HUNTINGTON - Marshall's 2012 signing class gives coach Doc Holliday a lot of what he wanted, in quantity and quality. If all goes well, he and his staff will be hunting only for the latter in 2013.
HUNTINGTON - Marshall's 2012 signing class gives coach Doc Holliday a lot of what he wanted, in quantity and quality. If all goes well, he and his staff will be hunting only for the latter in 2013.
The Herd unveiled a class of 30 Wednesday, 15 brand-new signees and 15 who are enrolled with varying program statuses.
That will have to be whittled to 25, but with grayshirts, prep-school detours and nonqualifiers, that will magically happen. That accounts for most of those enrolled (see signee bios, Page 4B).
But the 25 that emerge will give Holliday close to the roster depth he hasn't quite had the last two years. And this team is still young, with fewer than 10 seniors this fall.
"We'll be at the point next year where we're at 82, 83 scholarship players," Holliday said. "I think we're 75, 76 this year, so we're getting closer to 85."
The Herd got quantity where it needed it most, and got some variety in the process. A partial list of features:
An infusion of offensive linemen.
Two junior-college prospects (Gage Niemeyer, Billy Rone) will be asked to help right away, with Cameron Dees arriving as a center off a Florida large-school state champion. Clint Van Horn of Beckley's Woodrow Wilson High School grayshirted from 2011, and Eric Ansley, Tyler Combs and Josh Murriel also signed.
"That's one area we talk about that we're continuing to fix," Holliday said. "For the first time, we have 16 scholarship offensive linemen, and that's where we want to be."
Another batch of linebackers.
This isn't just about the position being suspect last season, though it lacked speed among the upperclassmen. There is another reason for quantity at that position.
"You can't get enough of those guys, for special-team purposes," Holliday said. "The biggest improvement that we made from our first year to our second year was our play on special teams. About every game we won was on special teams."
Speaking of special teams, a desperately needed long-snapper. With a little speed.
Tyson Gale has graduated and James Power isn't considered the answer. Matt Cincotta, also a linebacker, is expected to fill the bill and then some.
"Matt Cincotta is not only a great long snapper, he's a great football player," Holliday said. "He's not big, but he can run like crazy. Now it will give us a long snapper who can run. Tyson was a good snapper, but he couldn't run."
A quarterback.
The Herd has three of those in the fold, but that whittled down to Rakeem Cato and emergency QB Jermain Kelson for the bowl game. The Herd had to have another one, even after Trenton Norvell flipped to Cincinnati.
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Herd signing class brings in quality, quantity
HUNTINGTON - Marshall's 2012 signing class gives coach Doc Holliday a lot of what he wanted, in quantity and quality. If all goes well, he and his staff will be hunting only for the latter in 2013.
The Herd unveiled a class of 30 Wednesday, 15 brand-new signees and 15 who are enrolled with varying program statuses.
That will have to be whittled to 25, but with grayshirts, prep-school detours and nonqualifiers, that will magically happen. That accounts for most of those enrolled (see signee bios, Page 4B).
But the 25 that emerge will give Holliday close to the roster depth he hasn't quite had the last two years. And this team is still young, with fewer than 10 seniors this fall.
"We'll be at the point next year where we're at 82, 83 scholarship players," Holliday said. "I think we're 75, 76 this year, so we're getting closer to 85."
The Herd got quantity where it needed it most, and got some variety in the process. A partial list of features:
An infusion of offensive linemen.
Two junior-college prospects (Gage Niemeyer, Billy Rone) will be asked to help right away, with Cameron Dees arriving as a center off a Florida large-school state champion. Clint Van Horn of Beckley's Woodrow Wilson High School grayshirted from 2011, and Eric Ansley, Tyler Combs and Josh Murriel also signed.
"That's one area we talk about that we're continuing to fix," Holliday said. "For the first time, we have 16 scholarship offensive linemen, and that's where we want to be."
Another batch of linebackers.
This isn't just about the position being suspect last season, though it lacked speed among the upperclassmen. There is another reason for quantity at that position.
"You can't get enough of those guys, for special-team purposes," Holliday said. "The biggest improvement that we made from our first year to our second year was our play on special teams. About every game we won was on special teams."
Speaking of special teams, a desperately needed long-snapper. With a little speed.
Tyson Gale has graduated and James Power isn't considered the answer. Matt Cincotta, also a linebacker, is expected to fill the bill and then some.
"Matt Cincotta is not only a great long snapper, he's a great football player," Holliday said. "He's not big, but he can run like crazy. Now it will give us a long snapper who can run. Tyson was a good snapper, but he couldn't run."
A quarterback.
The Herd has three of those in the fold, but that whittled down to Rakeem Cato and emergency QB Jermain Kelson for the bowl game. The Herd had to have another one, even after Trenton Norvell flipped to Cincinnati.
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HUNTINGTON - Marshall's 2012 signing class gives coach Doc Holliday a lot of what he wanted, in quantity and quality. If all goes well, he and his staff will be hunting only for the latter in 2013.
The Herd unveiled a class of 30 Wednesday, 15 brand-new signees and 15 who are enrolled with varying program statuses.
That will have to be whittled to 25, but with grayshirts, prep-school detours and nonqualifiers, that will magically happen. That accounts for most of those enrolled (see signee bios, Page 4B).
But the 25 that emerge will give Holliday close to the roster depth he hasn't quite had the last two years. And this team is still young, with fewer than 10 seniors this fall.
"We'll be at the point next year where we're at 82, 83 scholarship players," Holliday said. "I think we're 75, 76 this year, so we're getting closer to 85."
The Herd got quantity where it needed it most, and got some variety in the process. A partial list of features:
An infusion of offensive linemen.
Two junior-college prospects (Gage Niemeyer, Billy Rone) will be asked to help right away, with Cameron Dees arriving as a center off a Florida large-school state champion. Clint Van Horn of Beckley's Woodrow Wilson High School grayshirted from 2011, and Eric Ansley, Tyler Combs and Josh Murriel also signed.
"That's one area we talk about that we're continuing to fix," Holliday said. "For the first time, we have 16 scholarship offensive linemen, and that's where we want to be."
Another batch of linebackers.
This isn't just about the position being suspect last season, though it lacked speed among the upperclassmen. There is another reason for quantity at that position.
"You can't get enough of those guys, for special-team purposes," Holliday said. "The biggest improvement that we made from our first year to our second year was our play on special teams. About every game we won was on special teams."
Speaking of special teams, a desperately needed long-snapper. With a little speed.
Tyson Gale has graduated and James Power isn't considered the answer. Matt Cincotta, also a linebacker, is expected to fill the bill and then some.
"Matt Cincotta is not only a great long snapper, he's a great football player," Holliday said. "He's not big, but he can run like crazy. Now it will give us a long snapper who can run. Tyson was a good snapper, but he couldn't run."
A quarterback.
The Herd has three of those in the fold, but that whittled down to Rakeem Cato and emergency QB Jermain Kelson for the bowl game. The Herd had to have another one, even after Trenton Norvell flipped to Cincinnati.
Enter Gunnar Holcombe.
"I think every recruiting year, you need to get at least one quarterback," Holliday said. "We can throw it, but he's athletic enough. He's probably similar to [Blake] Frohnapfel, probably not as fast. Great arm, intelligent, tough kid."
Some West Virginia ties.
This state cannot fill out a Thundering Herd squad, but state native Holliday wants them when he can find them. If you stretch the definition, he has four.
Van Horn is one, and linebacker Ryan Riedel of Cabell Midland is another. Combs is another prospect in a historical pipeline from Lawrence County, Ky., just across the Big Sandy River from Fort Gay.
Devon Johnson is from Richlands, Va., southwest of Bluefield. Holliday said he used to live in West Virginia coalfields.
"He had 40 points and 26 rebounds in his last basketball game," Holliday said. "He's going to give us the type of athlete we need at linebacker to match up against the Houstons, make us more athletic on the second level."
And finally, some star power.
Cornerback AJ Leggett is the most notable name in the class, and recruiting coordinator JuJuan Seider had to work overtime to keep him from flipping to Tennessee.
"JuJuan talked to him multiple times last night, and so did I," Holliday said. "Until that paper comes in, you're never sure. In 30 years, I've been burned once or twice, and I was hoping that wasn't a time I got burned.
"He's what they say he is. He's got all the skills to play corner, he's a big corner. Talk about a guy you want to draw up, that's what he is."
Kevin Grooms is an ESPNU Top 150 prospect who did not qualify and enrolled last fall at MU.
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
Herd signing class brings in quality, quantity
HUNTINGTON - Marshall's 2012 signing class gives coach Doc Holliday a lot of what he wanted, in quantity and quality. If all goes well, he and his staff will be hunting only for the latter in 2013.
The Herd unveiled a class of 30 Wednesday, 15 brand-new signees and 15 who are enrolled with varying program statuses.
That will have to be whittled to 25, but with grayshirts, prep-school detours and nonqualifiers, that will magically happen. That accounts for most of those enrolled (see signee bios, Page 4B).
But the 25 that emerge will give Holliday close to the roster depth he hasn't quite had the last two years. And this team is still young, with fewer than 10 seniors this fall.
"We'll be at the point next year where we're at 82, 83 scholarship players," Holliday said. "I think we're 75, 76 this year, so we're getting closer to 85."
The Herd got quantity where it needed it most, and got some variety in the process. A partial list of features:
An infusion of offensive linemen.
Two junior-college prospects (Gage Niemeyer, Billy Rone) will be asked to help right away, with Cameron Dees arriving as a center off a Florida large-school state champion. Clint Van Horn of Beckley's Woodrow Wilson High School grayshirted from 2011, and Eric Ansley, Tyler Combs and Josh Murriel also signed.
"That's one area we talk about that we're continuing to fix," Holliday said. "For the first time, we have 16 scholarship offensive linemen, and that's where we want to be."
Another batch of linebackers.
This isn't just about the position being suspect last season, though it lacked speed among the upperclassmen. There is another reason for quantity at that position.
"You can't get enough of those guys, for special-team purposes," Holliday said. "The biggest improvement that we made from our first year to our second year was our play on special teams. About every game we won was on special teams."
Speaking of special teams, a desperately needed long-snapper. With a little speed.
Tyson Gale has graduated and James Power isn't considered the answer. Matt Cincotta, also a linebacker, is expected to fill the bill and then some.
"Matt Cincotta is not only a great long snapper, he's a great football player," Holliday said. "He's not big, but he can run like crazy. Now it will give us a long snapper who can run. Tyson was a good snapper, but he couldn't run."
A quarterback.
The Herd has three of those in the fold, but that whittled down to Rakeem Cato and emergency QB Jermain Kelson for the bowl game. The Herd had to have another one, even after Trenton Norvell flipped to Cincinnati.
