MARSHALL SNEAK PEEK
August 28, 2011 08:54 PM | General
Here are some things you need to know about West Virginia’s season-opening opponent Marshall …
Starting at quarterback: A.J. Graham or Rakeem Cato, or, Rakeem Cato or A.J. Graham
As of late last week, Marshall coach Doc Holliday had not revealed a starting quarterback for the opener at West Virginia, but several Herd beat writers believe Cato, a freshman, might have a slight edge over the sophomore Graham, who appeared in two games last year before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.
In Marshall’s most recent scrimmage, Cato led the offense to three red-zone scores and took all of the reps with the ones. The 6-foot-1, 181-pounder from Miami Central High has outstanding elusiveness, and reportedly throws a very catchable ball. He completed 10-of-16 passes for 132 yards and also gained 25 yards on the ground in Marshall’s most recent scrimmage.
Earlier in camp, Graham was working with the ones, and he went 8 for 10 for 73 yards in Marshall’s last tune up while splitting time with freshman Blake Frohnapfel.
Curry anchors a veteran defense
Preseason Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Vinny Curry leads a Marshall defense that finished fourth in the league last year in total defense and has a number of key players returning. Curry is coming off a 12-sack, 18-TFL junior season in 2010, and joins free safety Omar Brown and linebacker Tyson Gale as defensive team captains.
Holliday has said he will rely on his defense in the early going until his young offense discovers its identity.
Tillman leads a young offense
Left tackle Ryan Tillman is one of three seniors on Marshall’s offensive line (right tackle C.J. Wood and guard John Bruhin are the others), while the Herd’s other two seniors on offense are both junior college imports (wide receivers Troy Evans and Wayne Bonner).
Tillman leads the offense with 34 career starts and was recently named one of four team captains.
Life without Lee Smith
Two hundred and seventy pound tight end Lee Smith was a matchup nightmare for Marshall opponents last year, but he has since moved on to the NFL. Smith’s replacements – C.J. Crawford, Gator Hoskins and true frosh Eric Frohnapfel - are in the 235-to-220-pound range and will likely be used more in the slot this year.
The Marshall offensive coaches have talked about using those three the way Cody Slate was utilized in 2009; Slate caught 10 passes for 102 yards in Marshall’s 24-7 loss to the Mountaineers in Morgantown.
Interestingly, Frohnapfel was a one-time WVU commit before switching to Marshall when Dana Holgorsen was brought in to change the Mountaineer offense.
Travon Van to debut for Marshall
Marshall fans are anxious to see freshman Travon Van make his college debut against West Virginia, teaming up with returning starter Tron Martinez in the backfield. Van originally signed with Florida out of high school but did not qualify academically and eventually ended up at Marshall, where he sat out last season. In 2008 at San Diego Helix High, Van accounted for more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage on offense and had seven interceptions on defense. He transferred to Milford (N.Y.) Academy for his senior year in 2009.
Receiver corps has talent
Holliday has said he would like to see his receiver corps become more consistent among a group that includes Aaron Dobson (he caught the 96-yard touchdown pass against West Virginia last year in Huntington), Wayne Bonner, Antavious Wilson and Troy Evans.
Beyond that, sophomore Jermaine Kelson, redshirt freshman Jazz King, sophomore Demetrius Evans, junior Andre Booker and true freshmen Tommy Shuler, Davonte Allen and Craig Wilkins have all been getting work during fall training camp. That’s 11 guys for four spots.
“There’s some talented guys there,” Holliday told the Huntington Herald-Dispatch earlier this month. “They have to become more consistent.”
Marshall playing with a chip on their shoulders
Being picked to finish fourth in Conference USA’s East Division is not sitting well with the Thundering Herd players. After starting the 2010 season 1-6 against an early slate that included games against Ohio State, West Virginia, Southern Miss, Central Florida and East Carolina, Marshall finished strong by winning four of its last five in Holliday’s first season guiding the Herd.
Nine of Marshall’s 11 defensive starters are returning for 2011.
This year, Marshall’s schedule is front heavy with its first six opponents all going to bowl games in 2010 – West Virginia, Southern Miss, Ohio, Virginia Tech, Louisville and UCF; only two of its remaining six foes were bowl eligible last season.
Starting at quarterback: A.J. Graham or Rakeem Cato, or, Rakeem Cato or A.J. Graham
As of late last week, Marshall coach Doc Holliday had not revealed a starting quarterback for the opener at West Virginia, but several Herd beat writers believe Cato, a freshman, might have a slight edge over the sophomore Graham, who appeared in two games last year before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.
In Marshall’s most recent scrimmage, Cato led the offense to three red-zone scores and took all of the reps with the ones. The 6-foot-1, 181-pounder from Miami Central High has outstanding elusiveness, and reportedly throws a very catchable ball. He completed 10-of-16 passes for 132 yards and also gained 25 yards on the ground in Marshall’s most recent scrimmage.
Earlier in camp, Graham was working with the ones, and he went 8 for 10 for 73 yards in Marshall’s last tune up while splitting time with freshman Blake Frohnapfel.
Curry anchors a veteran defense
Preseason Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Vinny Curry leads a Marshall defense that finished fourth in the league last year in total defense and has a number of key players returning. Curry is coming off a 12-sack, 18-TFL junior season in 2010, and joins free safety Omar Brown and linebacker Tyson Gale as defensive team captains.
Holliday has said he will rely on his defense in the early going until his young offense discovers its identity.
Tillman leads a young offense
Left tackle Ryan Tillman is one of three seniors on Marshall’s offensive line (right tackle C.J. Wood and guard John Bruhin are the others), while the Herd’s other two seniors on offense are both junior college imports (wide receivers Troy Evans and Wayne Bonner).
Tillman leads the offense with 34 career starts and was recently named one of four team captains.
Life without Lee Smith
Two hundred and seventy pound tight end Lee Smith was a matchup nightmare for Marshall opponents last year, but he has since moved on to the NFL. Smith’s replacements – C.J. Crawford, Gator Hoskins and true frosh Eric Frohnapfel - are in the 235-to-220-pound range and will likely be used more in the slot this year.
The Marshall offensive coaches have talked about using those three the way Cody Slate was utilized in 2009; Slate caught 10 passes for 102 yards in Marshall’s 24-7 loss to the Mountaineers in Morgantown.
Interestingly, Frohnapfel was a one-time WVU commit before switching to Marshall when Dana Holgorsen was brought in to change the Mountaineer offense.
Travon Van to debut for Marshall
Marshall fans are anxious to see freshman Travon Van make his college debut against West Virginia, teaming up with returning starter Tron Martinez in the backfield. Van originally signed with Florida out of high school but did not qualify academically and eventually ended up at Marshall, where he sat out last season. In 2008 at San Diego Helix High, Van accounted for more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage on offense and had seven interceptions on defense. He transferred to Milford (N.Y.) Academy for his senior year in 2009.
Receiver corps has talent
Holliday has said he would like to see his receiver corps become more consistent among a group that includes Aaron Dobson (he caught the 96-yard touchdown pass against West Virginia last year in Huntington), Wayne Bonner, Antavious Wilson and Troy Evans.
Beyond that, sophomore Jermaine Kelson, redshirt freshman Jazz King, sophomore Demetrius Evans, junior Andre Booker and true freshmen Tommy Shuler, Davonte Allen and Craig Wilkins have all been getting work during fall training camp. That’s 11 guys for four spots.
“There’s some talented guys there,” Holliday told the Huntington Herald-Dispatch earlier this month. “They have to become more consistent.”
Marshall playing with a chip on their shoulders
Being picked to finish fourth in Conference USA’s East Division is not sitting well with the Thundering Herd players. After starting the 2010 season 1-6 against an early slate that included games against Ohio State, West Virginia, Southern Miss, Central Florida and East Carolina, Marshall finished strong by winning four of its last five in Holliday’s first season guiding the Herd.
Nine of Marshall’s 11 defensive starters are returning for 2011.
This year, Marshall’s schedule is front heavy with its first six opponents all going to bowl games in 2010 – West Virginia, Southern Miss, Ohio, Virginia Tech, Louisville and UCF; only two of its remaining six foes were bowl eligible last season.
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