Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Marshall Football: Recruiting Hits the Homestretch

In just under three weeks, Marshall will unveil it's 2014 recruiting class. With a few scholarships still available, we have compiled the Herd's current commitments and who head coach Doc Holliday and the football staff are pursuing.

First and foremost, two commitments from last year's recruiting class will not make their way to Huntington, offensive lineman Gerald Wright and wide receiver Shykeem Pitts. Wright enrolled at New York's Milford Academy in the fall, but did not stay through the semester. Pitts was arrested in April after stealing an ATV. He is attending Georgia Military College.

In addition to Wright and Pitts, two prospects we previously reported as committed are no longer part of this year's recruiting class. They are defensive tackle Ja'ree Tolbert and defensive end Traevon Sharp.

Lets shift focus to who is showing up. By last September the Herd picked up two transfers, former Miami defensive end Ricardo Williams and ex-Virginia Tech defensive back Donaldven Manning. They won't be eligible for spring practice, but should be good to go in August.

In addition to Manning and Williams, a couple high school prospects not previously associated with Marshall's 2013 recruiting class joined the team last August, wide receiver Rodney Allen, linebacker Raheim Huskey, and defensive end Jalen Stevenson. Those three join fellow academically ineligible players already enrolled at Marshall, running back Brandon Byrd, linebacker/running back Tony Pittman, and defensive back D'Andre Wilson, that will count against this years recruiting class.

Fourteen high school prospects have given Marshall a verbal commitment, they are...

1) Emanuel Beal, WR, Georgia
2) Ryan Bee, DE, Ohio
3) Alex Cason, WR, Georgia
4) Keion Davis, WR, Georgia
5) Jordan Dowrey, DT, Virginia
6) Stanley Dye. DB, Florida
7) Hyleck Foster, WR, South Carolina
8) Cole Garvin, QB, Georgia*
9) Nyquan Harris, DT, Virginia
10) LaDerrick Hammond, DB, Georgia
11) Frankie Hernandez, LB Florida
12) Tomell One, DE, Florida
13) Rayjon Simes, DE, Georgia
14) Reese Wooten, WR, Georgia
15) Ryan Yurachek, TE, South Carolina

* Enrolled at Marshall for the spring semester on Monday

The Herd also has also secured verbal commitments from five prep school recruits. Of the group, A.J. Addison, Malik Thompson, Matthew Santer, and Jason Smith enrolled at Marshall on Monday.

1) A.J. Addison, OL, Fork Union
2) Ryheem Lockley, WR, Fork Union
3) Malik Thompson, DE, Fork Union
4) Matthew Santer, DB, Fork Union
5) Jason Smith, DE, East Coast Prep

Less than three weeks away from national signing day, Marshall's biggest need is junior college offensive tackles. Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal told Chuck Landon of the Huntington Herald Dispatch that he needed at least two junior college left tackles in this years recruiting class. Without a single JUCO commitment, Mirabal will not get his wish before spring practice.

Marshall is targeting the following junior college offensive tackles.

1) Raul Martinez, Pasadena City, OT
2) Dominic Grando, Golden West, OT
3) Brandon Mitchell, Pierce College, OT

Marshall is also hosting 13 prospects on official visits this weekend. Three of them are...

1) Maurice Hall, ATH, Florida
2) Jamal Davis, LB, Ohio
3) Josh Black, LB, Florida

We will have all the answers on national signing day, February 5th. Until then, remember that verbal commitments are non-binding and a lot can change in the next few weeks.

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