The Insider vol 20 #1 - September 2017

the

INSIDER

Aug-Sept 2017

www.HerdInsider.com

Pre-Season

FOOT BALL Is Here!

WV-OH-KY High School, Marshall Thundering Herd, and MORE! NEW LOOK!

WHAT WE’VE GOT

THE INSIDER / August 2017 / 3

08.17

VOLUME 20 No. 1

COLUMNIST

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Band, Play

It was (almost) 20 years ago today that the Herd Insider band began playing. Today, it’s known as The Insider, in addition to a bunch of other changes coming soon.

This page: Our flashback to December of 2016 saw Spring Valley High School make a run all the way to the state championship game.

Can they repeat this year? photo by Tyson Murray for TheInsider

555 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 (304) 523-8401

HIGH SCHOOL

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017

A quick look around the tri-state area reveals a bunch of teams that are capable of making noise this fall.

MARSHALL

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REBOUND

Coach Doc Holliday and Marshall football are set to repair the damage from a less-than-stellar 2016 season.

It all begins with the Miami Redhawks in September.

On the cover: Temperatures are cooling down and the smell of fall is in the air.

That means one thing in the Mountain State: football is just around the corner. photo by Adobe Stock

General Manager Mike Kirtner Contributor Bill Cornwell

Creative Director Greg Perry Contributor James E. Casto

Associate GM Reeves Kirtner First Subscriber Geoff Sheils

Senior Editor Woody Woodrum Printing Printograph, Inc.

Web Operations Alex Hackney All contents ©2017 Kindred Communications

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GREG PERRY Creative Director

gregkperry@herdinsider.com

On Telling The Band To Play It was twenty years ago today…

Well, not exactly. It was 19-plus years ago back in July, to be techniwell, you get the headline of this column. cally accurate. Regardless…those many years ago, a thirty-something For the majority of this magazine’s life, Woody Woodrum has been guy (me) got the hair-brained idea to start up a magazine in Huntington the one person behind the scenes doing a lot of heavy lifting that is covering Marshall University’s sports programs. required for it to exist on a monthly basis. Woody provided the words If you look closely, you will see that this issue begins volume to most stories, and his lifetime of experience in and around Marshall number twenty of this magazine. You’ll also notice a name change that University’s athletics department shone through in all his stories. accompanies a shift in our content as well.

If there was history involved, Woody recalled it from memory (and Wha…? from his massive file cabinet full of old media guides and programs.)

Yep, there’s a lot going on in the pages you are now holding in your If there was a personality involved, Woody knew that person and hands as we wind our way through August of 2017. In the big picture of thus already had a connection prior to the first word being written. life, however, they will all turn out to be for the better.

If there was a big game going on, Woody was in the middle of it.

First off, the name change.

If there was a big win, Woody was the guy who fielded the calls on Known as Herd Insider Magazine since 1998, our new name (The the post-game call-in show with grace.

Insider) is a move that If there was a big loss, Woody was the guy who fielded the calls on reflects our expansion the post-game call-in into covering high school show with a degree of athletics in the WV-OHtongue-biting that I’m KY tri-state area. Instead not sure I personally of being laser-focused am capable of. on Marshall University’s Writing for this sports programs solely, we magazine wasn’t a job; are opening up our scope of it was just an extencoverage to the many fine sion of his everyday high school programs that relationships in and are in the area. In case you around Huntington. haven’t been paying attenDeciding to move tion, high school sports are on and take a break, on the rise in the tri-state Woody’s fingerprint region. State championin the pages of this ship banners hang in the magazine will be sorely gyms of schools right here missed. in our own back yard.

Getting back to Marshall athletics will 1998 and this being always be the big show in the 20th volume of the the tri-state; it will remain We’ve shown local sports fans some great moments over the 19+ years. Chad Penmagazine, I can’t help a prime focus of this mag- nington and Doug Chapman going 13-0 , left. A.W. Hamilton gunned down WVU. but think of that very azine. However, our high first issue. Knowing school programs are quickly becoming a big show in their own right. that we had to come out of the gate with both proverbial guns blazThey deserve coverage in a magazine. ing, we featured a young quarterback named Chad Pennington on the So, here we are. cover. Having never met him, the photo shoot left an impression on We removed the word “Herd” from the magazine’s title at the me about Chad that still holds true to this day. Yes, he has gone to lofty request of those who market and promote the word, locally. So, The heights and played in the NFL; he has formed a foundation that gives Insider it shall be from here on out. It actually provided us with an back so much to the Huntington area; he is literally a rock star every opportunity that has been long overdue in re-designing our logo into time his feet touch ground in Huntington to this day. something not so…1998. For you type nerds like me, the logo font is Mr However, on that day when we shot photos of him for the very Eaves XL Sans OT, and it is indeed a little more modern and clean in first cover of this publication, Chad said “hi” to me and was genuinely appearance. interested in what we were doing. To this day, he still says “hi” and is A third part of this massive series of changes also involves the still genuinely interested in what we are doing in present time. departure (neé retirement) of my long-time professional partner, Genuine.

Woody Woodrum, from his post as senior editor. When I returned to We took some of Chad’s genuine-ness (I made that word up, but the magazine a little over one year ago, I told Woody, “We’re getting the it works) and tried to carry it into the pages of Herd Insider over the band back together, Woodrow.” years. Yes, we were printed on newsprint up until last year. Yes, we Throw in a Beatles song playing on the radio (Sgt. Peppers) and, often chipped the edges off the big losses and controversies. Yes, we

often found the single good angle in an otherwise not-so-good game or We have been printed numer/ August 2017 / THE INSIDER / 5 situation, and ran with it. ous places: Wayne County News; But what you always saw in the pages was a unique reflection of Ashland (KY) Daily Independent; Charleston Newspapers; and today, the games and personalities in and around Marshall athletics. We Printograph in northern Kentucky. showed the biggest of moments and the worst of moments via large Our first two years featured yours truly and his retired parents litphotos. Nothing speaks quite as clear as a dynamic photograph of the erally affixing stamps on to each issue of Herd Insider and placing it in a situation or moment. mailbox, on 29 Tuesdays Nothing. every year. From there, Think about all we went to using a mailthe moments: Maring house to handle that shall’s multiple MAC for us as we were sent to football championBig Green Scholarship ships. Losing at Ohio Foundation members State by a field goal. over the years.

Beating #6 Kansas Today, our distribuState at their place. tion model has changed The GMAC Bowl in to being distributed for 2001. Tangles with free at locations all over John Calipari’s mighty the Huntington-CharlesMemphis basketball ton corridor, along with squads. A C-USA dedicated die-hard volleyball championsubscribers who live ship. Same for tennis. across the country. That Coaches Bob is backed with making evPruett, Mark Snyder, ery single issue available Doc Holliday; Greg to read –for free– online White, Donnie Jones, From Marshall volleyball winning the C-USA championship (left) to Matthew McCovia our partnership with Tom Herrrion, and Dan naughey leading The Herd on the field prior to We Are Marshall, we’ve been there.

ISSUU.com.

D’Antoni.

And all along, our Shonda Stanton. Joe Feaganes. Mitch Jacobs. Royce Chadwick. amazing advertisers have remained loyal and witnessed very real Matt Daniel. benefits from being seen on the pages of this magazine. If they did not, Favorite cover headline? My personal one is “Lords Of The Rings” believe me when I tell you that they would not still be here today, nor when Marshall football won their fourth MAC championship. continued on page 6

/ August 2017

tomorrow.

The reason for that is simple: Dynamic visual coverage. We pride ourselves on telling the stories with large, dynamic, visually-compelling photographs of Marshall and high school sports that are rarely surpassed in terms of quality and quantity.

Back in 1998, when I was sitting in the drive-in booth that was known as First Sentry Bank (the bank was being built on the site of the former Dwight’s Drive-In, and business was handled in Then-Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich (top) was a media favorite, including Herd Insider. We loved covering #7. (Below) When WVU visited The Joan for the first time, Herd Insider Magazine went airborne to capture this shot of the full stadium.

the old restaurant booths), my pitch for the success of this magazine was simple.

It will be visually compelling, a version of Sports Illustrated geared just for sports fans in the Huntington community. That pitch still stands today.

So, despite the name change; despite the departure of my buddy, Woody; despite the addition of high school sports in to the mix of our Marshall coverage; despite the change from newsprint to glossy magazine pa-

per; despite the fact that I’m now over 50 years old; and despite the changing landscape of media coverage in this internet age; The Insider Magazine carries on as never before, expanding our coverage, bringing in a new name or two as writers, and bringing you visually-compelling coverage of the great sports teams in the tri-state area.

This 20th volume will become the best one yet. We’re bringing in some new faces to provide the words that will tell the stories of Marshall sports and the great many high school programs in West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. In addition, we will ramp up our historical looks at the area’s sports programs, facilities, and traditions.

These are talented people whose names you will recognize.

A phrase that our general manager, Mike Kirtner, tells often comes to mind: You are either green and growing, or ripe and rotting.

The Insider Magazine is (Kelly) green and growing once again, on the advent of our 20th year.

Thank you for being with us these (almost) 20 years. We hope you enjoy the ride over the next 20 years.

That ride begins today.

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West Virginia, Ohio & Kentucky

High School Football Preview 2017

Spring Valley coach Brad Dingess (above, left) has his sights set on returning to the state championship game in 2017. photograph by Greg Perry/ THE INSIDER staff

compiled by Bill Cornwell / THE INSIDER contributor Some Tri-State high school football teams hope 2017 is a repeat of 2016 success, while others are looking for a new start after forgettable campaigns last year.

In W.Va., Spring Valley hopes its success continues after making it to the Class AAA championship game last year, while Huntington and Cabell Midland hope to improve on decent 2016 campaigns.

Kentucky kingpins Russell and Raceland are expected to have exciting teams, this year, while Ashland’s hoping to go deeper in the playoffs and Boyd County rebuilds with a new coach.

In Ohio, Wheelersburg and Chesapeake are the best clubs locally, but Ironton’s rebuilding and Fairland is improving under the coaching of former Marshall great Melvin Cunningham.

Here is a capsule look at our local teams:

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INSIDER West Virginia

Spring Valley--The Timberwolves were just a win away from bringing a

Class AAA title back to Wayne County last year, but hopes are high for continued success this year as Coach Brad Dingess sees the return of starting Quarterback Derek Johnson, a stable of strong runners and an offensive lineman led by junior Doug Nester, who has already verbally committed to play at Ohio State. Big games for Spring Valley include the September 1st opener at Huntington and back-to-back games in late October with Cabell Midland and Capital.

Huntington--Coach Billy Seals hopes to see his Highlanders ballclub

continue to play a style that has brought consistent success in recent seasons. The Highlanders were 7-4 last year, but bowed out early in the playoffs. Players to watch for this year at HHS include receiver Mikal Dawson, also a standout basketball player, and offensive lineman Darnell Wright, who is racking up offers from several Power 5 college programs. Huntington opens the season with a heavyweight opponent on the road..defending Kentucky Class AAA champion Belfry.

Cabell-Midland--The Knights uncharacteristically struggled in 2016, as they recorded a 6-5 record as Coach Luke Salmons and his staff tried to develop a young squad. That squad is now a year old and with the addition of some new faces, Knights fans expect better results in Ona. With fewer teams in the Mountain State Athletic Conference, Midland has added tough non-conference teams to its schedule...Belfry, Ky. and Cincinnati Anderson. The Knights end the season with back-to-back with their biggest rivals--Huntington and Spring Valley.

Wayne--It is time for program revival along W.Va. 152. The Pioneers were a surprise to many around the Mountain State last year as a young squad struggled to achieve a 4-6 mark, with no trip to the postseason as Pioneers fans have been so accustomed for the past two decades. Coach Tommy Harmon is hoping underclassmen have matured and the club will once again be the “measuring stick” for Cardinal Conference ball clubs.

Tolsia--The Rebels are under the guidance of a new coach, as Eric Crum has replaced Mike Smith, who led Tolsia to two consecutive playoff appearances. The Rebels were 8-3 last year, but had an early exit from the Class A playoffs. They face a challenging schedule, with a mixture of Class AA and Class A opponents, plus a home game in late October with perennial Kentucky small school power Pikeville.

Hurricane--Coach Jeremy Taylor’s Redskins could be one of the upand-coming teams in W.Va. Class AAA after a 7-5 record in 2016 with a rebuilding team.

The Skins are facing their usual tough conference schedule along with an early game with Putnam County rival Winfield, followed by a September 1st road trip to Johnson County, Ky. to face a tough Paintsville

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Tigers team.

Winfield--The 2016 Generals team benefitted from a return to Class AA as Coach Craig Snyder’s club put the struggles in Class AAA in the past and improved to a 7-4 record last year, including a playoff appearance.

Winfield has a chance to win even more this year with key returners and a mangeable schedule which has two tough opponents at each end...Hurricane in game one and Mingo Central to wrap up the regular season on November 3rd.

Poca--The recent struggles of a once-proud Dots program continued last season with an 0-10 record and Coach Seth Ramsey is still looking for answers. Poca used to be one of the kingpins of Class AA football in W.Va., but the work to improve continue, but a tough Cardinal Conference schedule won’t make that work any easier, along with a game with in-county rival Buffalo.

Buffalo--They are used to winning at Buffalo and the success continued in 2016 as as Coach Mike Sawyers’s team notched a 7-4 record. The Bison are celebrating the opening of a new facility and they hope to match its perfection with another big win total as they face some of the best in Class A, including Wahama, Greenbrier West and Fayetteville while making a trip to Lawrence County, Ohio to face Coal Grove.

Point Pleasant--The Big Blacks have been one of the most consistent winners in western West Virginia in recent years and they’ve done it both Class AAA and Class AA. Coach Dave Darst’s club was 11-1 in 2016 and are mentioned with Bridgeport and Mingo Central as one of the favorites to win Class AA this year. The Big Blacks face opponents from both sides of the Ohio River, but one long-time rival is missing from this year’s slate--the Gallia Academy Blue Devils--as that series takes a hopefully-brief break.

Hannan--A lack of player numbers continues to plague Hannan as the Wildcats struggled to a 2-8 mark in 2016. Coach Brian Scott continues to build a program that has had little success in recent years and he’ll continued on page 10

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do it this year playing teams from all three states in our region, including Phelps, Ky., Manchester, Ohio and Montcalm, W.Va. Lincoln County--A recent move to Class AA hasn’t led to much success for the Panthers, who struggled to record a 2-8 record for Coach Randy Adkins last year. The Panthers are still looking for their first playoff appearance and the job to reach the postseason this year is made more difficult by the fact that much of their schedule is made of Class A squads who don’t provide many ratings points even if you pick up victories against them.

and he led them to another deep playoff run last year after recording a spotless district record and 9-1 overall mark. The start of the season is challenging for Russell, with back-to-back games with rivals Greenup County and Ironton.

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INSIDER Kentucky

Ashland--Tomcats fans expect success every year and Coach Tony

Love’s teams have answered those expectations in recent years with regular Kentucky playoff appearances. The Cats were 7-3 last year and almost ran the table in their district before running into Johnson Central. Ashland plays another tough schedule in 2017, starting with Class A power Raceland, followed by a visit to Putnam Stadium by perennial W.Va. Class AAA power George Washington.

Boyd County--The Lions are being guided by new head coach David Manning, who took over after John Gilliam’s departure. Manning is trying to instill some toughness in the Lions, who struggled to a 4-6 mark last year while winning only one district game. Boyd County will only ga as far as it improves in district play.

Russell--The Red Devils just win! That’s almost a given for Russell football teams for the past four decades, starting with the long tenure of legendary coach Ivan McGlone. T.J. Maynard leads the Red Devils now

Greenup County--The Musketeers are possibly the ascendant team in

Northeastern Kentucky. Coach Scott Grizzle led the green and gold to a 6-4 mark last season, 3-2 in district action. A better district performance could lead to better playoff seeding for the Musketeers, who face tough in-county opponents Russell and Raceland in the first half of the season.

Raceland--The Rams are hoping to stand atop Kentucky Class A this as Mike Salmons team rolled into the final four of the small-school division last fall. The Rams aren’t afraid to punch up against bigger schools, as they have games with Ashland, Russell, Lawrence County and Greenup County on the slate. Raceland will continue to thrive if they play their usual style of balanced offense and hard-nosed defense.

Fairview--Coach Fred Ray’s Eagles are hoping for a big improvement

this season. The Eagles were winless in their Class A district last year while struggling to a 4-5 mark. The program is also still recovered from past disciplinary action from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. The Eagles season could be challenging, with games against Boyd County, Paintsville and a trip to W.Va. to face Lincoln County.

East Carter--There is no way to go but up for the Raiders, who were winless in the district in 2016 and recorded a 2-6 overall mark. The job doesn’t get any easier for Coach Tim Champlin’s club, with Class AAAA district games with Johnson Central, Ashland and Greenup County.

West Carter--The Comets were one of the surprise teams in Northeastern Kentucky last year, as Coach Kevin Brown led them to a 3-2 district record, 6-4 overall. The Comets face lots of challenges this year in their district against Russell and Lewis County as well as from Class A power Raceland.

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INSIDER Ohio

Ironton--Expectations are always high in Tiger Town, as playoff ap-

pearances are the norm for the Fighting Tigers. In recent years, those playoff trips haven’t lasted long and that’s what Coach Mark Vass is trying to change this year after the Fighting Tigers went 7-3 in 2016.

Ironton is hoping to return to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference, plus they’ll play their usual rivalry games with Wheelersburg, Ashland and Russell.

Chesapeake--The view is nice at the top, a view that Coach Andy Clark and the Panthers have been enjoying since winning the Ohio Valley Conference last year and recording a 9-1 record. The Panthers playoff run ended after one game, but there is plenty of returning talent, in-

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cluding speedy back Cecil Fletcher Jr. The Panthers never leave the state of Ohio this year and rarely leave Lawrence County, with out-of-county OVC games at Gallia Academy and Portsmouth.

Fairland--Look out for the Dragons in 2017. Coach Melvin Cunningham is in his 3rd year in Proctorville and he’s making great strides in rebuilding a proud program. The Dragons were only 3-7 last year, but the team got better week by week and there is renewed football interest at a school that has been more known for basketball success in recent years. Besides the usual Ohio Valley Conference slate, the Dragons face a challenging opening of the season with games against Portsmouth West and Wheelersburg.

Rock Hill--A familiar name in local football circles now leads the Red Men as Coach Mark Lutz enters his first year at Rock Hill. Lutz hopes to bring some success to the Redmen from his many years as part of the Ironton coaching staff led by his uncle, legendary coach Bob Lutz. The Red Men were winners last year with a 6-4 record, but more wins are need to reach the Region 5 playoffs.

South Point--Things can only get better for the Pointers, who were winless in ten games in 2016. Coach Chase Kratzenberg is going back to the fundamentals to rebuilding a South Point football tradition which has produced strong teams and talented individual athletes over the past three decades. The Pointers will open the season with two interstate contests--home games with W.Va’s Roane County Raiders along nearby Kentucky neighbors Boyd County.

Dawson Bryant--The Hornets have a new boss, Evan Ferguson, and he brings a track record of success to Coal Grove after serving as an assistant with the ultra-successful Wayne Pioneers football program.

The cupboard isn’t bare for Ferguson, as the Hornets were 6-3 last year, but they need more wins to pick up a Division 6 playoff position. The Hornets face the usual OVC opponents along with Buffalo, W.Va. and home games with Scioto County squads Portsmouth West and Lucasville Valley. continued on page 15

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Are You Ready For Some Football?…

In order to wrap our heads around the fact that summer is over and football is just around the corner, we present to you this throwback photo from Joan C. Edwards Stadium in 2007 when WVU visited town. The Insider’s Greg Perry went airborne to capture the big picture. photo by Greg Perry/The Insider staff

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HIgh School continued from page 11

Symmes Valley--Coach Rusty Webb’s Vikings are a perennial part of

the Division 7 playoffs, but 2016 was a down year in Willow Wood with a 3-7 record. Webb is hoping that rebuilding time and the wins return.

Most of the Vikings games are against fellow small school opponents, but they do play one higher-division opponent as defending OVC champion Chesapeake pays a visit to Willow Wood on September 8th.

Portsmouth--Aaron Duncan is making progress in building the Trojans back to normal status as one of the marquee teams in southern Ohio.

Portsmouth was 6-4 last year and had some success in the tough Ohio Valley Conference. Besides their conference slate, the Trojans open the season with in-county rivals Portsmouth West and Lucasville Valley along with a road trip to Galion, Ohio.

Portsmouth West--The Siders had an unusually tough season in 2016, struggling to a 3-7 mark. Coach Ben Johnson knows his fanbase has higher expectations, but the job will be daunting with matchups with Ohio Valley Conference and Scioto County rivals, along with local Kentucky power Raceland.

Wheelersburg--You might as well call Wheelersburg “Winnersburg”, as the Pirates never seem to struggle against their regular-season rivals.

Coach Rob Woodward’s 2016 was undefeated in the regular season and the schedule sets up for a possible repeat in hopes of a deeper run in the Division 5 playoffs. As usual, Wheelersburg opens the season against their bitter US 52 rivals, Ironton. The Pirates are also stepping up to play two Division Three opponents--Columbus Bishop Watterson and Jackson.

Gallia Academy--A rebuilding job is underway in the “Old French City” as Alex Penrod tries to build up the Blue Devils win total after a meager

1-9 mark in 2016. Penrod’s job is made even tougher as the Devils must battle strong OVC opponents such as Chesapeake, Ironton and Portsmouth, along with Division 3 neighbor Jackson and Division 4 regional rival Meigs.

South Gallia--Mike Smith is used to coach schools with a nickname of the “Rebels”. He comes to South Gallia’s Rebels after serving successfully as both football and boys basketball head coach at Tolsia in W.Va., also home of the Rebels. Smith hopes to build a winner in Crown City after he led Tolsia to multiple playoff appearances in both Class AA and Class A. He leads a team that was 3-7 in 2016.

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Austin Waugh photo courtesy of the(Huntington) Herald-Dispatch

Symmes Valley (OH) High School Football

This month’s featured student-athlete is a case study in what determination and persistence can do.

Austin Waugh is a 5-9, 170 pound running back for Symmes Valley High School in Willow Wood, Ohio. And while his physical size is not the leading indicator of how he approaches the game of football, the size of his inner fortitude certainly is.

Not so long ago, Waugh considered quitting football due to headaches and the concussion syndrome that usually accompanies them in football players. He was in sixth grade, and already struggling with the effects of playing a violent game. A series of tests and doctors visits ended with a much more serious diagnosis of cancer.

The one word nobody should have to hear. Especially a sixth-grader.

Surgery followed shortly thereafter, and the tumor was successfully removed. Waugh returned to playing basketball within the following month.

Cut to August of 2017, and Waugh will suit up for Symmes Valley at running back, hoping to propel Symmes Valley as the season progresses. The Vikings were 3-7 last year.

His journey has brought with it a sobering dose of humility that is rare in a high school football player.

“I’ve learned not to take anything for granted,” Waugh told the Herald-Dispatch’s Tim Stephens in early August. “I never thought I’d play football again.”

Waugh has plans to study medicine once he completes his senior year at Symmes Valley, something that has always held his interest.

Before the first snap of 2017 even takes place, Austin Waugh is already a winner on the stage of school, on the football field, and in the game of life.

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COLLEGE

FOOTBALL

REBOUND in H-TOWN Marshall’s Thundering Herd aiming to bounce back after bland 2016 season

Y

ou might call the 2017 Marshall University football season the that will help us alot,” Holliday added. “It’s a personnel-driven game “Redemption Tour”. and you’ve got to have good players, so we had to identify what our The Herd and its rabid fanbase endured a rarity in 2016 since Doc issues were and improve those positions and we’ve done that.”

Holliday became coach of the Thundering Herd in 2010….a losing season (3-9, 2-6 in Conference USA) and a club that looked uncompetitive OFFENSE at times.

The usually-potent Marshall offense was outscored 423-317 last fall Holliday believes he has addressed the program’s issues in the offas injuries, youth and lackluster performances quieted a Herd attack season with a combination of transfers and redshirt which was used to putting up big scores during the story by Bill Cornwell freshman at key positions on both sides of the ball Holliday era, especially while Rakeem Cato was the THE INSIDER contributor and in the kicking game. starting quarterback.

“We felt that we had to get more explosive at the Junior Chase Litton hopes to overcome a sophtailback and receiver positions and we think we’ve done that,” Holliday omore slump, as he battled injuries to record 24 touchdown passes said. “The offensive line is back and healthy and Chase (Litton) has had as opposed to 9 interceptions in a 2016 season that was limited to ten a tremendous summer.” games. The battle for 2nd-string quarterback comes down to two soph“Defensively, we’ve got linebacker and defensive back additions omores--the athletic Xavier Gaines and Garret Morel, who started two games as a freshman last year, including a home contest with nationally-ranked Louisville. Morel will likely redshirt this season.

Holliday says that Litton is almost a new quarterback this year and time this summer as a counsellor at the Manning Family Passing Camp aided his growth.

“He’s done a tremendous job taking care of himself and his body and in leading the football team and getting a chance to go to the Manning Camp has all been part of the growing process,” Holliday said.

“I see a different guy out there right now and I’m anxious to see how it carries over on the field.”

“IT’S A PERSONNEL-DRIVEN GAME AND YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE GOOD PLAYERS, SO WE HAD TO IDENTIFY WHAT OUR ISSUES WERE AND IMPROVE THOSE POSITIONS.”

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photographs by Greg Perry/ THE INSIDER staff

Quarterback Chase Litton has done a solid job in the off-season, according to coach Doc Holliday.

Litton’s top targets include senior and preseason All-Conference USA Tight End Ryan Yurachek, who had 28 catches for 298 yards and five touchdowns in 2016. As for wide receivers, the top five players at the position last year are gone, but those now at the positions are even faster and more athletic than those who have departed. Those newcomers include University of Miami transfer Tyre Brady, one of the stars of spring practice, along with Oklahoma State transfer Obi Obialo, junior college arrival Marcel Williams. Key returnees include senior Hyleck Foster, who played running back the last two seasons,speedy Willie Johnson (redshirted after being injured last year against Pittsburgh), Donquell Green and Nick Matthews.

There are new faces at the running back position as junior college transfer Trey Rodriguez, who played against Marshall in 2015 when he was enrolled at Florida Atlantic, battles for playing time with redshirt freshman Tyler King and true freshman Brenden Knox. Junior Keion Davis is the top returning back, as he rushed for 496 yards and six touchdowns in 2016. Other returning backs competing for playing time are Tony Pittman and Anthony Anderson.

Redshirt Sophomore Center Levi Brown anchors the Herd’s offensive line and he’s joined by fellow veterans Jordan Dowrey, Nate Devers, continued on page 20

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A.J. Addison and Sandley Jean-Felix. Some of the younger lineman fighting to get on the field include Alex Locklear, Tarik Adams, Alex Mollette and Will Ulmer.

Holliday made some changes in the coaching staff in the offseason as Dalllas Baker joined as wide receivers coach, Todd Goebel took over as quarterbacks coach from offensive coordinator Bill Legg, who is now handling the tight ends.

There is also a new defensive line coach--former Virginia Tech great Cornell Brown.

“Sometmes it’s good to change and there are a lot of coaches who’ll change responsibilities, reqardless of what happened,” Holliday said. “I’m excited to have all these guys here.”

DEFENSE

The key to Defensive Coordinator Chuck Heater’s squad this year will be a return to a fast, athletic and attacking defense that was the norm as Marshall won the Conference USA East Division in 2013 and the league title in 2014.

Ryan Bee (91) has moved from end to tackle, a significant change for the 2017 Thundering Herd.

“THEY UNDERSTAND THE EXPECTATIONS, THE STANDARDS AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT GO ALONG WITH MARSHALL AND THAT WE’RE EXPECTED TO WIN.” serving a suspension related to his time as a Hurricane. Key returnees include sophomore Omari Cobb, who had 36 tackles and three sacks last year, plus juniors Chase Hancock and Eli Gates.

There is lots of speed and hitting ability in the Herd’s defensive backfield. Seniors C.J. Reavis and Kendall Gant are back at safety as is Rodney Allen at cornerback. Sophomores Chris Jackson and Jaylon McClain-Sapp return at cornerback. Newcomers likely to see playing time are redshirt freshman Brandon Drayton and juco transfer Kereon Merrell along with true freshman Nirion Washington.

SPECIAL TEAMS

There are plenty of questions in the Herd’s kicking game. Senior Kaare Vedvik is back as Marshall’s punter, but he’s also competing with fellow senior Amaretto Curraj and highly-regarded freshman Cole Phillips for placekicking duties. Curraj will likely continue to handle kickoffs for the Herd. Freshman Quarterback Jackson White will likely be the holder for placements.

Curraj struggled with his placements last year, hitting only four field goals in 10 tries and missing three extra points on 42 tries. Meanwhile, Vedvik averaged 40 yards per punt in 2016 on 70 kicks.

Marshall’s return game will be bolstered by the return of speedy Willie Johnson, but running backs Keion Davis and Trey Rodriguez along with receiver Marcel Williams could also handle kick and punt returns.

Holliday says his 2017 team expects success after a disappointing team 2016 and they won’t be happy unless they make another run for a Conference USA title and make another bowl trip.

“They understand the expectations, the standards and the responsibilities that go along with Marshall and that we’re expected to win, so the kids got to work in January and they’re anxious to right the ship,” Holliday said. “The guys that are here now are tough and they love football or they wouldn’t be here.”

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Marshall continued from page 20 A major change on the defensive front is the move of junior Ryan Bee from end to tackle. Bee had 53 tackles and four-and-a-half sacks as a sophomore last season. He’ll be joined on the line by athletic sophomores Damien Dozier, Ty Tyler and Marquis Couch, juniors Nyquan Harris, Malik Thompson and Jason Smith and seniors Blake Keller and Davon Durant.

Major changes took place in the offseason at linebacker as highly-regarded sophomore Jaquan Yulee finally hit the field along with fellow newcomers Donyae Moody, Artis Johnson and Miami transfer Juwon Young, who will be available in the fifth game of the season after

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