Despite Murder, Loan Company Demanding Money from Donte Newsome's Mother

I don't know a lot about student loans but, when the lendee is murdered forgiveness of said loan should not be out of the question.

That does not appear to be the case for former Marshall University football player Donte Newsome. Newsome was shot to death in 2008 and his killer, Jerel Garner was sentenced to 21-25 years in prison for the murder.

Back to the loans, Newsome's mother, Angela Smith co-singed a $30,000 student loan with her son after his athletic scholarship ran out and he needed another year to graduate.

According to an article published by WTKR.com, the loan company, First Marbelhead Corporation and American Education Services is demanding that Smith pay the bill.

Smith has put a petition on Change.org to rally support behind her cause and persuade First Marbelhead Corporation and American Education Services to forgive the loan. I strongly encourage you to click here and and support the Newsome family by signing Smith's petition.

Marshall Football: Signing Day Primer

In less than 24 hours Marshall’s football team will expand when fax machines across the country send letters of intent into the Shewy Building. As we approach national signing day let’s take a look at Marshall’s current verbal commitments and a few prospects the Thundering Herd is still chasing.

First and foremost, two junior college players have already signed letters of intent with Marshall, safety Taj Letman and defensive end Arnold Blackmon. Both had the option of enrolling in January but, I can only confirm that Letman is currently on campus.

Two other junior college prospects, safeties Neville Hewitt and Lakeith Murray have given verbal commitments but did not sign letters of intent during the early JUCO period.

Now that we have accounted for the JUCO players, here are the high school seniors and prep school prospects that have given non-binding verbal commitments to the Herd.

1) Kevin Anderson, QB, Boca Raton High School, Fla.

2) Jeremiah Benjamin, LB, McArthur High School, Fla.

3) Brandon Byrd, RB, East Bayside High School, Fla.

4) Cody Collins, OL, Arch Bishop Alter, Oh.

5) Stefan Houston, LB, Fork Union Military Academy, Va.

6) Chris Huhn, OL, Pickerington North High School, Oh.

7) Justin Hunt, WR, Whitehaven High School, Tenn.

8) Angelo Jean Louis, WR, Fork Union Military Academy, Va.

9) Josh Knight, WR, Fort Pierce Central High School, Fla.

10) Deontey McManus, WR, Atlanta Sports Academy, Ga.

11) Tony Pittman, RB, Phoebus High School, Va.

12) Shykeem Pitts, WR, Ridge Community High School, Fla.

13) Aaron Plantt, LB, Hallandale High School, Fla.

14) Michael Selby, OL, Washington County High School, Ga.

15) D’Andre “Chocolate” Wilson, DB, Myrtle Beach High School, Sc.

16) Gerald Wright, OL, Miami Northwestern High School, Fla.

A few of the prospects have already enrolled at Marshall. Anderson graduated from high school early and hopes to participate in spring practice if his broken collarbone is healed. The prep school players, Houston, Jean-Louis, and McManus are also already on campus.

Something else to keep in mind, Benjamin, Byrd, Houston, Jean-Louis, McManus, Pitts, and Pittman have eligibility concerns. Don’t be surprised if any of those players have to sit out a year before joining the football program. Although, I am hearing Jean-Louis will probably be fully qualified. His issue was getting into Miami, not getting past the NCAA clearinghouse.

Speaking of props, a few from last year will count against this classes scholarship number. Those players are, Kent Turene, Corey Tindal, and Gary Thompson. Even though they are not part of tomorrows recruiting class, you need to take account of Clemson transfer Josh Brown and Louisville transfer Larry Jefferson as they are taking available scholarships.

One other note about the 16 verbal’s, Plantt is only listed as a commitment by Scout.com, it would not surprise me if Marshall does not see a letter of intent from him tomorrow.

Moving on, the Herd is still competing for a number of prospects, here is a list.

1) Sandley Jean-Felix, OL, Boyd Anderson High School, Fla.

A long time FIU commitment, Jean-Felix re-opened his recruitment after the Golden Panthers fired Mario Cristobal. Was in Huntington last weekend for a official visit.

2) Michael Johnson, DB, Booker T. Washington High School, Fla.

Johnson committed to FSU almost a year ago but, grades might be an issue and he was at Marshall last weekend for a official visit.

3) Da’Wan Hunte, DB, Miami Central High School, Fla.

High school teammate of Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato and wide receiver Tommy Shuler. Took a official visit to MU in January and is deciding between the Herd and Purdue.

4) Elijah Daniel, DE, Avon High School, Ind.

The biggest prospect still on Marshall’s recruiting board, Daniel is a five star player and the brother of current Marshall defensive lineman Armonze Daniel. By all accounts the younger Daniel is deciding between Auburn and Mississippi but, you never know what can happen on signing day.  

Marshall head coach Doc Holliday has pulled a surprise recruit in each of his previous three recruiting classes. In year one it was tight end Gator Hoskins followed by defensive end Terry Franklin the next February. Offensive lineman Eric Ansley was last year’s surprise.

Please follow the Marshall Thundering Blog on Twitter (@MarshallTBlog) tomorrow as we will tweet out a compressive profile of each recruit when their letter of intent hits the Shewy Building. Like our profile says, we are the internet’s best source for free Marshall recruiting information.

Marshall Football: Brandon Byrd commits to Herd

First reported by Rivals.com, Brandon Byrd verbally committed to Marshall’s football staff during a official visit this weekend.

Standing six-feet, 185 pounds, Byrd was a versatile offensive weapon at East Bay High School, Fla. The teams primary ball carrier, he rushed for 470 yards and nine touchdowns while also catching 11 passes for 191 and two scores during his senior season.

Marshall appears to be the only school that offered Byrd a scholarship although, that could have more to do with grades than anything else. Don’t be surprised if he comes into college as an academic non-qualifier.

For more on Byrd follow the links below.

1) MaxPreps.com profile

2) Highlight video

BayNews9.com

Recruiting Update: Brandon Byrd, East Bay RB

Marshall Football: Sandley Jean-Felix Commits to Herd

Offensive line prospect Sandley Jean-Felix switched his commitment from FIU to Marshall during a official visit in Huntington this weekend.

A three star prospect out of Florida’s Boyd Anderson High School, Jean-Felix gave a verbal pledge to the Golden Panthers this fall but re-opened his recruitment after FIU fired former head coach Mario Cristobal in December. The offensive line coach on Cristobal’s staff, Alex Mirabal, is now a assistant at Marshall.

Rated the 7^th overall prospect in Broward County by the Miami Herald, Jean-Felix stands six-foot-five, 300 pounds. Besides Marshall and FIU he also received scholarship offers from Middle Tennessee, Texas Tech, and WVU.

For more on  Jean-Felix follow the links below.

1) Rivals.com profile

2) Sout.com profile

3) ESPN.com profile

4) 247Sports.com profile

5) Highlight video

Marshall Basketball: Herd Earns Big Win Over UCF, 75-71

Using a number of individual standout performances Marshall defeated UCF 75-71 Saturday afternoon in the Cam Henderson Center. The loss gives current Knight's and former Thundering Herd head coach Donnie Jones a 0-3 record in Huntington since leaving MU.

For more on today's game follow the links below.

Box Score

Charleston Daily Mail

Marshall men's basketball: Herd swats UCF, 75-71

Huntington Herald Dispatch

Herd beats UCF 75-71

Video: Tom Herrion Post Game Press Conference

HerdZone.com

Hot Shooting Leads Herd Over Knights

Charleston Gazette

Herd Downs UCF 75-71

Marshall Football: Bugeja Accepts Walk-On Spot

First reported by the Twitter account of Palm Beach Post reporter Jeff Greer, Royal Palm Beach High School, Fla., kicker Tyler Bugeja has accepted a preferred walk-on spot at Marshall.

Standing six feet, 160 pounds, Bugeja earned a number of honors during his senior year. He was named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Associations All Star game and was also a finalist for the Lou Groza award, honoring the best high school kicker in Palm Beach County.

For more on Bugeja follow the links below.

1) Kohl's Kicking profile
2) Highlight video

C-USA: Tulsa Likely Big East Bound

USA Today’s Dan Wolken is reporting that the Big East is likely to add a 12^th school and Conference USA member Tulsa is a strong favorite to fill that spot. According to Wolken, the Big East is waiting to finalize its television contract before extending a formal invitation.

Rumors of Tulsa’s exit from C-USA started in January when TU President Stedman Upham told the Tulsa Word that he would like to be aligned with institutions of a similar academic level.  

"I also want to be in a conference that we can be proud of academically”. Upham told the paper. “Losing two of the private schools (SMU and Tulane) in Conference USA is damaging to me, in the way I think about the conference”.

With the departure of SMU and Tulane and the addition of eight public schools, Tulsa will be one of only two (Rice) private universities in C-USA past 2014.

If Tulsa leaves, it has been rumored that Western Kentucky and New Mexico State are waiting in the wings to take the Golden Hurricanes spot. While New Mexico St. makes more sense geographically, replacing one school west of the Mississippi with another, Western Kentucky boast a superior football program when compared to the Aggies.

Either way, it looks like C-USA is in for another round of realignment.