2010 Marshall Football Predictions

After going 7-6 in 2009 and capping off the seasonmake your College Football wagers winners. For a
with a big win over Ohio 21-17 in the Little Caesarsdetailed look at the 2010 Conference USA Football
Pizza Bowl, the Marshall Thundering Herd will look toPredictions check this out.
maintain its momentum as they head into a newDefense:
season. They will be led by one of the college footballsFirst-team All C-USA selection linebacker Mario
top-recruiting specialists, head coach John "Doc"Harvey will be one of seven defensive starters that
Holliday. The 52-year-old Holiday will bring with him abegin with a trio of hog mollies on the front line. Battling
plethora of experience having served stints with SECit out in the trenches will be junior tackles Delvin
Giants Florida, N.C. State and West Virginia. He willJohnson, and Brandon Bullock, along with defensive
begin his time at Marshall sorting through the 14end Johnny Jones. They are an impressive group with
returning starters and an 83-player roster, a dauntingintimidating size standing 6-4 and 320 pounds on
task for even the most experienced coaches.average
Offense:Another returning starter junior DB DeQuan Bembry,
The Herd's offense will be under the direction of newwho had 53 tackles and three picks, will lead an
offensive coordinators Bill Legg and Tony Petersonexperienced secondary that includes junior CB Ahmed
and will be centered around the return of sevenShakoor, who led the team with 11 swatted passes,
returning starters, including quarterback Brian Anderson.and T.J. Drakeford, who will look for more playing time
The 6'-3" senior started all 13 contests leading theafter appearing in just five games in 2009 due to
team to his first bowl win in his first full season,ongoing injuries.
throwing for 2,646 yards and 14 touchdowns along theRounding out the sixth and seventh returning starters
way. Anderson pretty much has a lock on the numberwill be junior safety Omar Brown, and senior DB Kevin
one spot this season, but will have to remain sharp, asPerry. Brown, who stepped up after senior John
redshirt freshman A.J. Graham stands ready in theSaunders succumbed to a season-ending injury,
wings.finished third on the team with 73 tackles, two
Returning starters junior Terrell Edwards andinterceptions and 10 pass breakups in four games.
sophomore Andre Booker will be called upon to fill thePerry on the other hand saw action in all 13 games as
whole in the Marshall backfield left by NFL bounda reserve behind now departed senior Ashton Hall,
Darius Marshall, who lead the team last year in rushing.dragging down one interception against Tulane on Oct
Edwards, whose best performance came in a win10.
over SMU last season, rushed for 217 yards and three2010 Outlook and Prediction: Third in Conference USA
touchdowns including 113 yards and a touchdown inEast Division. It shouldn't be too hard to better last
that single win. Booker also emerged as a threat lastyear's results as the team returns more than 40
season but saw limited action, rushing for just 73 yardsseniors and is strong defensively up front, which should
on 15 attempts in seven games.keep the Herd in every game. They have experience
If all else fails the Herd can turn to sophomore Martinand depth at both quarterback and the running back
Ward who came on strong in the last two games ofpositions, but could struggle with an inexperienced
the season and finished with 393 total yards and threeoffensive line that has been hit hard with injuries.
touchdowns on just 82 carries, including 136 yards in aHowever, they should end up 5-3 in conference play,
game against Southern Methodist on Nov. 21. Hebehind a new coaching staff that has brought with it
rushed 75 yards and two touchdowns in the 2009the spread attack that is widespread throughout the
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, enough to be named thepotent SEC.
games MVP.Need some help making your selections?
Here's a look at the 2010 Thundering Herd to help