EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 10th in a series of previews on Marshall and West Virginia football opponents.
n Date with Marshall: Saturday, Oct. 3, 3:30 p.m., American Sports Network
n Site: Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,227, AstroTurf GameDay Grass MTO), Huntington
n Series: Marshall leads 1-0
n Last meeting: Marshall 56, Old Dominion 14, Oct. 4, 2014 at Norfolk, Virginia
n Coach: Bobby Wilder (seventh year, 52-20)
The Monarchs may have been crowned by Marshall, but they took out the top two teams from Conference USA's West Division. That signaled that, yes, this program is building the right way.
But let's see how this team does without a veteran, standout quarterback. Will the Monarchs take a step back with Taylor Heinicke gone, or will they stay the course?
QB-wise, the Monarchs may be all right with the highly touted Shuler Bentley. "He is way ahead of any freshman, including Taylor, I've ever been around," said offensive coordinator Brian Scott, who has been with the program since its 2009 founding.
Most of ODU's offense is back, including four linemen and C-USA freshman of the year Ray Lawry (947 yards, 16 touchdowns last year), who gained 131 yards in the Monarchs' 56-14 flogging by the Herd. Three starting receivers are back - Zach Pascal (59 catches, 743 yards, seven TDs), David Washington (47-599, four TDs) and Melvin Vaughn (30-315, three TDs).
Only five return on defense, but that may be good news. The Monarchs were riddled for 456 points, 122 combined against Marshall and Western Kentucky.
The best defenders could be the youngest, as tackle Bunmi Rotimi and safety Christian Byrum were both named to Conference USA's all-freshman team. Defensive end Poncho Barnwell (team-high 3.5 sacks) is back, as well as linebackers Martez Simpson (75 tackles) and TJ Ricks (81 tackles, 7.5 for loss). Fellonte Misher (79 tackles) plays alongside Byrum.
Punter Jarrett Cervi (40.5 yards per attempt) was another all-freshman pick.
n Offense: RB Ray Lawry, OL Darius Garcia
n Defense: DT Bunmi Rotimi, DB Christian Byrum
n Special teams: P Jarrett Cervi
ODU's perfect sellout streak is still alive at 20,118-seat S.B. Ballard Stadium, filled for all 41 games since the revival of the program. ... Last year, the Monarchs had 24 freshmen and sophomores on the two-deep, among the top 10 in the nation. They also played 21 first-time starters and 11 true freshmen. ... Famous ODU alums include Ben Bailey, host of the Discovery Channel game show Cash Cab.
Date Opponent 2014
Sept. 5 at Eastern Michigan W 17-3
Sept. 12 Norfolk State DNP
Sept. 19 North Carolina State L 34-36
Sept. 26 Appalachian State DNP
Oct. 3 at Marshall* L 14-56
Oct. 17 Charlotte* DNP
Oct. 24 Fla. International* W 38-35
Oct. 31 Western Kentucky* L 51-66
Nov. 7 at Texas-San Antonio* DNP
Nov. 14 Texas-El Paso* L 35-42
Nov. 21 at Southern Miss* DNP
Nov. 28 Florida Atlantic* W 31-28
* Conference USA games
n 2014 record: 6-6, 4-4 C-USA (T-3rd, East Division)
n Dropped: Hampton (W 41-28), Rice (W 45-42), Middle Tennessee (L 28-41), Vanderbilt (L 28-42), Louisiana Tech (W 30-27, OT)
- By Doug Smock