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By KYLE LUTZ
HUNTINGTON -- Going into the 2016 season, Marshall had secured five consecutive bowl victories. Unfortunately, for the Thundering Herd, that streak came to a bitter end after a disappointing 3-9 season. After a 62-0 victory over Morgan State to start the season, Marshall dropped seven of its next eight games. After defeating Middle Tennessee, Marshall fell in the final two games of the season. The Thundering Herd were tied for last in their conference division.
Coach Doc Holliday and Marshall will look to put a disappointing season behind them as it opens against Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 2. The Thundering Herd starts the season competing against four non-division opponents in North Carolina State, Kent State and Cincinnati.
Leading the way for the offense is junior quarterback Chase Litton, who had a solid outing in 2016. During his sophomore campaign, the signalcaller threw for 2,612 yards and 24 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions while completing 62 percent of his passes.
This year, however, he will have to find chemistry with new receivers as the the top four receivers in yards from last year are gone in Michael Clark (37 receptions, 632 yards and five TDs); Josh Knight (62-631-5); Deon-Tay McManus (40-453-3) and Justin Hunt (23-324-5).
However, one of Litton's targets from last year is catching some eyes early. Senior tight end Ryan Yurachek has been named to the Preseason All-Conference USA list along being selected to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. Yurachek caught 28 passes for 298 yards and five scores last season. Also looking to start at receiver are junior Tyre Brady and redshirt freshmen Darian Owens and Willie Johnson.
In the backfield, Marshall returns a group that struggled mightily in 2016 as the Thundering Herd combined for 1,298 yards on 396 carries (averaged 3.3 a carry) and 12 scores.
Keion Davis, who led the team in carries yards and scores returns. The redshirt junior ran for 469 yards on 113 attempts and found the end zone six times. Anthony Anderson, another redshirt junior will be back in the green and white as he had 339 yards and two scores last season along with redshirt senior Tony Pittman, who ran for 331 yards and two touchdowns and senior Hyleck Foster (68-291-1). Junior Trey Rodriguez will look to see some time as well.
On the line, sophomore center Levi Brown -- who was also selected to the Preseason All-Conference USA list -- returns along with Jordan Dowrey, Sandley Jean-Felix and Nathaniel Devers. A.J. Addison looks to be the other starting lineman.
On the defensive side, one of the top players returning is junior defensive end Ryan Bee. He compiled 54 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season.
Senior cornerback Rodney Allen and sophomore Chris Jackson, senior safety Kendall Grant and junior linebacker Chase Hancock look to be the key playmakers on defense. Blake Keller, Channing Hames, Davon Durant, Juwon Young, Donyae Moody, Artis Johnson, C.J. Reavis and George Davis also look to be the starters on defense.
Locally, Weir's Domenick Murphy is on the Thundering Herd roster as a linebacker.
Amoreto Curraj comes back to the Herd as the kicker. Last year, he went 39 of 42 on extra point attempts and 4 of 10 on field goals.
Holliday is assisted by Chuck Heater, Bill Legg, Adam Fuller, Todd Goebbel, Alex Mirabal, Pepe Pearson, J.C. Rice, Dallas Barker, Mark Gale, Graham Hobbs, Mike Maloney, Cornell Brown, Cortez Carter, Deane Chetham and Mike Treier.
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