— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall’s football program announced the addition of 24 new players to its roster and much of the help is coming to the Herd’s defense.
“I’m really excited about this class,” Herd head coach Charles Huff said. “We were able to attract some quality people, students and players to Marshall University. The young men in this class will help us continue toward our championship goals as a program while also serving as intricate pieces of this university and community.”
The list includes 13 additions through the NCAA Transfer Portal, including former Wake Forest defensive back J.J. Roberts, who played his high school football not far from the Marshall campus at Cabell Midland.
Another defensive addition arriving through the portal is former Appalachian State linebacker Kesean Brown, who started eight games for the Mountaineers last fall.
Other defenders added from the portal are: defensive lineman Michael Green from Virginia, linebacker Tah Mac Bright from Incarnate Word, Ohio University defensive lineman Kylen McCracken, Texas A&M defensive back Josh Moten, Florida defensive lineman Chris Thomas and Southeastern University linebacker Marc Viechec.
Among additions from the portal on the offense are offensive lineman Chinazo Obobi from London, England, who comes to Huntington from Laney College and was considered Europe’s top line prospect in high school. Other offensive additions from the portal are former Kentucky wide receiver DeMarcus Harris, wide receiver and returner Mason Pierce from McNeese State, tight end Luke Soto from UTEP and offensive lineman Lloyd Willis from Florida State.
Marshall added a trio of freshman signees Wednesday to go along with a group of others that signed in December. The newcomers are Jayven Hall, a three-star linebacker out of Roswell, Georgia; defensive back Tashawn Jeter out of Winston Salem, N.C; and Mathis Haygood, a linebacker from Fayetteville, Ga. Jeter is also a three-star talent named as one of North Carolina’s top 50 prospects.
Huff says the haul of recruits was a credit to the entire MU staff.
“I’m very appreciative of the staff and all the hard work they put in as we continue to close the gap,” Huff said.
The Thundering Herd is coming off a 9-4 season in its initial Sun Belt Conference campaign last fall which ended with a 28-14 win over Connecticut in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. The Herd ended the season with five consecutive wins.
Marshall opens spring practice on March 27 and wrap up spring football with the annual spring game on April 22.
Members of the Class of 2023
2/1, 11:53 a.m.: Mathis Haygood, LB, 6-3, 210, Fayetteville, Ga., Sandy Creek, H.S.
2/1, 8:42 a.m.: Tashawn Jeter, DB, 6-2, 180, Winston Salem, N.C., R.J. Reynolds H.S.
2/1, 7:18 a.m.: Jayven Hall, LB, 6-2, 230, Woodstock, Ga., Roswell H.S.
Enrolled: Jaden Yates, LB, 6-1, 220, Chicago, Ill./Columbus, Ohio, Gahanna Lincoln H.S.
Enrolled: Caleb Clark-Glover, DB, 5-11, 165, Springdale, Ohio, Cincinnati Princeton H.S.
Enrolled: Kesean Brown, LB, 6-2, 230, Columbia, S.C., Appalachian State
Enrolled: J.J. Roberts, DB, 6-0, 190, Hurricane, W.Va., Wake Forest
Enrolled: Josh Moten, DB, 6-0, 175, Waldorf, Md., Texas A&M
Enrolled: Chris Thomas, DL, 6-5, 315, Tallahassee, Fla., Univ. of Florida
Enrolled: Kylen McCracken, DL, 6-3, 305, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Ohio University
Enrolled: Michael Green, DL, 6-4, 250, Williamsburg, Va., Univ. of Virginia
Enrolled: Marc Viechec, LB, 6-0, 225, Naples, Fla., Southeastern Univ.
Enrolled: Tah Mac Bright, DB, 6-2, 180, Houston, Texas, Incarnate Word
Enrolled: Chinazo “C.K.” Obobi, OL, 6-5, 310, London, England, UK, Laney College
Enrolled: Lloyd Willis, OL, 6-7, 315, Miami, Fla., Florida State
Enrolled: Luke Soto, TE, 6-4, 260, Tehachapi, Calif., UTEP
Enrolled: DeMarcus Harris, WR, 6-1, 190, Vero Beach, Fla., Kentucky
Enrolled: Mason Pierce, WR, 5-7, 165, Pearland, Texas, McNeese State
Signed (December): Ian Foster, DB, 5-11, 180, Brundidge, Ala., Pike County H.S.
Signed (December): Beni Tshita, DL, 6-3, 260, Louisville, Ky., Dupont Manual H.S.
Signed (December): Tracy Stephens, TE, 6-5, 260, Columbia, S.C., Ridge View, H.S.
Signed (December): Ahmere Foster, DB, 5-9, 165, Miami, Fla., Christopher Columbus H.S.
Signed (December): Shawn Rouse, OL, 6-4, 260, Milton, W.Va., Cabell Midland H.S.
Signed (December): C.J. Davis, DB, 6-0, 175, Fort Wayne, Ind., Bishop Dwenger H.S.