Marshall football looking for second C-USA title under Doc Holliday in 2020

Can defense keep things close on the scoreboard in 2020?

Since cratering as a unit in 2016, Marshall has rebuilt its defense over the past three seasons in a way that bodes well for future potential. With 63 percent of their defensive productivity returning from a group that allowed only 380 yards and 25 points per game in 2019, the Thundering Herd have a good shot to at least maintain their gains of the past few years as they wait for their offense to catch back up in quality.

The secondary looks like the strongest unit of the bunch throughout the defense, with senior safety Nazeeh Johnson and junior defensive back Steven Gilmore anchoring a group that picked off 10 passes in 2019 and finished middle of the road by allowing 232 passing yards per game. Bolstering an already experienced group is former West Virginia safety Derrek Pitt.

There are some question marks in the linebacking corps, where Tavante Beckett is the only man back with real playing experience at the position. Beckett did lead the team with 122 tackles last season, so he is certainly a solid building block, but the other linebackers will be inexperienced as they aim to maintain their solidity against the run. Delaware State transfer Brian Cavicante offers some experience on the field, if not in the Herd scheme.

Focusing on the rebuilt defensive line

Darius Hodge is the only starter returning from the 2019 defensive line, leaving a major rebuilding effort at the point of attack. How well Marshall can cobble things together along the line will determine whether their defensive numbers rise or fall over the course of an already uncertain 2020 campaign.

Hodge will not be without any assistance, by any means. In a reserve role last season, Koby Cumberlander finished tied for second in sacks on the team with 4.5 quarterback takedowns and racked up 31 total tackles. Cumberlander will get the chance to improve those numbers as a starter in his junior season.

At the interior positions, Rodney Croom and Jamare Edwards look like the most likely candidates to take over at the tackle spots. Unlike the other levels of the defense, though, there are no major reinforcements from outside the program to help the rebuilding effort. If Marshall is going to maintain its status over the past three seasons as a top-35 defense against the run, they will need new players to step up immediately.