— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall’s special teams will underdog significant personnel change in Tony Gibson’s second season as head coach.
Kicker Lorcan Quinn and punter Nathan Totten have made known their intention to leave the Marshall program, while Totten has already settled on his next program and pledged a commitment to Virginia Tech.
As a freshman in 2025, Quinn set several kicking records for Marshall, including: Most field goals in a season (21); most 50-plus yard field goals in a career (4) and most consecutive games with two or more field goals (5). He was also among national leaders in kickoff touchback percentage and average yards per kickoff.
Totten, who hails from nearby Ashland, Kentucky, served as both a punter and kicker in two years at Marshall. He concentrated on punting last season and recorded a Marshall single season record 45.6 yards per punt.
The Marshall program may have already found its next kicker in Cooper Heimbach, a native of Wheelerburg, Ohio, who is already on campus. Marshall has also offered highly-touted kicking prospect in Stephen Gonzales, who visited campus last weekend.
As for recent additions, former Buffalo defensive back Charles McCartherens has committed to the Herd. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound McCartherens redshirted last fall after seeing action in four games. He has two years of eligibility left.
Another former Buffalo Bull will be donning green and white in the secondary as well, with defensive back Eddie Pleasant III having committed to Marshall. Pleasant began his career at Michigan State and played the last two seasons at Buffalo.
Offensive lineman Jaquez Turner committed to the Herd. The 6-4, 285-pound Turner was a freshman at UCF last fall, but did not see action for the Knights. He has four years of eligibility remaining.
Some defensive line help is headed to Huntington in the form of former UTSA Roadrunner Mike Williams. The 6-5, 275-pound Williams did not play for the Roadrunners last fall after coming from Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College. He has two remaining years of eligibility.
Additional depth along the defensive front has been secured in the form of Virginia Union transfer Keydel Painter.
The Herd is keeping it in the family with the commitment of West Georgia running back T.J. Lester, the brother of Marshall defensive back commitment Tristan Lester. T.J. Lester rushed for 432 yards on 101 carries with six touchdowns last season for West Georgia.
A name Mountain State football fans are plenty familiar with will also be at Marshall as offensive lineman Robby Martin has left West Virginia for the Herd.
A standout at Huntington High School, Martin began his collegiate career at North Carolina State before joining the Mountaineers and playing sparingly in 2025.
The 6-3, 302-pound Martin had 29 scholarship offers following a decorated career with the Highlanders.
Besides Totten’s move to Virginia Tech, other past Marshall players to find new programs include defensive linemen Sid Kaba and Naquan Crowder to Minnesota, defensive lineman Jamaal Whyce to Baylor, quarterback JacQai Long to Kentucky, linebacker Jibreel Al-Amin to Kansas, running back Michael Allen to East Carolina and offensive lineman Christian Richter to Connecticut.