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Marshall coach Doc Holliday and his young quarterback saw the two injured Appalachian State players on the ground after a collision. So they knew what to do next. Holliday called for redshirt freshman Grant Wells to run toward the side of safety Ryan Huff's replacement. Wells scored on a 12-yard run late in the third quarter, Marshall's defense came up with stop after stop and the Thundering Herd beat No. 23 Appalachian State 17-7 on Saturday. Marshall (2-0) defeated a ranked opponent for the first time since winning at No. 6 Kansas State in 2003. It also was the Thundering Herd's first victory over a ranked opponent at home since 1976. Appalachian State (1-1) squandered a couple of late opportunities and was held scoreless in the second half. "For our program, it's huge," Holliday said. "I thought our guys accepted that challenge. I thought the defensive play was special."

Wells had a lackluster game but put together consecutive big plays that made the difference late in the third quarter. He threw a 67-yard pass down the middle to a wide open Xavier Gaines to the Appalachian State 12. Huff and Mountaineers cornerback Shaun Jolly were shaken up on the tackle. Holliday told Wells to keep the ball on the next play, and Wells trotted into the end zone untouched. "We called that play knowing they had a new safety in the game," Holliday said. Wells finished 11 of 25 for 163 yards after throwing four TD passes in his debut two weeks ago, a 59-0 win over Eastern Kentucky. - Marshall/AP College Football

(DS#17 RB) rJr/2021

RB *Brenden Knox, Marshall
News Source: Marshall/AP College Football
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09/18/20 - Tavante Beckett, rSr/2021, Marshall, 5-10, 220 (DS#20 OLB) + More +

Tavante Beckett caused a lot of issues in Conference USA during his first Marshall season. Beckett, whose college career started at Virginia Tech, led the conference with 121 total tackles. A senior this season, he also had seven tackles for a loss, four pass breakups, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one interception in 2019. - Winston-Salem Journal

(DS#20 OLB) rSr/2021

OLB Tavante Beckett, Marshall
News Source: Winston-Salem Journal
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09/12/20 - Eli Neal, rSr/2024, Marshall, 6-0, 222 (DS#36 ILB) + More +

With Marshall signing several graduate transfer and junior college players in its 2020 recruiting class, linebackers whose names were thrown out included Brian Cavicante, Abraham Beauplan and Charlie Gray. During Saturday's 59-0 win over Eastern Kentucky, however, it was Neal who matched a team-high with eight tackles in his first career start to help lead the Thundering Herd defense in its shutout. For Neal, it was a chance to make a statement, and he took advantage. "It was no secret," Neal said. "Everybody reads articles. Everybody said that we were the question mark on defense coming back. I wasn't too worried about it because I had guys like Omari Cobb in front of me that I was able to sit down and watch. When I did come in, I got to come in when the tone was already set."

Marshall head coach Doc Holliday said that Neal's ability to grow into a role behind Cobb last year was valuable as he made the transition to starting middle linebacker this season. "There's no question that him playing as a freshman has helped him," Holliday said. Neal said it was just about making the mental change from maintaining the tone that was set by Cobb and other linebackers to being the guy who sets the tone for the defense now. "That was the only change coming into this year," Neal said. "I tried not to put too much on myself - just know that coming in, we've got to set the tone and get it rolling." - Charleston Gazette

(DS#36 ILB) rSr/2024

ILB Eli Neal, Marshall
News Source: Charleston Gazette
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08/31/20 - Josh Ball, rSr/2021, Marshall, 6-7, 308 (DS#28 OT) + More +

2021 SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST: Josh Ball, Marshall,...The Fredericksburg, Va. native made an immediate impact on the offensive line last season, seeing action in all 13 games, including one start (WKU). However, he shared significant reps in a tackle rotation with Will Ulmer and Tarik Adams. That helped the team's rushing game finish second in Conference USA in rushing, paving the way for C-USA MVP running back Brenden Knox. - Marshall Football

(DS#28 OT) rSr/2021

OT Josh Ball, Marshall
News Source: Marshall Football
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08/29/20 - Henry Colombi, rSr/2023, Marshall, 6-2, 228 (DS#44 QB) + More +

Texas Tech's newest quarterback transfer Henry Colombi has been granted a waiver from the NCAA granting him immediate eligibility to play in the 2020 season. The junior transferred from Utah State, where he was a backup to Jordan Love for the last two season.Love was a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Colombi has two years of eligibility remaining and will likely be the backup to Alan Bowman this season. After Bowman's history of injuries the Red Raiders finally have another backup with starting experience at the collegiate level. Over the course of the last two seasons at Utah State, Colombi played in 13 games, passing for 460 yards, completing 53 of 69 passes, and 139 rushing yards. - Dallas Morning News

(DS#44 QB) rSr/2023

QB Henry Colombi, Marshall
News Source: Dallas Morning News
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08/27/20 - *Brenden Knox, rJr/2021, Marshall, 5-11, 215 (DS#17 RB) + More +

2020 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM (COACHES): RB Brenden Knox, Jr., Marshall,...Last year, Knox amassed a league-high 1,387 yards and 11 touchdowns on 270 carries (also tops in C-USA). He also caught 14 passes for 129 yards. His rushing yardage total also ranked third nationally among sophomores. - Marshall Football

(DS#17 RB) rJr/2021

RB *Brenden Knox, Marshall
News Source: Marshall Football
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08/27/20 - Tavante Beckett, rSr/2021, Marshall, 5-10, 220 (DS#20 OLB) + More +

2020 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM (COACHES): LB Tavante Beckett, R-Sr., Marshall,...Beckett was also selected to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, an honor that is given annually to nation's defensive player of the year. The Chesapeake, Virginia native amassed a league-high 121 tackles in 2019 en route to Conference USA first-team honors. - Marshall Football

(DS#20 OLB) rSr/2021

OLB Tavante Beckett, Marshall
News Source: Marshall Football
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08/27/20 - Nazeeh Johnson, rSr/2022, Marshall, 5-10, 199 (DS#17 FS) + More +

2020 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM (COACHES): DB Nazeeh Johnson, R-Sr., Marshall,...Johnson was also an honorable mention all-league honoree in 2019, racking up 88 tackles and seven passes defended in 2019. This summer, Athlon also added him to its preseason all-conference team. - Marshall Football

(DS#17 FS) rSr/2022

FS Nazeeh Johnson, Marshall
News Source: Marshall Football
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08/27/20 - Talik Keaton, rSr/2024, Marshall, 5-11, 182 (DS#241 WR) + More +

2020 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM (COACHES): PR Talik Keaton, R-So., Marshall,...Keaton was Conference USA's top punt returner in 2019 and was the only freshman in the league to be named to C-USA's first team. A year ago, he returned 16 kicks for 202 yards and one touchdown. He was second nationally in punt return yards among freshmen. This summer, Phil Steele also added him to his preseason all-league squad. - Marshall Football

(DS#241 WR) rSr/2024

WR Talik Keaton, Marshall
News Source: Marshall Football
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08/25/20 - *Brenden Knox, rJr/2021, Marshall, 5-11, 215 (DS#17 RB) + More +

2020 PRESEASON CONFERENCE USA COACHES OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Brenden Knox, R-Jr., RB, Marshall,...Knox became the second sophomore and second running back to be named C-USA MVP since the award was instituted in 2008. Knox led the league with 1,387 rushing yards in 2019, an average of 107.0 per game and also ran for 11 touchdowns. His yardage total is the seventh-best in program history and is 13th-best among all FBS players this season. Knox was even better against league foes in 2019, averaging 123.5 yards against C-USA competition with seven scores in eight games. - Conference USA Football

(DS#17 RB) rJr/2021

RB *Brenden Knox, Marshall
News Source: Conference USA Football
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08/14/20 - Micah Abraham, rSr/2024, Marshall, 5-10, 185 (DS#30 CB) + More +

There is usually an awkward transition when a football player is making the adjustment from one position to another. Such is not the case for Marshall defensive back Micah Abraham. Abraham's move from safety to cornerback is one that makes him feel right at home - literallly. That's because Abraham grew up learning everything about cornerback from his father Donnie Abraham, who played nine years (1996-2004) at the position in the NFL with Tampa Bay and the New York Jets. Abraham's first playing time at Marshall came at safety, which was a position of need in 2019. Abraham took the opportunity and ran with it, earning Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors.

Now, Thundering Herd coaches want to see him at cornerback early in camp because of the skill set he possesses. Abraham is excited about that. "One big thing for being a DB is that you want to play in multiple positions," Abraham said. "When you make it to the next level, you can know that, 'OK coach, I know this position. Just put me there if somebody goes down." Abraham doesn't need much acclimation to the cornerback spot. After all, it is the position he was recruited to play when he signed with Marshall. - Charleston Gazette

(DS#30 CB) rSr/2024

CB Micah Abraham, Marshall
News Source: Charleston Gazette
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08/07/20 - *Brenden Knox, rJr/2021, Marshall, 5-11, 215 (DS#17 RB) + More +

For Knox, the focus is never on what he's done; instead, it's about what he hasn't done or what he feels he doesn't do well. Knox credited that demeanor to a coaching staff that accents areas of needed improvement while keeping him grounded and hungry for more. He showed no hesitation when asked about the areas where he can improve in his second full year as the starting running back for the Herd. "Route-running, little things, you can always get better at pass protection," Knox said. "Tedious things as a running back. The end goal is to be complete, so whatever gets me closer to that goal."

With a new quarterback behind center for 2020, Knox knows his presence is likely elevated for the Herd's success. Knox also knows that other teams will devise game plans to take him away from the offense as best as possible by trying to find weaknesses in his game and force the Herd into those situations. Therefore, the goal over the next four weeks is to train as hard as he's ever trained to be ready for whatever is asked of him in 2020. For Knox, it's one thing to make it to the top. It's another to stay on top. "You've just got to take it where it's at," Knox said. - Charleston Gazette

(DS#17 RB) rJr/2021

RB *Brenden Knox, Marshall
News Source: Charleston Gazette
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07/30/20 - Khalan Laborn, rSr/2023, Marshall, 5-09, 204 (DS#24 RB) + More +

After redshirting his freshman year, Laborn appeared in two games in 2018 before suffering a gruesome knee injury that cut his season short. He returned the next season, appearing in 10 games primarily as the backup to Cam Akers, rushing for 297 yards and four touchdowns on 63 carries. The sophomore set a career high in rushing with 69 yards against Clemson on Oct. 12 and a career high in scoring with two touchdowns against Alabama State on Nov. 16. But a violation of team rules led to his suspension for the team's regular-season finale against Florida and he didn't appear in the team's Sun Bowl game against Arizona State. Laborn was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after a traffic stop in late 2018. He expected to compete with Texas A&M transfer Jashaun Corbin for the starting tailback job heading into fall camp. - Orlando Sentinel

(DS#24 RB) rSr/2023

RB Khalan Laborn, Marshall
News Source: Orlando Sentinel
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07/28/20 - Khalan Laborn, rSr/2023, Marshall, 5-09, 204 (DS#24 RB) + More +

Redshirt junior running back Khalan Laborn is expected to be removed from the football roster Tuesday. Laborn was dismissed from the team for "a violation of team policy," according to a FSU spokesperson. Laborn, a former five-star recruit from Virginia Beach, Va., was expected to compete for the starting running back job this season. Laborn's career at FSU has been filled with injuries and off-field incidents. He was sent home from the Independence Bowl his freshman year, and suffered a season-ending knee injury two games into his redshirt freshman season in 2018. - Tallahassee Democrat

(DS#24 RB) rSr/2023

RB Khalan Laborn, Marshall
News Source: Tallahassee Democrat
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07/28/20 - Willie Johnson, rSr/2022, Marshall, 5-10, 183 (DS#115 WR) + More +

Call Marshall senior wide receiver Willie Johnson the silent assassin. Well, for now, anyway. Marshall offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey is hoping that Johnson is less than silent during the 2020 season after a stellar per-touch production chart in 2019. On 21 offensive touches, Johnson averaged nearly 23 yards with six touchdowns. As he moves into his final year in a Marshall uniform, Cramsey expects big things from the productive speedster from Fort Myers, Florida. "He's an explosive player, averaging 23 yards per touch," Cramsey said. "He had the luxury of being the reverse guy or the post guy or the deep ball guy, you know. He's a home run hitter.

To put it in perspective, Johnson's numbers would have led the nation in offensive yards per touch had he gotten enough touches to qualify. Johnson's six touchdowns show exactly the dynamic he can bring offensively: receiving touchdowns of 29, 60, 18 and 70 yards, along with rushing scores of 40 and 27 yards. The goal is to find ways to maximize his yards per touch while increasing the volume in 2020. "He's got to take that step to be a more complete receiver," Cramsey said. "He and Talik Keaton are major guys for us moving forward." - Charleston Gazette

(DS#115 WR) rSr/2022

WR Willie Johnson, Marshall
News Source: Charleston Gazette
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