2008 Marshall Thundering Herd football preview

Marshall Thundering Herd

2007 Record: (3-9, 3-5 C-USA)
Coach: Mark Snyder (12-23 at Marshall, 12-23 overall)

Starters Returning: 21* (9 offense, 12 defense, 0 specialist)

Offensive Starters Lost: OL John Inman, OL Doug Legursky, QB Bernard Morris, TE Brian Shope.

Offensive Starters Returning: OL Daniel Baldridge, OL Josh Evans, OL Brian Leggett, RB Darius Marshall, WR Darius Passmore, WR Emmanuel Spann, TE Cody Slate, WR E.J. Wynn.

Defensive Starters Lost: LB Josh Johnson, DT Byron Tinker, DT Ryland Wilson.

Defensive Starters Returning: DT #58 James Burkes, SS Ashton Hall, LB Mario Harvey, SLB Ian Hoskins, DE John Jacobs, CB J.J. Johnson, LB Maurice Kitchens, CB Zearrick Matthews, DT Shane Moore, SS John Saunders, FS C.J. Spillman.

Starting Specialists Lost: P-K Anthony Binswanger

Starting Specialists Returning: none

* Started a minimum of 5 games in 2007

2008 Marshall Football Overview

Marshall University’s welcomed home one of its own when Mark Snyder took over as the Thundering Herd’s 28th head football coach in 2005. Snyder was an all-conference defensive back for the Herd back in the late 80’s when Marshall was one of college football’s winningest programs.

Unfortunately, the program Snyder inherited from his predecessor Bob Pruett barely compares to the one that achieved so much success in the Mid-American Conference. That's been reflected in records of 4-7, 5-7 and 3-9 in Snyder's first three seasons on the job. He and his coaches have spent considerable time and effort trying to rebuild the numbers.

Yet, as Marshall emerges from its third straight losing season, there is actually good reason for optimism. Most of the team's top tacklers, receivers and scorers return for 2008. The cupboards are with experienced players on both sides of the ball.

The biggest question will be who will replace departed QB Bernard Morris. Snyder also added two new coordinators to his staff.

John Shannon has arrived from Toledo, where he served as the Rocket’s offensive coordinator over the last three seasons after coaching the wide receivers in his first two years there. The Rockets had great success under Shannon’s tutelage. In four of his five seasons at Toledo, his unit ranked in the top 21 in the nation in total offense, including two years ranking 11th overall.

Former Notre dame defensive coordinator Rick Minter has resurfaced in the same capacity at Marshall. His 2005 unit produced 24 turnovers contributing to Notre Dame’s plus-10 turnover margin that year. Herd fans will also likely remember Minter from his decade as the head coach at Cincinnati. During 10 seasons as head coach at Cincinnati, Minter led the Bearcats to four postseason bowl games and was the winningest coach in the program’s history.

2008 Marshall Offense:

On offense, Marshall will have to fill only two real holes – quarterback and center. However, neither will be easy to fill. Morris quietly posted an effective senior season (3,149 yards, 17 touchdowns, 63.6% completion rate) while departing center Doug Legursky was a three-time C-USA selection.

Brian Leggett started the last two seasons at right guard and will try to fill Legursky's vacated center spot. Josh Evans stays at left guard after starting every game there in 2007. Buck Baldridge started most games at right tackle, but will be pushed this spring by freshman Branden Curry. Curry's classmate, C.J. Wood, will likely fill Leggett's vacated guard position while Brandon Campbell should man the left tackle spot after gaining three starts there last year.

Of the leading QB candidates, Brian Anderson played some last season, but was only 12-28 with 3 interceptions. Look for Georgia Tech transfer Jonathan Garner or redshirt freshman Mark Cann, both southpaws, to take over for Morris. However, it would not be surprising to see packages created to take advantage of the mobility of redshirt freshman Chris Smith.

Sophomore Darius Marshall was the Herd's leading rusher in 2007 (123 carries -631 yards, five touchdowns). He will be joined by Kelvin Turner and Terrell Edwards. JoJo Cox, a former Clemson recruit, is very talented and should join the fray this August.

Marshall also has a talented receiving corp. TE Cody Slate has been the team's leading receiver for two years and increased his numbers in 2007 from 43 to 66 catches and from 684 to 818 yards.

The three receivers behind Slate in the team standings all return, including big-play threat Darius Passmore (6-3, 180). Passmore proved himself a warrior last season by gutting it out for nine weeks of playing time following a partial tear of a knee meniscus during West Virginia in Week Two.

Emanuel Spann and E.J. Wynn are small-bodied players who were effective in space and combined for 56 catches and 750 yards. However, Spann and Wynn could find their playing time challenged in 2008 by one of three speedy newcomers, including junior college transfer O.J. Murdock (a four-star according to Rivals.com who originally signed with South Carolina out of college) and Laney College-transfer Chuck Walker (5-10, 185), who each claim to cover 40 yards in 4.4 seconds or less. 

2008 Marshall Defense:

Minter inherits an experienced unit, but much will depend on the health of DE Albert McClellan, DT Montel Glasco and the continued development of young players such as DLs Michael Janac, Shane Moore and Johnny Jones, LBs Mario Harvey, Kellen Harris and Corey Hart, and CBs T.J. Drakeford and DeQuan Bembry.

Nine defensive backs return with starting experience, including outstanding free-safety C.J. Spillman and Ashton Hall, who switched from cornerback to safety this winter. Like Hall, former tailback Chubb Small also made the offseason switch to safety.

2008 Marshall Special Teams

WR Emmanuel Spann and RB Darius Marshall are among C-USA's best returners. Marshall must replace departed senior kicker and punter Anthony Binswanger but Craig Rantanamorn, a goalkeeper for Marshall's soccer team, kicked well in the spring. Incoming freshman Kase Whitehead could be the answer at punter.

2008 Marshall Analysis & Outlook

This is Snyder’s fourth year at the helm, long enough to put his stamp on the program. With several solid recruiting classes in the fold and an experienced coaching staff on board, Marshall is poised to resume its winning tradition.

“I think we're more athletic. We've got numbers. And our team speed has improved," said Snyder. "There's reason for hope."

The Herd has never been shy about scheduling a tough non-conference slate and this year is no different. After opening at home with Illinois State, Marshall travels to Madison to play perennial Big 10 power Wisconsin. The Herd travel to Morgantown to play in-state rival West Virginia and will host Cincinnati.

Marshall could also be the dark horse in the C-USA East division race. They beat East Carolina last year and catch defending champion Central Florida at home this year.