HUNTINGTON, W.Va.—After months of anticipation and offseason hype, the Thundering Herd finally took the field at Joan C. Edward Stadium to officially start the 2014 season Monday as preseason camp opened.
“I thought it was great. I thought we came out here with 100 percent effort. We flew around on both sides of the ball,” assessed Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Rakeem Cato.
The players have heard all the talk during the offseason about how 2014 has the potential to be an historic season for The Herd. They could not ignore if they tried. But rather than try to disregard the hype or downplay it, Herd players have embraced the expectations that are being piled on from outside the program and are using it as motivation this season.
“We want to be in this place right now,” insisted Cato. “We know what it takes to get there and we’ve got to work everyday. I think we’ll be ready for the challenge.”
There’s no more pressure on any one in the program than Cato who could rewrite Marshall’s passing records this year. The preseason Conference USA Player of the Year is already receiving attention from national medial outlets such as ESPN, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and others but Cato and the rest of The Herd are concerned about what people outside the program think.
“Now is the time that we put in the work,” said Cato. “We’re expecting a lot from each other and we’re holding each other accountable.”
“We’re going in with the attitude that we are the best team and we should win every game,” said senior tight end Eric Frohnapfel. “It doesn’t necessarily put pressure on, but it makes guys realize that we have to play on a high level because we have high expectations and we know how good we can be.”
Frohnapfel understand Marshall won’t sneak up on anybody this season. In fact Marshall has the target on its back.
“In past years, we sort of were surprising ourselves sometimes with the way we were able to play and able to beat people.”
The expectation inside the Marshall locker room may actually exceed what is being placed on the program outside the Shewey Building. Doc Holliday is counting on a strong senior class keep the program focused and not let the team assume teams are going to lay down for it.
“We have so many different leaders on offense and defense that it just keeps everybody focused on the goal at hand,” said sixth year senior James Rouse.
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Marshall released its preseason depth chart on Monday.
OFFENSE
WR (z) – 81 Craig Wilkins, 15 Angelo Jean-Louis, 82 Emanuel Beal
WR (x) – 6 Davonte Allen, 9 Justin Hunt, 80 Chris Alston Jr., 87 Rodney Allen
WR (slot) – 1 Tommy Shuler, 19 Deandre Reaves, 4 Demetrius Evans
LT – 71 Sebastian Johansson, 74 AJ Addison, 79 Fred Binot
LG – 52 Blake Brooks, 68 Tom Collins, 61 Will Mendoza
C – 60 Chris Jasperse, 65 Cody Collins, 76 Nate Devers
RG – 54 Michael Selby, Trevor Mendelson or 62 Chris Huhn, 58 Jordan Dowrey
RT – 78 Clint Van Horn, 67 Sandley Jean-Felix, 57 Eric Ansley
TE/H-back – 83 Eric Frohnapfel, 47 Devon Johnson, 16 Deon-Tay McManus or 89 Joe Woodrum
QB – 12 Rakeem Cato, 10 Gunnar Holcombe, 13 Cole Garvin
RB – 20 Steward Butler, 8 Remi Watson, 33 Brandon Byrd or 27 Tony Pittman
DEFENSE
DE – 40 Ra’Shawde Myers, 73 Joe Massaquoi
NT – 94 Jarquez Samuel, 93 Steve Dillon, 52 Malcolm Strong
DT – 11 James Rouse, 92 Ricardo Williams, 52 Malcolm Strong or 95 Tomell One
DE (Fox) – 59 Gary Thompson, 90 Arnold Blackmon, 13 Armonze Daniel
OLB (Sam) – 22 D.J. Hunter, 14 Raheem Waiters, 25 Kaleb Harris
MLB (Mike) – 46 Jermaine Holmes, 6 Neville Hewitt, 49 Cortez Carter, 50 Kent Turene
ILB (Will) – 31 Evan McKelvey, 3 Stefan Houston, 45 Raheim Huskey
CB (field) – 10 Corey Tindal, 5 Keith Baxter, 24 Michael Johnson
SS – 21 Tiquan Lang or 17 Taj Letman, 26 Kendall Gant
FS – 1 A.J. Leggett or 17 Taj Letman, 28 Corie Wilson
CB (boundary) – 7 Darryl Roberts, 24 Michael Johnson or 30 Donaldven Manning, 4 Chocolate Wilson
Nickel – 10 Corey Tindal, 24 Michael Johnson
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK – 23 Justin Haig or 48 Nick Smith
KO – 39 Amoreto Curraj, 30 Kaare Vedvik
P – 38 Tyler Williams, 48 Nick Smith, 30 Kaare Vedvik
LS – 88 Matt Cincotta, 64 Trevor Mendelson
H – 38 Tyler Williams, 10 Gunnar Holcombe
KR – 19 Deandre Reaves, 15 Angelo Jean-Louis
PR – 19 Deandre Reaves, 1 Tommy Shuler