Iowa where he would play for two seasons. He played guard and tackle, earning all-region honors both seasons. He was named honorable mention all-American as a sophomore. He transferred to the University of Iowa where he immediately earned a starting position at left guard. He started at right tackle the final four games of the season including the Outback Bowl against Florida. As a senior, Marshal began the season at right tackle before making a midseason move to left tackle. He was named second team all-Big Ten at the conclusion of his senior season.

Marshal Yanda is a versatile player who has started a left guard, right tackle, and left tackle for the Hawkeyes over the past two seasons. Yanda is a great run blocker who displays solid technique and does a good job of getting leverage on his opponents. He has the ability to get to the second level and he blocks well on the move. He’s a physical player who almost always finishes his blocks. He sets up quickly in pass protection and is a good pass blocker when lined up at the guard position. Yanda lacks ideal strength and will get pushed around by bigger, stronger defensive linemen. He needs to bulk up and increase his strength but he does have the frame in which to do so. Marshal Yanda has only two years of division I experience under his belt, having spent is first two seasons at a community college. He spent the majority of his two seasons at Iowa playing tackle, a position he is unlikely to play at the professional level. He projects better as a guard in the NFL. He does have some upside and should be a first day pick in the 2007 NFL draft.