Herd roster takes shape

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Monday, August, 27, 2007

-- Football game week has arrived, and Marshall University's two-deep roster has taken shape.

It's an interesting mix of veterans and underclassmen. Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder will unveil the official depth chart on Wednesday, but rotations at several positions appear settled.Following are featured positions as Marshall prepares for Saturday's season opener at Miami. Kickoff at the Orange Bowl is noon and ESPNU will televise the game.

QUARTERBACK: Bernard Morris' experience and steady play almost certainly will earn a starting spot against the Hurricanes, but redshirt freshman Brian Anderson remains a factor. Anderson shared first team snaps throughout preseason practice and could earn playing time early.

RUNNING BACK: This is among the many "or" positions. Junior Chubb Small or true freshman Darius Marshall will start on Saturday. More to the point, both will help complement what should be a much improved passing game.

Marshall impressed early during camp, supplanting Small on the first team.

Small finished strong, however, providing Snyder with options, including junior Kelvin Turner.

"I think Chubb will start and hopefully I can contribute," Marshall said.

"We understand that we're a team and we have to be together as a unit."

WIDE RECEIVER: This will be a group to watch early with downfield threats Darius Passmore and Courtney Edmonson joining veteran Emmanuel Spann.

Seniors Marcus Fitzgerald and Shawn Lauzon, junior E.J. Wynn and sophomore Tavaris Thompson provide a wealth of depth for offensive coordinator Larry Kueck.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Left guard is another "or" spot, with redshirt freshman Josh Evans and two-year starter David Ziegler sharing time.

For the first time since early August, Marshall's starting front of tackles John Inman and Daniel Baldridge, guards Evans and Brian Leggett and center Doug Legursky will line up together this week.

True freshman Branden Curry already is praised as an imposing pass blocker and redshirt freshmen Brandon Campbell and Chad Schofield earned quality reps during camp.

TIGHT END: There's no wrong answer here. Freshman All-American Cody Slate led the Herd in every meaningful receiving category last season, and Tennessee transfer Lee Smith is a 6-foot-6 athletic pass-catcher with considerable upside.

Senior Brian Shope has delivered the most impressive camp, however. Known almost primarily as a blocker, Shope has caught virtually everything thrown in his direction. Defenses can't assume run plays when No. 13 enters.

DEFENSIVE LINE: A pair of hits was suffered this month, but the front four is holding up.

The loss of Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Albert McClellan (knee injury) can't be understated, but Michael Janac has responded.

Coaches were tempted to pull his redshirt last season; now the 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive end will start opposite bookend John Jacobs.

Naming "starters" at defensive tackle likely will be a matter of semantics.

Seniors Byron Tinker and Ryland Wilson return as starters, but junior college transfer Montel Glasco and true freshman Shane Moore have impressed coaches. Regardless, Marshall will rotate freely at this position.

LINEBACKERS: The best Thundering Herd player no one is talking about is steered toward a breakout season. Middle linebacker Josh Johnson is an everydown defender flanked by active outside linebackers Ian Hoskins and Maurice Kitchens.

Marshall will mix and match defensive looks this season, occasionally placing Hoskins in a three-point stance and switching Kitchens from the weak side to strong side.

Sophomores Antawn Booker and Mario Harvey will be included in varied formations, along with redshirt freshman Howard King.

SECONDARY: Question marks abound in the defensive backfield. Zearrick Matthews (broken arm) is out until mid-September, leaving returning starter J.J. Johnson and sophomore Ashton Hall to shoulder first team loads with uncertain backups.

As many as five safeties are competing for starting duties, headed by returning starter C.J. Spillman.

Snyder will unveil his official depth chart on Wednesday.

But as is the case with everything football, that also will be subject to change.

 

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UM freshmen likely to play in opener

The Hurricanes have a highly touted group of first-year players, and coach Randy Shannon indicated several will be getting playing time.


Wide receiver Leonard Hankerson trudged off the Hurricanes' Greentree Field after a recent practice drenched in sweat and so winded he stopped at a bench near the field to sit.

Hankerson, one of the University of Miami's prized freshmen, might not have much longer to catch his breath. When UM opens the season Saturday against Marshall at the Orange Bowl, several freshman are expected to play.

Coach Randy Shannon said Sunday he believes about six or seven true freshmen ''are going to have to play this year,'' not counting redshirt freshmen.

''You don't want freshmen to start now,'' Shannon said. ``Last year [in some games] we had five freshmen starting and it showed. We want guys that can contribute in certain situations, and if we could get every freshman that comes in and plays this year to play about 25 plays a game, we're going to be way ahead of schedule.''

True freshmen projected to play include Hankerson, running back Graig Cooper, guard Orlando Franklin, cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke, and safeties Joseph Nicolas and Jared Campbell.

''They're real important,'' said junior defensive end Calais Campbell, the older brother of Jared.

``Right now we have a lot of guys that want to step up and be big-time players for us.''

The freshmen are considered a highly touted group. Consider:

? Cooper, Mr. Football Tennessee as a senior in 2005, rushed for 1,327 yards and 15 touchdowns last year in eight games at Milford Prep. He averaged 12.5 yards per carry.

? Van Dyke, who chose UM over Florida, had 56 tackles and seven interceptions as a senior at Miami's Pace High last season.

? Hankerson, of Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, averaged more than 20 yards per catch his junior and senior seasons. As a senior he had 39 receptions for 803 yards and 14 touchdowns.

? Nicolas, who starred at Homestead High as a wide receiver and safety, was ranked the No. 18 player in the state of Florida by Scout.com

? Franklin, a product of Delray Beach Atlantic High, is 6-7, 320 pounds, and is ''as physical as anybody I'm coaching,'' UM offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland said.

Franklin, Cooper and Van Dyke are getting rave reviews from teammates.

Offensive tackle Jason Fox said Franklin needs to master his technique but could make an immediate impact.

''That kid is unbelievable,'' Fox said. ``He's so strong, so athletic.''

Several players praised Cooper's speed and Van Dyke's comfort playing with the first team.

Van Dyke said making his debut against Marshall would give him valuable experience and perhaps earn him playing time for big games, such as UM's second game at Oklahoma.

''I think it will help to get out there right away because after that first game you don't want to be nervous,'' Hankerson said.

Fox, who started 12 games last year as a true freshman, splitting time at left and right tackle, recalled running through the smoke at the Orange Bowl before the season opener against Florida State and feeling ''scared'' and overwhelmed by the moment.

Chavez Grant, who started five games last season and played special teams and primarily in the nickel package, said getting experience early helped accelerate his development.

He said some freshmen have sought his advice about his emotions before his collegiate debut and how he dealt with making mistakes.

''You're real nervous,'' Grant said, ``but you feel like you've made it.''

 

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Picking the starters

UM coach Randy Shannon will unveil his starting lineup tomorrow, along with the answer to the quarterback riddle that has plagued this team for far too long. Today, I'm going to take my shot at filling the starting spots, but would like to see who you think will start and why too. I'll start with defense.

Defensive line: At ends, Calais Campbell and Eric Moncur and at tackle Teraz McCray and Josh Holmes. Campbell and Moncur are easy choices. From what I learned from speaking to Coach Clint Hurtt last week, expect to see Courtney Harris in a lot on third downs. Hurtt told me he could be the best pure pass rusher. At tackle, McCray is the most experienced and simply has to be on the field. Holmes earned himself a lot of praise the fall and will get the job because he outworked Antonio Dixon. Still, I think Dixon will be the guy that eventually emerges with the majority of playing time as the season progresses. He's the biggest guy UM has in the middle.

Linebacker: I'm sticking with Colin McCarthy, Tavares Gooden and Daryl Sharpton. I was tempted to go with junior Spencer Adkins in place of Gooden, but I think Michael Barrow is going to give Gooden a chance to keep his spot. He's the most experienced player of the group with the most career starts. Adkins is still going to play a lot anyway. Sharpton is going to have the best season in my opinion and should probably lead the team in tackles.

Secondary: Kenny Phillips and Lovon Ponder at safety and Randy Phillips and Carlos Armour at corner. Chavez Grant is locked in at nickle back. The only tough decision was who starts opposite Randy Phillips at corner. But Armour has remained healthy enough this fall to prove his value. But as soon as Phillips or Armour tweaks something, freshmen DeMarcus Van Dyke is the first guy in. I asked coach Wesley McGriff how a guy as thin as Van Dyke (6-1, 170) has managed to earn the respect of his coaches and teammates. His response: "He's fast. But he's also physical." Physical, I asked? "On the surface it might not look like it, but he mixes it up in bump and coverage and he isn't afraid of anyone. He throws his bones at them."

Kicking: Daren Daly will likely get the nod on field goal attempts. Francisco Zampogna, who has the stronger leg, will handle kickoffs.

Punting: Matt Bosher. He's basically owned this spot since the spring. The sad part of the story is that he wasn't supposed to be doing this. He was supposed to be one of the best placekickers in the country when Miami signed him.

Returns -- Kickoffs: Richard Gordon and Ryan Hill. I can't wait to see what happens when Gordon actually gets the ball in his hands in a game. He's been the talk of the fall camp and I think he makes a big splash in the return game.
Punts: Tough one to decide considering how many guys have worked into the spot in the spring, but I think this is where Van Dyke gets to make his splash. Graig Cooper could end up getting the job in the future. But he's muffed a few punts in practice and I don't think until he gets over that will he be given a chance to handle these kicks.

Offensive line: I think the Canes end up going with the best five -- Jason Fox at left tackle, Orlando Franklin at left guard, Derrick Morse at center, Andrew Bain at right guard and Reggie Youngblood at right tackle. Much has been made of the battle at center, but coach Jeff Stoutland is the type of guy who has said he wants his best unit on the field at all times. It's pretty safe to say those are his best five guys. A.J. Trump or John Rochford could be given a chance to start at center and if they are, Morse moves back to right guard and Bain back to left guard.

Tight end/H-Back: Dajleon Farr. The fact Kylan Robinson was moved to defense tells me any blocking done in the backfield is going to be done by UM's tight ends. Farr did the best in the spring and is the more experienced player in this unit. Don't be surprised, though, if by the end of the season Richard Gordon is making more plays.

Receivers: Sam Shields, Lance Leggett and Darnell Jenkins in the slot. Pretty easy decision considering those are clearly the top three. I expect Jenkins to have a breakout season, kind of the way Sinorice Moss did a few years ago.

Running back: Javarris James. He'll get the first carry of the season, but will split a lot of time in the backfield with Graig Cooper, who will likely catch more balls out of the backfield than any one on the team. Derron Thomas is the third option and might stay there. Charlie Jones and his injured foot might never see the field again.

Quarterback: Kyle Wright. As much as I think Kirby Freeman deserves the starting nod for the long-term benefit of the team -- he is the younger guy who could start for two years -- I think Wright will be given a chance to keep his job. He and Freeman supposedly have not been able to separate from one another in competition. Had Freeman clearly dominated him, I'd say Randy would give him the job. But he hasn't.