HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Just two games into his Marshall career, Tyre Brady has exploded onto the scene, giving the Herd its most dangerous playmaker since Tommy Shuler.
Brady put on a show Saturday night in a 37-20 loss at N.C. State after being questionable for much of last week. The transfer from Miami caught 11 passes and racked up 248 yards and a touchdown.
“I’m ready every time I go out there on the field. I don’t feel like anyone can stop me,” Brady said. “Every time I go out there, I want to make plays for my teammates. My team counts on me to make plays, so every time the ball is thrown my way, I feel I am supposed to go all out.”
Brady broke the stadium single-game receiving record in Raleigh, and was just 40 yards shy of Marshall’s program marked, owned by Randy Moss.
“It is a blessing to be up there with him. I didn’t even know when I was out there, I was just playing,” Brady said. “I watched Marshall when I was growing up, and I always wanted to make Moss-type catches going up over defenders, I always loved how he was a strong-handed receiver. Every receiver is influenced by his game, those big deep plays are the ones I love.”
Brady ranks fifth in FBS receiving yards with 302 and his big-play potential should draw plenty of attention from Kent State (1-1) on Saturday when the Flashes visit Marshall (1-1).
“I have a tough time believing Kent State comes in here and tries to play him man-to-man,” tight end Ryan Yuracheck said. “He brings a new element to our offense that we haven’t had here the past couple years, just a receiver that you legitimately can’t guard one-on-one.”
Coach Doc Holliday said Brady’s breakout start could force secondaries into bracket coverage.
“That means you are losing people in run support and opening up other areas,” Holliday said. “I would think after watching his tape, the other teams are going to be concerned about where he lines up. We haven’t had that around here in a while.”
Quarterback Chase Litton, whose 558 passing yards rank second in Conference USA, said he and Brady have been working for over a year to sync up their timing.
“He has that ‘it’ factor,” Litton said. “He is arguably our best player. He’s a phenomenal athlete and a great person. You can tell he wants to come in here everyday and work and be successful for this team.
“He is not a me guy, he is a we guy. From the hours we put into throwing after lifting, summer workouts, and spring ball.He is a guy that didn’t want a taste of us going 3-9. He took that personally and he has attacked the day ever since.”
— Troy Alexander