COACH AND PROGRAM
Listen to Bob Pruett talk and sometimes you can’t believe the words are actually coming out of the mouth of a football coach, especially in a day and age where we’ve been conditioned to expect coaches not to put any stock in preseason rankings and that the only poll that counts is the one at the end of the season.
"I’ll be surprised if we’re not in the top 20 or the top 15," Pruett, the man who leads the charge for Marshall’s Thundering Herd, told the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch after his team wrapped up spring drills. "I think we’re that good."
And, quite frankly, he should.
While a loss at Toledo in the 2001 MAC Championship Game prevented Marshall from winning its fifth straight league title, the Thundering Herd enters 2002 on an unbelievable high after rallying from a 30-point halftime deficit to defeat East Carolina, 64-61, in double-overtime in the GMAC Bowl.
The fact that Marshall won the highest-scoring bowl game in history isn’t the sole reason for all of the optimism entering this season. But having the majority of the playmakers return from a game where the two teams combined for more than 1,400 yards of total offense is certainly a big part of it.
"When Randy Moss came out in ’97, I said I thought he’d have the biggest impact of any player drafted," said Pruett, who became the winningest coach in Marshall history with the victory over ECU. "I think that was true for him the first year and I think the same is going to be true with Byron."
Leftwich certainly has all of the tools. At 6-6 and 240 pounds, he has the prototypical build of an NFL quarterback. He also owns a rocket for an arm, possesses pinpoint accuracy, runs very well and is the leader of an offense that averaged a MAC record 505 yards per game last season.
"He’s a great, great player. I think he’s the best quarterback I’ve been around or played against," said Pruett, who has coached Chad Pennington at Marshall and was defensive coordinator at Florida in 1994 and ’95 when future Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel was calling signals for the Gators.
While most consider Leftwich a long shot candidate for the Heisman Trophy this season, especially with Ken Dorsey back at Miami and Rex Grossman returning to Florida, Marshall is doing its best to promote him. His web site (www.leftwichqb.com) was launched in August of 2001, and this year Byron Bobbleheads will be mailed out to keep the senior quarterback from Washington, D.C., on the minds of voters.
Not that they’ll need many reminders, especially if the Herd’s offense plays up to its potential in its first year under the direction of line coach/coordinator Mark McHale. With Biletnikoff Award semifinalist Darius Watts and two other 1,000-yard receivers (counting bowl-game stats), a two-year starter at running back, a blue-chip tight end and four starters on the offensive line (including Playboy All-American tackle Steve Sciullo ) returning, Marshall will undoubtedly be one of the highest scoring teams in the nation.
The Herd, which allowed almost 220 yards per game rushing last season, should be better on defense, where Bill Wilt replaces Kevin Kelly as coordinator. MAC Defensive Player of the Year Max Yates and four other starters are gone, but safety Chris Crocker returns to lead a group that is eager to improve and showed some positive signs in the spring.
QUARTERBACKS
It’s a good thing that the modest Leftwich has a level head, because that’s about the only thing likely to keep him grounded this season. Leftwich even cracked about the perception of him being conceited when discussing the concept of having his own "Mini Me" in Bobblehead form.
"I think it’s a good idea," Leftwich told The New York Times. "My head’s already too big in real life. People will see the doll and think my head’s not so big."
Leftwich has won a number of honors, including the MAC’s Offensive Player of the Year and Vern Smith Leadership Award, but Pruett says the success hasn’t gone to his star signal-caller’s head.
"He’s the same Byron," Pruett said. "He understands that he has to work and he understands that it’s a day-to-day thing. That’s what makes Byron, Byron."
The preseason publicity will only snowball if he’s the same Byron on the field. Last season when Leftwich completed 315-of-470 passes for 4,132 yards and 38 touchdowns while throwing just seven interceptions.
Leftwich did have off-season surgery to repair a stress fracture in his leg, but returned in time for the spring game. Still, his health is about the only question Marshall has at quarterback because his backups are unproven.
Sophomore Stan Hill (6-1, 195) has plenty of potential, but has thrown five passes in his college career. He came out of spring drills No. 2 behind Leftwich and has an even tighter hold on the job after Andrew English’s transfer to Hofstra in the off-season.
The Herd also signed three quarterbacks in February who will provide depth.
Graham Gochneaur (6-4, 210), a late signee, led Kilgore College to an 18-3 record in his two seasons and the No. 2 national rankings as a sophomore. He played in a passing offense at Flower Mound (Texas) High, but led a more balanced attack at Kilgore, throwing for 1,254 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior.
Marshall also landed Adam Black (6-6, 195), a classic drop-back passer from Pennsylvania’s Keystone High School, and James Skinner (6-4, 192) from Chillicothe, Ohio. Black threw for 2,415 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior and finished with 55 touchdown passes in his high school career.
RUNNING BACKS
One of Marshall’s goals for this season is to become a bit more balanced on offense, and the Herd certainly has enough talent at running back to make that happen.
Junior Franklin "Butchie" Wallace (6-0, 190) endured a series of nagging injuries last season, but still ran for 796 yards and nine touchdowns while earning second-team All-MAC honors.
Senior Brandon Carey (5-10, 185) lends speed and experience after gaining 289 yards last fall. Senior Chris Ray (6-0, 180) and junior Lorenzo Freeman (5-11, 183), a former cheerleader and converted cornerback, lend depth. Senior Chanston Rogers (5-10, 205), who was held out of contact in the spring, has recovered from the second ACL injury of his career and should be ready to go at full speed when camp opens.
All the returnees showed improvement over last season with Wallace entering the season as the clear starter.
The position will get much deeper in August when freshmen James "Tank" Tunstalle and Michael West arrive on campus. Tunstalle (6-2, 215) was the two time runner-up for state player of the year at Wyoming East High School in New Richmond and was considered the top college prospect in West Virginia by many analysts.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
As talented as he is, Leftwich could not pile up numbers and points the way he does without some serious help from his receivers.
Watts, who also has his own web site (www.DariusWatts.com), enjoyed a breakout season in 2001 with 91 catches for 1,417 yards and 18 touchdowns. The 6-2, 183 pound Watts, a junior, is blessed with both size and speed and ranks second in receptions, third in yards and first in touchdowns among players scheduled to return to Division I-A this season.
"He’s just got great speed and hands," Pruett said. "He’s very talented."
Sophomore Josh Davis (6-1, 195) also burst onto the scene last season, setting an NCAA freshman record with 79 catches. He gained 961 yards and scored five touchdowns in the regular season and finished with 1,048 yards if you factor in the GMAC Bowl, a game where he caught eight passes for 87 yards and the winning score.
While Davis may have made the last play, the GMAC Bowl belonged to Denero Marriott as much as it did Leftwich. Marriott (6-1, 178) followed up his 10-catch, 179-yard, four-touchdown effort against Toledo by catching 15 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown against East Carolina. Factor in the postseason and he made 71 catches for 1,034 yards and 10 scores.
Senior Curtis Jones (6-2, 205) is a big-play receiver with as much talent as the starters and is coming off of a strong spring. He caught 19 passes for 248 yards (27.6 average) and four scores in 2001.
All-MAC choice Gregg Kellett, a four-year starter, is gone, but there is still plenty of optimism at tight end. Junior Jason Rader (6-4, 261), a transfer from Georgia, reminds some of Kellett because of his size and strength but is more of a natural pass catcher and provides another option in the passing game.
"He’s got great hands," Pruett said. "He’s a big guy that can really catch the ball."
Senior Eddie Smolder (6-3, 240), a converted defensive end, is listed as the co-starter with Rader. Sophomore Joe Diefel (6-4, 235) and red-shirt freshman Chase Gibson (6-4, 230) provide added depth.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Plain and simple, these guys are good, too. In fact, the record-breaking offense would probably be a bone-breaking offense without them.
Nine of the top 10 players from last year’s team return, including tackles Sciullo (6-6, 344), a senior, and Nate McPeak (6-5, 321), who are both on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Award. Guard Steve Perretta (6-2, 298) and center Jeff Edwards (6-4, 278) are also returning starters. Sciullo and McPeak and are first-team All-MAC choices and Perretta made second team.
Sciullo has made a name for himself with strong performances against some of the nation’s better pass rushers.
McPeak, a junior, and Perretta, a senior, anchor the right side and Edwards, a senior, would have been a strong candidate for league honors if he hadn’t missed almost four games with a neck injury.
Junior Luke Salmons (6-3, 295) had a strong spring and will replace Steve Content at left guard. A converted defensive lineman, Salmons has bulked up and shown ability as a run and pass blocker.
KICKERS
Senior Curtis Head (5-11, 179), a second-team All-MAC, punter scored 78 points in his first season as the Herd’s kicker but does not have a lock on the job. Head made 51-of-57 point-after kicks and 9-of-10 field goals last season, but missed an extra point in regulation that could have prevented overtime in the GMAC Bowl.
"Our extra point and field goals need to be solidified," Pruett said. "Even though we have Curtis Head, we’ve got to get better there."
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Herd allowed opponents to gain 4.7 yards per carry last season and any improvement this year will have to start with the men in the trenches.
While only one starter officially returns on the defensive line, Marshall is actually in good shape at tackle as all three players that started are back.
Senior Orlando Washington (6-2, 265) returns at the tackle spot after making 64 tackles, including 10 for losses, and earning second-team All-MAC honors. Sophomore Josh Cordell (6-5, 298) and junior Marian Hicks (6-4, 295) split time at nose tackle in 2001 and should form a formidable tandem again this season. Sophomore Reggie Hayes (6-4, 278) and junior Toriano Brown (6-1, 270) back up Washington and junior Nathan Leslie (6-4, 268) is a reserve nose tackle.
Junior Maurice McKinney (6-3, 235), the team’s top returning sack man, should move into the starting right end spot. McKinney made 45 tackles, including nine for losses, and four sacks last season.
LINEBACKERS
The Herd employs a 4-4 defensive scheme and four of the starters, including MAC Defensive Player of the Year Max Yates, have moved on. Yates, a four-year starter and the league’s leading tackler by a wide margin last season, is part of the ever-growing Marshall Alumni Club in Minneapolis, having signed a free-agent deal with the Vikings and joining former Herd players Moss, Doug Chapman and Andre O’Neal with the NFL club.
Senior Duran Smith (6-0, 225) inherits Yates’ spot at the mike, or middle linebacker. He made two starts last season and finished with 49 total tackles. He will be backed up by sophomore Kevin Atkina (6-3, 236). Sophomore Dionte Wilson (6-2, 220) will succeed Alonzo Jones at the other inside spot. Wilson saw spot duty on defense and special teams last season and will be backed by senior Henry Moore (5-11, 220) and red-shirt freshman Ashley McNeeley (6-2, 201).
Marshall, which emphasizes speed on defense, plays the same type of players at safety and outside linebacker, which helps explain senior Terrence Tarpley’s (5-10, 185) move to whip linebacker. Tarpley made 54 tackles and broke up seven passes last season. Junior Gladstone Coke (5-11, 195) has shown the ability to make plays during his few opportunities and will back up Tarpley.
Junior Charles Tynes (6-1, 210) returns at rover, where he started eight games, made 46 tackles and intercepted a pair of passes. Sophomore J.T. Rembert (6-1, 216) has tremendous speed and comes off a strong spring and will push hard to be a regular contributor.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
With Yates gone, the leadership role falls onto the shoulders of senior free safety Crocker (5-11, 190) who should be more than able to carry the load. Crocker ranked third on the team with 88 and is the top returning tackler for Marshall. A solid playmaker, he also had four tackles for losses, broke up 10 passes, intercepted one and had 1.5 sacks.
"He’s got a chance to be a great player," Pruett said. "He’s got corner speed as a safety, and he’s a big hitter."
Senior Yancey Satterwhite , who led the Herd with three interceptions last season, returns at the right cornerback spot. Satterwhite (5-10, 175) made 69 stops last season and is the Herd’s No. 2 returning tackler and had five tackles for losses last season. Tarpley’s move to linebacker opens a starting spot at left cornerback for the dynamic Roberto Terrell . Terrell (5-9, 175), a sophomore, saw extended action as a red-shirt freshman, making 32 tackles. He also put his stamp on the Youngstown State game, returning his first career interception 76 yards for the clinching touchdown.
SPECIAL TEAMS
In addition to more consistency in the kicking game, Marshall is looking to seriously upgrade a return game that was putrid last season. Despite having so many potential playmakers on its roster, Marshall ranked 109th in kickoff returns (17.2 yards) and 106th in punt returns (6.5).
Terrell is the top kickoff return man (23.8), but receivers Jones, Davis, Watts and Martin could factor into the mix this season. Davis was the primary punt returner, but averaged only 6.6 yards per return and could be pushed by Jones and Martin.
Marshall also must replace its only player selected in April’s NFL draft, long snapper Chris Massey. Massey, who was taken by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round, made more than 500 snaps on punts, PATs and field goals without a mistake during his Marshall career. He also made 19 tackles on special teams as a senior.
Junior Corey Dennison (6-1, 282) and freshman Jeff Mullins (6-3, 252) are the top candidates to succeed Massey.
RECRUITING CLASS
It isn’t very big, but it should be pretty good.
After bringing in large classes each of the last four years, Marshall signed only 11 scholarship players in February because of NCAA sanctions that cost the Herd five scholarships.
Many experts considered Tunstalle the top recruit in West Virginia and outside linebacker Dennis Thornton, who originally committed last year, enrolled in January. Both could help right away. The Herd also brought in three quarterbacks to prepare for life after Leftwich.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
Other teams around the country showed what they really thought of the Marshall football program as the Herd scrambled to fill its schedule this spring. The teams that said "thanks, but no thanks" in order to avoid a possible loss were Maryland, Notre Dame and TCU (even though the Horned Frogs had a contract). Having teams of that ilk refuse to play you, now that’s respect.
Not that the Thundering Herd doesn’t deserve its props. Marshall’s offense is talented enough to put up points against any defense in the country and improvement on defense and special teams could lead to a special season. Truth be told, if Marshall is good enough to win at Virginia Tech on Sept. 12, it is probably good enough to run the table in the regular season.
"We want them to expect to be a top 25 team," Marshall coach Bob Pruett said of his players. "No one’s perfect, but we set the goals very high. We try to win them all."
This is the first off-season in four that the Herd did not have a conference championship to look back on, and they weren’t happy about it. Don’t expect Leftwich and Co. to fall short of that goal this fall.
There were plenty of off-season rumors about the Herd jumping to Conference USA for football, but Marshall isn’t going anywhere, yet.
