— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — When spring football practices ended a month ago for Marshall, second-year head coach Charles Huff made it a point to say the Thundering Herd weren’t done adding to the roster.
Huff’s claim proved true on Thursday as Marshall added two players from the NCAA Transfer Portal.
The biggest addition for Marshall appears to be former Louisville offensive lineman Tim Lawson. At 6-6 and 305 pounds, Lawson brings size and adds depth to the MU offensive line.
Lawson is the second offensive lineman to transfer to Marshall from a Power 5 school this spring, with the other being Cedrice Paillant, who committed to Marshall in mid April after leaving Rutgers.
Lawson, who hails from Fort Washington, Maryland, never appeared in a game for the Cardinals. He was a part of Louisville’s 2020 recruiting class and picked U of L over West Virginia, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Rutgers, Kentucky, Maryland, Kent State, Massachusetts, Toledo and Virginia.
✍️🎼✅ @CoachHuff @HerdFB pic.twitter.com/buJTWPCz1p
— AyeTim (@flyastim) May 26, 2022
Lawson told the Herald-Dispatch he was attracted to Marshall because of the program’s family atmosphere and the care for players shown by the coaching staff. He was also encouraged by Marshall’s ability to place linemen on NFL rosters.
The Thundering Herd’s second addition was ex-Alabama A&M safety DeMarco Gibson, who saw action in seven games last season.
Gibson was in on 13 tackles and had one interception.
GoHerd!🦬💚🖤 #Committed✅ @CoachHuff @HerdFB pic.twitter.com/CsKyPJVcyl
— Demarco Gibson (@gibson_demarco) May 26, 2022
Gibson is the third safety from an FCS school to transfer to Marshall, joining Isaiah Norman from Austin Peay and Andre Sam from McNeese State.
Early Game Times Announced
The Sun Belt Conference has announced early season starting game times. Marshall’s home opener on September 3 against Norfolk State will kick off at 3:30 p.m. at Joan C. Edwards Stadium and will be shown on ESPN 3.
The Herd’s September 10 game at Notre Dame is a 2:30 p.m. kickoff and will be shown on NBC.
Marshall’s September 17th game at Bowling Green will begin at 5 p.m.
The Herd’s home game on Wednesday, October 12 against Louisiana will start at 7:30 p.m. and be shown on ESPN2.
Sun Belt Spring Meetings
Sun Belt Athletic Directors and coaches recently held the league’s spring meeting in Miramar Beach, Florida and new member Marshall was represented as well as other new league members Old Dominion, Southern Miss and James Madison.
The Athletic Directors reaffirmed their commitment to divisional scheduling in football and that the Sun Belt football championship game will feature the West Division Champion versus the East Division Champion.
There was also approval of a recommendation from the volleyball coaches to allow all 14 teams to participate in the women’s volleyball championship conducted in November in Foley, Alabama.
The ADs approved instant replay for both baseball and softball. They also increased the conference required number of broadcasts for baseball and softball.