July 25, 2007
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Marshall University has shown signs of improvement in each of the last two seasons under head coach Mark Snyder and 2007 offers the potential for further growth as the Thundering Herd welcomes back a solid corps of veterans from last season's 5-7 squad that won four of its last six games.
Marshall's offense features plenty of veterans and talent despite the early departure of NFL draft pick Ahmad Bradshaw. Last season, the Herd relied heavily on the talented junior running back who rushed for 1,523 yards and 21 touchdowns en route to earning first-team All-Conference USA honors.
The Thundering Herd offense returns eight starters including one of the nation's top centers in senior Doug Legursky, an explosive tight end in sophomore Cody Slate, a senior quarterback in Bernard Morris and a veteran corps of wide receivers. With these fixtures in place, Marshall's offense has the potential to be a force in 2007.
Running Back
Without Bradshaw in the backfield, Marshall will look to juniors Chubb Small (5-9, 193) and Kelvin Turner (5-10, 190) to compete for the starting nod. Small saw limited action in a reserve role last season, carrying the ball 42 times for 193 yards and a touchdown. In 2005, as a freshman Small earned Turner saw limited action early on rushing for 17 yards on only five carries in spot duty and he missed most of spring camp with an injury. Marshall also welcomes in freshmen Terrell Edwards (6-2, 205) and Darius Marshall (5-10, 188).
Offensive Line
Doug Legursky (6-3, 311) is a three-year starter and multiple award candidate that anchors an offensive line that returns veterans at both guard spots with senior David Ziegler (6-5, 296) and junior Brian Leggett (6-1, 285). However, Marshall must replace both starting tackles from 2006. Senior John Inman (6-5, 302), who saw extensive action last season at both guard and tackle, is expected to take over at left tackle, while Daniel Baldridge (6-9, 315) appears to be in line for starting duties at right tackle. Redshirt-freshman Josh Evans (6-4, 315), junior Matt Altobello (6-1, 306) and redshirt-freshman Brandon Campbell (6-5, 305) will also push for playing time and add depth up front, while a strong group of incoming freshmen will further solidify the line.
Quarterback
Senior Bernard Morris (6-4, 211), a two-year starter, returns under center. Last season, Morris completed 116-of-188 passes for 1,346 yards (61.7%) and eight touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Morris also adds a strong running threat to the Marshall attack and with Bradshaw's departure is the team's top returning rusher. The Orlando native rushed for 324 yards on 82 yards and two touchdowns in 2006. The Thundering Herd lost seniors Jimmy Skinner and Derek Devine who accounted for 40% of Marshall's passing attack a year ago, however redshirt-freshman Brian Anderson (6-3, 190) had a strong spring and appears ready to step in if needed. Sophomore Wesley Beardain (6-1, 200) will also be in the mix for playing time. Marshall also signed an impressive duo in freshmen Chris Smith (6-3, 220) and Mark Cann (6-4, 210) that could make an early impact.
Tight End
Marshall boasts one of the deepest groups of tight ends in the nation with sophomore Cody Slate, senior Brian Shope and redshirt-freshman Lee Smith. Slate has the rare combination of size, speed and hands, while Shope is a tremendous blocker and a pass catching threat in his own right. The imposing Lee (6-6, 245) was a highly touted prospect out of high school that transferred to Marshall from the University of Tennessee last season.
Slate (6-4, 212), a Mackey Award candidate, led Marshall and all C-USA tight ends with 43 catches for 684 yards and six touchdown receptions a year ago en route to all-conference and Sports News Freshman All-America honors. He is the first Marshall freshman to lead the Herd in receiving since Randy Moss did so in 1996. Shope started 11 of Marshall's 12 games last year for Marshall and added eight catches for 150 yards.
Receiver
The Thundering Herd welcomes back a veteran group of receivers in 2007. Seniors Shawn Lauzon (6-6, 205) and Marcus Fitzgerald (5-10, 202) return along with, junior Emmanuel Spann (5-11, 179) and sophomore Courtney Edmonson (6-0, 175).
Lauzon, suffered a hip injury last season that caused him to miss most of his junior season. He has 33 career catches for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Fitzgerald has 744 yards and three touchdowns in his career, while Spann (a third-team All C-USA pick as a punt returner last season) adds 616 career receiving yards and three scores. Edmonson finished his freshman campaign with five catches for 104 yards that included a 42-yard touchdown against UTEP.
This group should benefit from the addition of junior college transfer Darius Passmore (6-3, 180) who had a strong spring and has emerged as a potential deep threat. In addition, junior E.J. Wynn (5-11, 160) and newcomer Tavarius Thompson (6-2, 170) should see time.
The Defense
In January, Snyder tabbed veteran defensive coordinator Steve Dunlap to oversee the Thundering Herd defense. Dunlap, a Hurricane, W.Va., native and former Broyles Award finalist, brings a wealth of experience to Huntington after stints at N.C. State, Syracuse and West Virginia. Dunlap inherits a defense that returns one of the nation's top defensive ends in 2006 C-USA Defensive player of the year Albert McClellan and seven starters.
Defensive Line
McClellan is an exceptional pass rusher who led C-USA and ranked among the national leaders with 19 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks as a sophomore. The 6-2 junior increased his weight from 225 to 245 in the off season and has not lost a step and gives Marshall a valuable weapon on the defensive side of the ball.
Senior lineman Byron Tinker (6-4, 281) is the only other returning starter up front. Marshall will look to redshirt-freshman Michael Janac (6-4, 250) and sophomore John Jacobs (6-3, 240) to fill in at defensive end, with senior Ryland Wilson (6-3, 270), Bilal El-Amin (6-3, 250) and junior college transfer Montel Glasco (6-3. 279) battling for playing time up front with a strong group of incoming freshmen.
Linebacker
Junior Josh Johnson returns at middle linebacker after a strong 2006 season that saw him earn honorable mention all-conference honors from the C-USA coaches. The 6-2, 250 standout recorded 72 tackles last season and is joined by returning starter Ian Hoskins (6-2, 245) at strong-side linebacker. Hoskins recorded 27 tackles last season in the season's first 10 games, before suffering a season-ending leg injury at East Carolina. He is now fully recovered.
Junior Maurice Kitchens (6-3, 230) played the weak-side position in the spring after seeing action in 10 games as a reserve last season. Howard King, Mahala Wiggns, Daniel Wells, and converted fullback Will Albin will provide depth, along with a talented incoming recruiting class.
Defensive Back
Marshall returns both of its starting corners and its free safety from a year ago, but will have to replace all-conference performer Curtis Keyes at strong safety. Sophomore John Moravec (6-0, 195) and senior Phillip Gamble (5-11, 217) battled in the spring for the starting spot and Gamble holds a slight edge heading into August. Junior C.J. Spillman (6-0, 193), who started in nine games last season and is the Herd's leading returning tackler with 79 stops, is at free safety. Also expect to see sophomore John Saunders (6-0, 192) push for playing time.
Marshall ranked 114th in pass defense nationally last season, and a big part of that was inexperience at the corners. Marshall returns both sophomore Zearrick Matthews (5-9, 165), who went on to earn C-USA All-Freshman honors last season with 43 tackles, an interception and four forced fumbles to his credit, and junior J.J. Johnson (5-11, 180) who recorded 66 tackles and two interceptions. Also returning at corner is sophomore Ashton Hall (5-10, 183). Incoming freshman DeQuan Bembry (5-10, 185) is a two-time all-state selection in Georgia that could make an impact.
Special Teams
Senior placekicker Anthony Binswanger returns along with punter Marty Biagi. Biagi did not play last season behind departed senior Ian O'Connor, however he was the starting punter for the Herd in 2005 when he earned C-USA All-Freshman honors after averaging 38.4 yards per kick.
Binswanger connected on 5-of-13 field goal attempts last season with a long of 50 and was 36-of-40 on his point after attempts.
Marshall has multiple options to choose from on kick and punt returns, but the best known option is junior Emmanuel Spann was one of C-USA's top punt returners a year ago with 12 returns for 144 yards.
The Schedule
The 2007 edition of the Thundering Herd will have its hands full with a strong non-conference schedule and an equally difficult conference slate. Marshall is scheduled to face nine teams that advanced to the postseason last year.
Marshall opens the season in the Orange Bowl against ACC-member Miami and returns home to face Big East power West Virginia the following week. Marshall also hosts FCS national semi-finalist New Hampshire and travels to Big East member Cincinnati before opening conference play on the road at Memphis.
Marshall will face ever single C-USA school that advanced to a bowl last year. The Herd is at Tulsa and at Houston and will host Southern Miss, Rice, and East Carolina. Marshall closes the regular season out at home against UAB.
