— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall’s much-needed additions to its football roster by way of the ever popular NCAA Transfer Portal continue ahead of Tony Gibson’s first season as head coach.
Marshall has added two quarterbacks — Syracuse transfer Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and former Jacksonville State quarterback Zion Turner.
247 Sports had Del Rio-Wilson rated a four-star prospect out of high school. He originally signed with Florida before moving on to Syracuse. Del Rio-Wilson has thrown for 624 yards and four touchdowns in his career while adding 148 yards on the ground. He saw action for the Orange in 2022 and 2023, but not in SU’s recently-completed season.
Turner went up against Marshall in the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl while he played at Connecticut in a game the Herd won, 28-14.
Turner redshirted in 2023, then transferred to Jacksonville State, where he worked with new Marshall offensive coordinator Rod Smith.
There will be a distinct Spring Valley High School feel on the MU roster as three former Timberwolves — wide receiver Ben Turner, linebacker Zane Porter and offensive lineman Evan Ferguson have opted to join the Herd. The three are joining offensive lineman Bryce Biggs, a West Virginia transfer, as well as freshman Jalyn Abercrombie, as past Timberwolves staying nearby in Huntington.
Turner spent a season at Division II West Liberty and excelled, catching 46 passes for 854 yards and five touchdowns. He also threw a 44-yard touchdown.
Porter played at Morehead State last season, recording 59 tackles and one sack.
Ferguson, the son of Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame member Aaron Ferguson, comes to Marshall from Gardner-Webb.
Marshall has added a punter in Texas transfer Ian Ratliff, who has punted eight times in his college career for an average of 44 yards and with a long of 52.
The Herd also has two players joining the program from a school Marshall will face this fall in Middle Tennessee. Ex-Blue Raider safety Marvae Myers had 41 tackles and one interception last fall. He’s considered to have versatility in the secondary that allows him to play different positions.
Offensive lineman Morgan Scott is another former Middle Tennessee player headed to Marshall after he appeared in 17 games with three starts for the Blue Raiders.
Marshall has added a wide receiver from another Sun Belt Conference school as Zavier Short comes in from Appalachian State, where he saw action in seven games last season. He began his career at South Carolina.
Another receiver pickup is Ma’jon Wright from Valdosta State, a power Division II program. He had previous stops at Arizona and San Diego State. As a freshman at Arizona in 2020, Wright hauled in 15 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown.
The Herd’s running back room is being boosted by McNeese State transfer Jo’Shon Barbie. Barbie ran for 813 yards with eight touchdowns last fall for the Cowboys.
Marshall’s added a pair of linebackers in Jalen Marshall from Wofford and Javae Gilmore from Mississippi State.
Marshall had 94 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception in 2024 for the Terriers.
Gilmore was key contributors on special teams for the Bulldogs over the last two seasons.
Also set to join the Herd are Hampton offensive lineman Tyler McDuffie and Jackson State defensive back Cam Smith.
McDuffie earned second-team All-Coastal Athletic Association honors in 2024.
Smith, who began his college career at Eastern Michigan, had 27 tackles last season at Jackson State, including 2.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.