Marshall’s Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (7) speaks with JacQai Long (6) as the Thundering Herd conducts its first spring practice on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Marshall’s Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (7) speaks with JacQai Long (6) as the Thundering Herd conducts its first spring practice on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON — Thursday’s disappointment turned to Friday’s pleasure then to Wednesday’s elation.
Marshall University football coach Tony Gibson said he’s happy with the way the Thundering Herd has progressed since last Thursday. Friday’s scrimmage, in particular, stood out.
“It was really good,†Gibson said of the scrimmage. “It went back and forth. It was what I wanted to see. Thursday, I was kind of frustrated with where we were, but Friday we did some good things and we’re getting better. That’s all I can ask at this point.â€
Marshall’s players didn’t regress during the weekend days off.
“I’m really, really happy that Friday carried over to Tuesday and to today,†Gibson said Wednesday. “These guys have a lot of juice, a lot of energy. I challenged them and they accepted the challenge. We’ve stacked a couple of good days together.â€
The Herd was enthusiastic Wednesday, ending its workout with Rece Verhoff making a 60-yard field goal that fired up the squad.
Several players left the field smiling, happy with their performances and the team’s progression under its new head coach.
Quarterback Zion Turner, a junior transfer from Jacksonville State, said he’s surprised at how quickly the rest of the offense has picked up coordinator Rod Smith’s attack. Smith was offensive coordinator at Jacksonville State the last three seasons.
“This is my second year in this offense,†Turner said. “It’s been a real journey for me getting better day in and day out. Coach Gibson wants us to come in with a goal to get better each day.â€
Turner said he’s helping other players, even his competitors at quarterback, learn and execute the offense.
“I wouldn’t be a good teammate if I didn’t,†said Turner, a 6-foot-1, 205- pound native of Miami.
Turner completed 149 of 258 passes for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns, and ran 90 times for 262 yards, in his best season at Jacksonville State. He’s somewhat familiar with Marshall from having been Connecticut’s quarterback against the Herd in the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl, which Marshall won 28-14.
Another quarterback, Syracuse transfer Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, caught Gibson’s attention.
“I’m really impressed with Carlos this week,†Gibson said. “He’s had a really good week.â€
Gibson also mentioned defensive back Cam Smith, a Cleveland native and transfer from Jackson State.
“He’s had a tremendous spring,†Gibson said of Smith. “And I’m really excited about our specialists. Rece has a really strong leg and I’m happy with where he is.â€
Gibson said familiarity has bred success.
“Guys play a lot faster when they know what they’re doing,†Gibson said. “From where we started in March to where we are now, we’re light-years ahead of where we were. Now, we’re going to see how good we can get over these next three or four practices.â€
Despite the advances, Gibson said the Herd won’t have a depth chart until August.
