As we inch closer to Marshall’s first game at WVU on September 3rd the Marshall Thundering Blog is breaking down the Herd’s roster position by position. Today we will focus on the secondary.
*Editors note – I have decided to abandon the best / worst case scenario format. The previews did not read well in current and future tense. Instead, I will just preview each position.
2010 Stats:
Omar Brown – 88 TKLS, 3 INTS
Donald Brown – 75 TKLS, 3 INTS
Rashad Jackson – 37 TKLS, 3 INTS
Monterius Lovett – 30 TKLS, 1 INT
Ahmed Shakoor – 30 TKLS
Darryl Roberts – 16 TKLS, 1 INT
Departing:
Donald Brown (dismissed from team)
Ahmed Shakoor (dismissed from team)
Joe Johnson (left team)
Returning/Incoming:
Omar Brown, senior
Rashad Jackson, redshirt senior
Monterius Lovett, redshirt sophomore
Darryl Roberts, sophomore
Devin Arrington, redshirt junior (moved from linebacker)
Phillip Warren, redshirt freshman
Derek Robinson, redshirt freshman
Corie Wilson, freshman
Keith Baxter, freshman
Raheem Waiters, freshman (moved from wider receiver)
D.J Hunter, freshman
Even McKelvey, freshman
Zach Dunston, sophomore
Derek Mitchell, redshirt sophomore
2011 Outlook:
Coming out of the 2010 season Marshall seemed to have a complete secondary back for 2011. Fast forward nine months and the picture has changed dramatically. Two big contributors last season, Donald Brown and Ahmed Shakoor have been dismissed from the program and a slew of injuries this summer has left Marshall thin at defensive back.
What Marshall lacks in stability at safety it makes up for at corner. The Herd returns two starters Rashad Jackson and Monterius Lovett while part time contributor Darryl Roberts is also back. Jackson appears to have locked up one starting corner spot while the other is up for grabs. Lovett is trying to retain his starting role but is being pushed by Roberts, and redshirt freshman Phillip Warren. True freshman Keith Baxter has been impressive during August practice playing both corner and safety, look for him to avoid a redshirt. Fellow true freshman Corie Wilson enrolled at Marshall in January and participated in spring practice, don’t be surprised if he plays right away too.
At free safety senior team captain Omar Brown returns for 2011. With Donald Browns dismissal in July Omar will be lining up with a new partner. Coming out of spring practice it appeared that freshman D.J Hunter was the answer. A former Tennessee commitment, Hunter wowed coaches during the spring but a knee injury has kept him out of preseason camp. The extent of Hunter’s injury is not know but he has started to ride a stationary bike. Attempting to find a strong safety Marshall auditioned Even McKelvey (Omar Brown’s brother), Derek Mitchell, converted linebacker Devin Arrington, converted wide receiver Raheem Waiters, plus cornerbacks Warren and Baxter. Returning from a knee injury Arrington has been practicing with the ones this week but just like quarterback, Marshall fans may not know their starting strong safety until September 4th.
Next preview: Special Teams
No comments:
Post a Comment