Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Marshall

NC State and Marshall will kickoff tonight up in West Virginia at 7pm, but before they do, let’s get to know the Thundering Herd.

Marshall is coming off of a 8-5 record in 2017, which ended in a 31-28 victory over Colorado State in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. The Thundering Herd is off to a 2-0 start in 2018, with victories over Miami(OH) (35-28) and Eastern Kentucky (32-16).

Like the Wolfpack, the Herd had their Week 3 (South Carolina) game cancelled due to Hurricane Florence.

Wide Receiver Tyre Brady (6’3″) had a huge season last year as a Junior, with 62 catches for 945 yards and 8 touchdowns. All he did last season against NC State was set a single-game record for most receiving yards by an opponent in Carter-Finley Stadium, with 11 receptions for 248 yards and a touchdown. He’s off to a hot start again, posting 15 receptions for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns through 2 games. Wolfpack Junior Cornerback Nick McCloud will be given the task of chasing Brady all over the field tonight, as he has done with the opposing teams best receiver through the first two games (with much success).

Wolfpack Head Coach Dave Doeren mentioned this week that Marshall had more weapons this year than last year on offense, and one of the weapons he mentioned was Junior Wide Receiver Obi Obialo on the other side of Brady. Through 2 games, Obialo has 8 receptions for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Last season Marshall’s Quarterback was Chase Litton, and he threw for 350 yards and 2 touchdowns (1 interception) against the Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium. Litton decided to leave Marshall after his Junior season, and while he went undrafted, he is on the practice squad with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now the reins have been handed over to Freshman Isaiah Green who has an impressive passing efficiency rating of 141.7 through 2 games. He’s completed 62 percent of his passes, and has 5 touchdown passes to 1 interception.

The Thundering Herd’s rushing attack hasn’t been noteworthy over the first two games, rushing for 260 yards, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Marshall’s running game is really a two-headed monster of Senior Keion Davis and Sophomore Tyler King. Both running backs rushed for over 800+ yards in 2017. Davis was very efficient against the Wolfpack in Raleigh last year, rushing for 74 yards and averaging 9.3 yards per carry. Had the Herd not had to come from behind, he likely would have crossed the century mark. Davis has 28 carries through two games, compared to King’s 21, but King has averaged 4.7 yards per carry, compared to Davis’ 3.3.

The Offensive side of the ball has been Marshall’s strength through two games, averaging 33.5 points per game. They haven’t played a defense as good as NC State’s, but the Wolfpack haven’t played an offense like the Herd either. While the passing attack has been Marshall’s mojo thus far, expect them to try to establish the run, and keep the ball out of Ryan Finley’s hands.

The Marshall defense hasn’t been nearly as stingy as NC State, with the Herd giving up 22 points per game, compared to the Wolfpack’s 10.

The Miami (OH) quarterback put 357 yards on Marshall through the air in Week 1, accompanied by 3 passing touchdowns. This is the first week with NC State’s receiving corps is fully intact, and that doesn’t bode well for the Herd secondary. Stephen Louis is out of concussion protocol, Jakobi Meyers is back from an ankle injury, and Tight End Cary Angeline is eligible for the first time.

With that being said, the Wolfpack’s Band of Brothers will need to protect Finley, because Marshall is averaging 3.5 sacks per game. They will especially need pay close attention to Junior  Linebacker Chase Hancock who has 23 tackles and 2 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 sack through 2 games.