January 2001

1.27.2001 - Commitments. I recently received this list of players that have committed to the Herd from Chris.
Here's a rundown of the players who have verbally committed to play at Marshall next season:
Kiel Angry, a 5-9, 195-pound, running back from Lee County High School in Leesburg, Ga. Angry ran for 1,650 yards as a junior and 850 as a senior. He had offers from South Carolina, Clemson and Central Florida, among others.
Steven Belletta, a 6-2, 285-pound, center-guard from Nassau Community College in Garden City, N.Y. Is said to be an outstanding run blocker. Belletta picked Marshall over Temple and Kent State.
Reggie Hayes, a 6-4, 250-pound defensive end from Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, a native of Wilmington, N.C., is taking a roundabout route to Marshall.Hayes signed with North Carolina State out of high school, but didn't qualify academically. After a season at Fork Union, Hayes committed to Virginia, but the NCAA Clearinghouse didn't certify his eligibility in time for him to play there and he sat out this season.Hayes scored a 1020 on his college entrance exam, making him eligible for the 2001 season. Hayes, who runs 40 yards in 4.6 seconds and also was a standout basketball player, can be a premier defender.
Nate Manns, a 6-4, 210-pound wide receiver from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, W.Va. He rushed for 648 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Manns chose Marshall over Illinois and Ohio.
Carlos Morgan a 6-foot-1, 230- pound linebacker from Jackson GA. picked Marshall over Middle Tennessee State and Georgia Southern. Morgan, who runs 40 yards in 4.65 seconds and power cleans 300 pounds, was a four-year starter..
Jeff Mullins, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound tight end from Gallia Academy in Gallipolis, Ohio. He caught eight passes for 100 yards in five games last season. He chose Marshall over Ohio, Miami (Ohio) and Duke.
Demarcus Thomas, a linebacker from Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Ga., said he will play at Marshall.The Thundering Herd no doubt hopes Thomas, who is 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, is as good as the other Cedar Grove players it recruited. Linebacker Andre O'Neal of the Kansas City Chiefs and defensive end B.J. Cohen, a star in the Arena Football League, are former Cedar Grove players who played at Marshall. Thomas made a verbal commitment to sign with Marshall in February. Thomas was a three-year starter and recorded a team-high 101 tackles last season. He also was Cedar Grove's leading rusher from his fullback position and was an all-DeKalb County pick. He selected Marshall over Clemson and Auburn. Georgia Tech also showed interest in him.
Spencer Young, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end from Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Young had 12 sacks. He picked Marshall over Syracuse.
Sam Erny, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound kicker from DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, said he will play for the Thundering Herd. Erny was recruited by Purdue, Louisville, Cincinnati and Northwestern,.
Dennis Thornton, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound cornerback from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va.Thornton verbally committed to Marshall on Monday, selecting the Thundering Herd over Kent State and East Tennessee State. Virginia also had shown interest.
Kendrick Starling, who is 6-1, 180-pounds, has committed to play for Marshall University next season. The all-conference receiver from Navarro College in Texas was considered by some the top JC receiver in the country. In two seasons at Navarro, Starling caught 112 passes for 2,953 yards and 21 touchdowns to help the Bulldogs to back-to-back 8-3 seasons. He chose Marshall over Kansas State, Pittsburgh, Washington State, Texas A&M and New Mexico.
Ace Withrow, a defensive lineman from Lexington, Ky., said he will play football at Marshall.Withrow, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end, has scholarship offers from Ohio, Cincinnati, Toledo and Louisville. He has played defensive end, defensive tackle and tight end.
Moriah Anderson, a defensive back from Fort Washington, Md., said he'll play football at Marshall.Anderson, who is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, starred as a quarterback and defensive back for Friendly High School, a Class AAA power in Maryland. He runs 40 yards in 4.5 seconds.
Kevin Atkins, a standout linebacker from Richmond, Va., said he'll play football at Marshall. Atkins, a 6-foot-3, 225-pounder from Henrico High School, also visited Ohio State and Michigan State. South Carolina, Miami, Tennessee, Virginia and Boston College, among others, had shown interest in Atkins, who had 230 tackles, 12 sacks and eight interceptions in the last two seasons. Atkins said Ohio State, Michigan State and Boston College had offered scholarships. The Ohio State offer came before coach John Cooper was replaced by Jim Tressel.
J.T. Rembert, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound safety-linebacker from Oakland Mills High School said he'll play for the Thundering Herd. Oakland Mills graduates already at Marshall are tight end Gregg Kellett and cornerback Fardan Carter.
Willie Smith, a defensive back from Florida, is the latest recruit to verbally commit to Marshall.Smith, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound cornerback from Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., chose Marshall over Central Florida and Western Michigan. < Chris: herdone@webtv.net > Let us know of any new up and coming players.

1.23.2001 - Commitments. Let us know of any new up and coming players.

Rumor 1.10.2001 - Run to the Hills. UPDATED 1.23.2001 This is a follow up to the info on the running back in school. After further investigation I did get his correct name as first thought it is Marquis Hairston. He originally gave VATech a verbal commitment back in 2000. He is a prop 48 an will be playing for the HERD this year. He was listed at 6'2" 210, 4.5 in the forty and has great break away power. However the Herd coaching staff has placed him at linebacker. This is the big back Marshall has always needed and now he is at linebacker. Things may change at least I hope so. <Anonymous>
I recently received this rumor via the web from a local Herd fan about a running back whose name is Marquis Thomas. "He is out of Virginia where he played prep football.
I understand he is around 6'2" and in the 220lb range. Has good speed in the 40 at 4.5. I also "HERD" that while in prep school he had big games against VATech and KY junior varsity teams. He is suppose to eligible in fall 2001". Supposedly Marquis enrolled at MU this past fall. Let us know what you've herd. <Anonymous>

Comment 1.06.2001 - Home on the Range. I'm sure you all know what the "Thundering Herd" represents. Buffalo.. right? Wrong, actually it's the American Bison (Buffalo live in Africa and Asia). For all of you that would like to know a little more about our beloved Marco check out the Wind Cave National Park or the Eastern Bison Association. And of course the real Herd fan will be interested in buying their very own bison at Blue Mountain Bison (acreage required).

Rumor 1.5.2001 - Good-bye C-USA. All you C-USA backers listen closely. I heard today from my barber that the Herd has indeed tried to join C-USA in the past. But guess who voted us out? None other than Louisville and Cincinnati. Go figure, I guess we put the nail in the coffin on the 27th! Let us know what you think or what you've herd.

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