Marshall football coach Charles Huff looks on from the sideline as Marshall takes on Appalachian State during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina.
Marshall football coach Charles Huff looks on from the sideline as Marshall takes on Appalachian State during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina.
The old adage says, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œif you have two quarterbacks, you have none,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ but they didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t say anything about having three. Braylon Braxton or Stone Earle should start this game, but Cole Pennington is still in the mix. They each have unique skill sets and a portion of the offense tailored to those strengths, so whoever rolls out there will be in good position to succeed.
Stony Brook returns its leading rusher from 2023, Roland Dempster, but he gained just 408 yards on 93 carries and the Thundering Herd has a whole host of potential at the position, bringing back Ethan Payne and AJ Turner and adding N.C. State transfer Jordan Houston to the group.
With former Richmond star Jasiah Williams, who led the CAA with 82 catches in 2022, joining the group, the Seawolves have plenty of firepower at the position, whereas Marshall lost its top four pass-catchers from last season and is, by and large, unproven here.
The HerdÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s offensive line struggled at times last season and must replace three starters up front. The Seawolves have better size, and itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a group of mostly upperclassmen with three returning starters. Continuity gets the advantage here, but the HerdÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s line should be improved from 2023.
There are at least 10 capable bodies at the position for Marshall, with five returning from last year, along with five transfers. Mike Green is the clear leader for the Herd, but the Seawolves do have a pair of playmakers in Davon Bomar and Taylor Bolesta, who combined for four sacks and eight tackles for loss last year. This is the deepest MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s front seven has been in a few years, and that will go a long way.
There arenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t many career starts to show for the Marshall group here, but plenty of upside, with youngster Jaden Yates getting his chance to crack the starting lineup, as well as up-and-comer Landyn Watson, who has won the favor of the coaching staff this Fall. This position group will surprise some people despite key losses.
A healthy JJ Roberts and several other pieces who experienced the growing pains of last season, like Ahmere Foster and Jacobie Henderson, will help this group return stronger in 2024.
Clayton Taylor was voted as the preseason FCS punter of the year after averaging nearly 40 yards per kick in 2023, and Chance Knox gives the Seawolves a weapon to return both kickoffs and punts. Marshall took a big hit on special teams in the offseason and could have some growing pains, but does return kicker Rece Verhoff and has high hopes for Alec Clark as the punter.
These teams resemble each other in many ways: new staff members, plenty of new players and a season that starts with plenty of optimism for 2024. I expect the first quarter to be close as both get their feet under them, but Marshall kicks it in gear in the second quarter and the Seawolves play catch-up the rest of the way. I would expect to see a little more competitive fire from the Herd after Albany played Marshall close in the opener last year.
Luke Creasy is a sports reporter for HD ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥. He can be reached by phone at 304-526-2800.
