2003 Statistics

Quarterback
The staff is concerned over the health of Stan Hill and backups Graham Gochneaur and Adam Black. Hill had knee surgery in November to repair an ACL, worked out this spring, but was limited to non-contact drills. Hill appeared in just six games last season but played well, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. Hill's backup, Graham Gochneaur, had seven starts and was behind center when the Herd upset Kansas State. But Gochneaur was limited in the spring with a sore shoulder. Black is out with an inner ear problem, so expect many young QBs to get reps. But if Hill is healthy, he's the starter.

Running Back
The only question is who will backup do-everything tailback Earl Charles. Charles will receive the bulk of the carries and has the durability/size to handle such. True freshman Marcus Fitzgerald, the younger brother of former Pittsburgh All-American wideout Larry Fitzgerald, could be shifted to wide receiver. One of the bigger backs on the team, sophomore Tank Tunstalle, adds a different element than the more-shifty Charles because he runs primarily with power. The running game will thrive with a loaded and experienced backfield. Charles has to stay healthy to carry most of the load, while Fitzgerald, Tunstalle and Donte Newsome, a converted linebacker, will all see work. Expect a bit less from this unit than last year's 20th national ranking, for the line needs work.

Wide Receiver
Josh Davis is one of the more productive receivers in the nation. He has remarkable breakaway speed and is the Herd's deep threat, but is also tough enough to be making plays across the middle. Now that Darius Watts is gone, Davis is the go-to man. The rest of the corp, nevertheless, is inexperienced. Senior Brad Bates will get the first crack at starting, but he's been plagued by injuries. Tremel Guillory is a tremendous athlete and could turn into a top receiver in the slot. Not even Davis is good enough to carry them all - some new stars have to emerge. It should be an interesting battle this spring and the competition will be wide open.

Tight End
The Herd will look to junior Jeff Mullins, along with Joe Deifel, Brian Shope and Matt Morris. A good receiver and a physical blocker, Mullins will remain the team's long snapper as his role on offense will increase.

Offensive Line
Lots of holes to fill with the loss of three starters. Miami transfer Zac Elcess should start at center. RT Nate Griffin had to replace tackle Steve Sciullo on the left side and was solid. RG Toby Bullock is as good as they come in terms of run blocking. Still, the line has to be rebuilt for the second consecutive season. Graduation and injuries have been damaging, but as usual, the staff has some respectable prospects. Don't expect this to be as good as it's been, but it isn't going to be a glaring weakness.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The former pass-happy Herd will hit the ground running again. They will run more than usual, to take advantage of Hill's mobility and the slashing running style of Charles. Running it will be Marshall's best bet, but a healthy Hill will make passing all the rage in Huntington (Davis is gunning for All-American honors). The key will be a rebuilt offensive line. The Thundering Herd barely missed being one of a handful of teams to average 200 yards per game both running and passing, and their 18th rank in total offense reflects this. But ranking 39th in scoring shows the frustrations and inconsistencies of this offense in 2003, a sure omen for this campaign, especially with the unsure status of their field generals.

Defensive Line
When Jonathan Goddard became serious about the game, he transformed into a dream defensive end. Jamus Martin should once again be one of the premier pass rushers in the MAC. His size will scare off some NFL scouts, but he's blessed with remarkable speed off the edge while he more than adequately contains the run. Inconsistency is no longer an issue for defensive tackle Reggie Hayes, who has began to reach his vast potential. All three returning starters fore-mentioned are somewhat interchangeable, having jelled for an oft-found initially strong push. Their stat lines look similar, and even crazier is that they are three of 2003's top six tacklers for Marshall. Hayes is arguably a better run stuffer than those that provide the depth at end, but all are qualified and worthy. Jamaal Whyce has the quickness and instincts of an end and should get the nod to move inside.

Linebacker
A former special teams performer, Kevin Atkins emerged as the unit's top player and led the Herd in tackles. Senior J.T. Rembert, however, is more talented from sideline-to-sideline. Both are excellent in coverage and are often used in nickel packages. Like Atkins and Rembert, senior Dionte Wilson has the size and speed of a defensive back. Playing time will be hard to come by for backups, but smart money is on a rotation so that next year's vacancies are readily filled. Garrett Morrison is rangy and has the quickness to move into the secondary.

Defensive Back
Everyone is back from a unit that led the MAC in pass defense. In his first year as a starter, Willie Smith, who ranked among the league leaders in passes broken up, is the biggest corner on the team. He'll continue to matchup well with taller and more physical opponents to make big plays. At 5-9, Roberto Terrell is smaller than Smith but is a heavy hitter and has the quickness to make up for errors. If Smith is the heart of the secondary, Terrell is the pulse. Junior Chris Royal, a converted strong safety, and senior Renaldo Williams, perhaps the team's quickest corner, will backup Smith and Terrell. At 6-2, strong safety Moriah Anderson is the biggest of Marshall's defensive backs. He has the speed of a corner and can make plays all over the field. Free safety is up for grabs between Cutis Keyes, Lonnie McCowan and Geremy Rodamer.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The staff worked hard to add more speed and athlete and make this more or a bend-but-don't-break unit. The Herd returns eight starters from a unit that ranked No. 1 in the MAC in total defense and pass defense, while limiting opponents to a league-low 184 first downs. The line will have less problems against the run due to their nice, deep rotation. Goddard and Martin's pass rushing skills are superb. Marshall has experience at linebacker, but no stars. Size is a pervading concern. The overall level of quarterbacks is down in the MAC so the secondary won't get tested as much. Though the secondary was strong (10th ranked unit in the country), they weren't so hot as a pass efficiency defense (ranking 59th) - this is a bad sign of overagressiveness, like on the line. This is why, similar to the offense's inconsistencies, they ranked 24th in total defense, but 47th in scoring defense. If you don't give up yards, how is it that so many points are scored? The team's poor turnover margin is part of this, but the defense has to tighten up at those critical times, or again they will earn the team four (or more) losses.