Before each Ohio State game, Eleven Warriors catches up with a media member who covers the opposing team to get his or her perspective on the Buckeyes' upcoming opponent.
Marshall
Thundering Herd
This week, we're joined by Luke Creasy, who covers the Thundering Herd for The Herald-Dispatch.
Among other topics, Creasy discussed Marshall coach Charles Huff (who had some entertaining one-liners earlier in the week), standout running back A.J. Turner and defensive end Mike Green and his prediction for how the game will play out.
A.J. Turner is off to an amazing start, running for 100-plus yards in both games despite not even being the team’s primary running back. Along with Jordan Houston, what have you made of Marshall’s backfield so far this season?
Luke Creasy: Turner has been waiting his turn for the last two years behind some really talented running backs who are now playing professionally (Rasheen Ali and Khalan Laborn) and is now getting his chance at significant playing time. He's probably got the highest ceiling of any of the three running backs Marshall is using and has shown it with two big runs of 80 and 69 yards in separate games. Houston and Ethan Payne are talented, but not as big of a threat as Turner, in my opinion.
Turner broke a bone in his hand in the season opener and was limited because of that against Virginia Tech but should be a full-go this week.
Marshall has been disruptive at times defensively, especially against the pass, averaging just 144 passing yards allowed per contest. On the other hand, the run defense has been suspect, allowing 151 rushing yards per game. Defensive end Mike Green has also been disruptive, racking up 3.5 sacks. What do you make of Green’s start to the season and what has been your impression of Marshall defensively?
Creasy: Green is the biggest threat on the defensive line and has come a long way since he joined the Herd as a transfer last season. He's got the talent to play on Sundays and is the emotional leader on that side of the ball. He's got a chance for a special season.
Defensively, the Herd is strong at all three levels but the depth of the D-line stands out and the efficiency of the linebackers has been a pleasant surprise after being a big question coming into the year.
Marshall quarterback Stone Earle seems to be a true dual-threat signal caller, though he’s only completing around 45 percent of his passes. What has worked well for Earle, and what needs to get better?
Creasy: It all has to do with timing. He's had good and bad moments but is the best option at quarterback for the Thundering Herd. His ability to run and extend plays has helped but he's got to be more accurate for the offense to work effectively. It's something they worked on over the off week. The offensive scheme is designed to get the ball out of his hands quickly which has helped limit sacks, but it's just not fully clicking yet for the Thundering Herd.
Amid his fourth season at the helm of Marshall, what have you made of the job head coach Charles Huff has done so far? The Thundering Herd upset Notre Dame in 2022 and went 9-4, but have remained either slightly below or slightly above .500 in his other two seasons.
Creasy: Huff is in a prove-it year, coaching in the final season of his current contract without public talks of an extension. He's had some really good moments and is 2-2 against Power 4 opponents but there have also been blunders and it almost always seems to revolve around the offense.
This is probably the deepest team, in terms of talent, that he's fielded in his four years. He was highly touted as a recruiter coming out of Alabama and has shown that.
What’s something else about Marshall on either side of the ball that Ohio State fans should know entering this matchup?
Creasy: Two Columbus, Ohio natives will start for the Herd in this matchup, one on each side of the ball. Offensive lineman Jalen Slappy grew up a Buckeyes fan and linebacker Jaden Yates, son of Marshall Hall of Famer Max Yates, is also from there. Both said they were excited to come back home.
Marshall is a 39.5-point underdog in this game, but it pulled off a massive road upset two years ago against Notre Dame. What are the keys for the Thundering Herd Saturday to at least slow down Ohio State?
Creasy: Have to play sound football. It doesn't have to be anything crazy, but if the Herd can't get the fundamentals right then they'll be behind the eight-ball right out of the tunnel. The first quarter will go a long way in determining the feel of the game, in my opinion. Weather the storm, survive the first push from Ohio State and see if you can't put pressure on the opponent with an early scoring drive, something they failed to do last game.
Finally, how do you envision this contest going and do you have a score prediction?
Creasy: I think Ohio State wins big but Marshall covers the spread. 48-20.
