Marshall Football: Herd adds two Penn State transfers, Smith & Thomas

On the eve of pre-season practice Marshall University's football team has added two high profile transfers. Former Penn State football players Devon Smith and Derrick Thomas will officially joined the Thundering Herd tomorrow. Both should be able to play immediately as part of the NCAA sanctions levied upon Penn State in response to the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal and cover-up.

Smith, a senior wide receiver, caught 25 passes last year for 402 yards and two touchdowns. During his career Smith has totaled more than 700 receiving yards on 56 receptions.

Police arrested Smith in March after finding a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his apartment. At last check Smith had applied for Pennsylvania's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program, avoiding any jail time.

A left foot injury kept Smith out of spring practice and he left the Penn State's football program shortly thereafter for personal reasons. 

Standing in at 5'7 155 pounds, the speedster will compete with Andre Booker and Tommy Shuler for time at slot receiver. Smith could also be a valuable weapon on punt and kick returns. 

A redshirt junior, Thomas left Penn State for personal reasons in June with two years of eligibility remaining. Thomas appeared in nine games last year while starting at right cornerback but he missed Penn States 30-14 loss to Houston in the TicketCity.com Bowl after being ruled  academically ineligible. He was also suspended for nine games in 2010 after being involved in a off-campus scuffle.   

Thomas played prep football with fellow Marshall defensive back and Boston College transfer Okechukwu Okoroha at Elanor Roosevelt High School.