Marshall seemed to be on track to become one of the best Group of Five teams last season with a win at No. 8-ranked Notre Dame. But then the Thundering Herd lost their next two games at Bowling Green and Troy.
All the highs and lows ultimately culminated in a 28-14 win over UConn in the Myrtle Beach Bowl and a 9-4 overall record.
Marshall was just a couple games away from being in contention for a Sun Belt Championship. But the Herd have a shot at the title again in 2023.
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Marshall Football’s Over/Under Win Total
Marshall’s win total Over/Under is 7.5, with Under 7.5 at -150 and Over 7.5 at +125.
Marshall Football’s Schedule
9/2 vs UAlbany
9/9 at East Carolina
9/23 vs Virginia Tech
9/30 vs Old Dominion
10/7 at NC State
10/14 at Georgia State
10/19 vs James Madison
10/28 at Coastal Carolina
11/4 at Appalachian State
11/11 vs Georgia Southern
11/18 at South Alabama
11/25 vs Arkansas State
Bold indicates Sun Belt contests.
Key Marshall Football Returners
2022 All-Sun Belt 1st Team
DL Owen Porter
DB Micah Abraham
Honorable Mention
LB Eli Neal
Rasheen Ali And Cam Fancher Hope To Help Marshall’s Offense Become More Explosive
Marshall may have lost a couple of its top playmakers from last year, but there’s still plenty of talent on this side of the ball.
Cam Fancher threw for 1,558 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions on a 56% completion rate and ran for 466 yards and a touchdown in 2022. He’s back at quarterback, and Marshall also added former Morehead State passer Colin Parachek as well.
Khalan Laborn, who led the Sun Belt with 1,513 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing last season, is gone. But Rasheen Ali, who missed most of 2022 due to injury and rushed for 1,401 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2021 as a freshman, is back.
Marshall’s offensive line paved the way for the Herd to rank second in the Sun Belt with 205.9 rushing yards per game but also allowed the third-most sacks (36) in the league. The unit should benefit from continuity, though.
Left tackle Ethan Driskell, left guard Trent Holler, center Logan Osburn, and right guard Dalton Tucker all return after starting at least six games last season. Marshall also added former Florida State O-lineman Lloyd Willis via the transfer portal.
Marshall’s leading receiver in 2022, Corey Gammage, is gone. But two of the Herd’s top three pass catchers last year, Charles Montgomery and Talik Keaton, return. Marshall also added former Kentucky wide receiver DeMarcus Harris and former McNeese State wideout Mason Pierce as well as former UTEP tight end Luke Soto.
Owen Porter And Micah Abraham Fueling Elite Marshall Defense
Marshall was first in the Sun Belt in scoring defense with 16 points per game allowed and second in total defense with 294.5 yards per game allowed. Though just five of the Herd’s top 11 tacklers are back this season, a few of those returners are some of the best Group of Five players at their positions.
Defensive lineman Owen Porter and defensive back Micah Abraham are both back after making the all-conference first team, and linebacker Eli Neal returns after making the All-Sun Belt honorable mention list.
Porter led the Sun Belt with 15 tackles for loss and was second with 9.5 sacks. He added 60 total tackles, nine quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, and an interception.
Abraham tied for first in the league with six interceptions and was second with 16 passes defended. He also tallied 36 tackles.
Neal was the team’s leading tackler last season. He recorded 98 total tackles, 9.5 for loss, as well as nine quarterback hurries, three sacks, and three pass breakups.
Marshall also picked up players from other Division I schools to help at every level of its defense.
Defensive lineman Chris Thomas (Florida), Kylen McCracken (Ohio), and Michael Green (Virginia) have joined the Herd. Former Appalachian State linebacker Kesean Brown and former Southeastern linebacker Marc Viechec also joined Marshall. And defensive backs J.J. Roberts (Wake Forest), Josh Moten (Texas A&M), and Tah Mac Bright (Incarnate Word) hope to provide impacts in Marshall’s secondary.
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Marshall Football Season Prediction
Marshall won’t win the Sun Belt Championship and will be just shy of going over 7.5 wins.
The Herd will be a talented team that will be fun to watch. But their schedule is tougher than most other teams’ in the conference.
I’m expecting Marshall to go 2-2 in its non-conference slate. I think the Herd will win their first two games against UAlbany and at East Carolina, but then they’ll lose to Virginia Tech and NC State – though Marshall proved last year it’s capable of an upset.
Marshall’s Sun Belt schedule is difficult as well. The Herd have to play Coastal Carolina, App State, and South Alabama on the road. I believe Marshall loses two of those three games.
That’s also not to mention how the Herd host James Madison, which is another tough matchup. I believe that’s a fifth loss.
However, Marshall should take care of Old Dominion, Georgia Southern, and Arkansas State at home as well as win at Georgia State.
That would give Marshall seven victories, which would still be a winning season. But it might be considered a step back for the program after a nine-win season in 2022.
