SI Scouting Reports 1. Oklahoma 2. Miami 3. Tennessee 4. Texas 5. Florida State 6. Colorado 7. Washington State 8. Florida 9. Oregon 10. Georgia 11. Washington 12. Ohio State 13. LSU 14. Nebraska 15. Virginia Tech 16. Maryland 17. Marshall 18. South Carolina 19. Louisville 20. Michigan 21. USC 22. Texas A&M 23. Auburn 24. Illinois 25. Penn State ----------------- The Top 25 All the Rest: 26-117 Lower Division Rankings

17. Marshall

The high-flying Herd must round up a decent defense if it expects to earn an invitation to the BCS dance

By Albert Chen

Wallace, last year's leading rusher, gives the Thundering Herd a potent ground game to complement its air show. John David Mercer/AP Enemy Lines An opposing coach's view of the Thundering Herd " Byron Leftwich is very accurate and has a nice touch. He's got a good arm, mobility, a tremendous understanding of what they do. I think he's the best QB in the country.... Their wide receivers are all equally talented. Darius Watts is very good, but if you double-cover one, Leftwich will make you pay.... If you had to point out a weakness, it's the defense. The safeties are very talented, but this unit has a lot of holes.... They'll be more aggressive because I don't know if they can stand in there and play physical football and beat you."

They were embarrassed. Humiliated. "Absolutely disgusted," says Marshall free safety Chris Crocker. "For those of us who have some pride, last year was difficult to swallow." Yes, the Thundering Herd went 11-2 and earned its fourth consecutive bowl win, but to the defensive players the season was a disaster. They ranked last in the MAC and 106th in the nation against the run (217.8 yards per game) and gave up an average of 25.7 points. Having analyzed every play on which the Herd gave up seven or more yards rushing in 2001, defensive coordinator Bill Wilt says, "This year we're going to simplify things."

Thanks largely to an offense that averaged 37.3 points and a MAC-record 505.0 yards in '01 and has 10 starters returning, Marshall enters the season heavily favored to win its fifth MAC championship in six years. Heisman candidate Byron Leftwich (4,132 passing yards and 38 touchdowns) will again play ringmaster to a dazzling aerial circus, throwing to a trio of talented receivers in senior Darius Watts (1,417 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns), senior Denero Marriott (800 yards, nine touchdowns) and sophomore Josh Davis (79 catches, an NCAA freshman record). Running back Franklin Wallace is also healthy after rushing for 796 yards and nine TDs despite nagging injuries.

If Marshall can beat Virginia Tech on Sept. 12 in Blacksburg, it has a good shot at going undefeated for the second time in four years -- and at gaining a BCS bid. But for the Herd to do that it will need to be effective on both sides of the ball. "We can't wait to flush last season down the tubes," says Wilt. "Everyone knows how great the offense is. Imagine how great this team will be if we get the job done on defense."

Issue date: August 12, 2002