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Expectations rising for Herd football entering 2018


By Kieran Intemann

After an 8-5 record and New Mexico Bowl win over Colorado State in 2017, Marshall football looks to be on the upswing heading into the 2018 season. Combine those numbers with the return of 18 starters from the 2017 squad (nine on offense, nine on defense) and the expectations that Doc Holliday’s squad could contend for a conference championship — its first since 2014 — are reasonable.
“We’re excited for this season,” Holliday said. “I’m going on to my ninth season now and this is the most excited that I’ve been about a team here.”
Not everything is perfect for the Herd, however. Marshall will have to adjust to the hiring of coordinators on both sides of the ball after longtime offensive coordinator Bill Legg resigned and defensive coordinator Chuck Heater left for a position at Maryland. Holliday hired Tim Cramsey from Sam Houston State to take over on offense and promoted linebackers coach Adam Fuller to defensive coordinator.
Cramsey’s offense at Sam Houston State in 2017 put up record-breaking numbers. The Bearkats led FCS in total offense (538.1 yards per game), passing offense (362.7), scoring offense (43.3 points per game) and first downs gained (365). In addition, quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe was named the recipient of the Walter Payton Award, the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, after throwing for 5,003 yards and 45 touchdowns.
 Fuller previously spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at FCS member Chattanooga, where he twice produced defensive units that were ranked in the top 25 nationally. His 2011 defense led the Southern Conference in total defense (305.3), scoring defense (19.7) and turnover margin (plus-9), among other categories, while his 2012 defense was ranked 10 in the FCS in total defense (307.9) and 18th in scoring defense (20.4).
 “We’ve done a good job adjusting our terminology to Tim’s offense,” Holliday said. “Promoting Adam (Fuller) was a natural ascension for us. He has experience as a defensive coordinator in the past. We’ve made some small adjustments but overall I don’t think it will be that much different than in previous years.”
While the Herd returns 18 starters, including all five men on the offensive line and most of their wide receiver and running back production, it will also have to break in a new quarterback this season after Chase Litton opted to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft. Litton is currently in camp with the Kansas City Chiefs and is in a battle with Matt McGloin for the No. 3 quarterback spot behind starter Patrick Mahomes and backup Chad Henne.
To help replace Litton, Holliday brought in graduate transfer Alex Thomson from Wagner College (N.Y.) to compete with returners Isaiah Green and Garet Morrell. Jackson White is also a part of the quarterback room, but figures to see the bulk of his playing time on special teams as the holder on field goals and extra points.
“As a transfer student, especially at the quarterback position, you have to earn the respect of your teammates,” Holliday said of Thomson. “I saw a guy come into camp this summer, not say a whole lot and go to work.”
Whoever wins the quarterback battle will have a plethora of weapons to work with. Marshall returns all five starters from an offensive line that led Conference USA in giving up the fewest sacks (11). The Herd also returns a pair of running backs who accumulated over 800 yards in Tyler King (820 yards, seven touchdowns) and Keion Davis (812 yards, 6 TD) along with all-conference wide receiver Tyre Brady (962 yards, eight TD), slot receiver Marcel Williams (512 yards, two TD) and deep threat Willie Johnson (443 yards, four TD).
Marshall’s defense, which ranked in the top 30 in total defense, returns a trio of starters in the secondary in cornerback Chris Jackson and safeties Malik Gant and Brandon Drayton, along with linebackers Chase Hancock, Artis Johnson and Frankie Hernandez. Defensive lineman Blake Keller graduated, but the Herd returns Ryan Bee, Channing Hames and Ty Tyler along the front.
Marshall kicks off its 2018 campaign Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m on the road at Miami (Ohio).

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