Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Tight End U? Gaines the latest in a long line of Herd stars at the position
11/13/2020 6:08:00 PM | Football, Word on the Herd
Marshall leads C-USA in receptions, yards and touchdowns by tight ends
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall has long had a football program in which tight end was featured on offense.
In the '80s and '90s there were names like Sean Doctor, Mike Bartrum and Eric Ihnat. This century ushered in Thundering Herd greats like Cody Slate, Ryan Yurachek, Gator Hoskins and Lee Smith. Â
Most recently, Yurachek led Marshall in receiving touchdowns in 2017. Last season, Armani Levias led the team in receptions and receiving yards. This year, it is senior tight end Xavier Gaines keeping up the tradition. Gaines, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound versatile threat, is pulling off the receiving hat trick, leading the Herd in receptions (19), receiving yards (231) and receiving touchdowns (three).
"We try to put all of our players, but especially him, in the position to get one of those mismatches," said Kyle Segler, Gaines' position coach.
Gaines exploded for a seven-catch, 66-yard, two-touchdown performance last Saturday against UMass. He'll likely be featured again this Saturday against Middle Tennessee in a Conference USA matchup televised by CBS Sports Network. Kickoff is set for noon.
The Marshall depth chart thinned considerably against UMass, as tight ends and receivers were out for various reasons. Gaines, who can line up at tight end, receiver, quarterback and running back, stepped into a leading role and dazzled, even making SportsCenter's Top Plays with his second touchdown grab.
"We have to step up and do our job," Gaines said. "Last year that happened a lot. I love it. If I have to go out there and make plays, basically, whatever they want me to do. That's the type of guy I am. Whatever coach wants me to line up, wherever he puts me, I just have to do my job to the fullest of my potential.
"I definitely love it out there at wideout. Who wouldn't love it? A chance to get the ball and make plays."
Marshall (6-0, 3-0 C-USA) is developing quite a tradition at the position. In each of the last eight seasons a Herd tight end has made either the first team, second team or honorable mention all-conference.
The list
2019 – Armani Levias, second team
2018 – Armani Levias, honorable mention
2017 – Ryan Yurachek, first team
2016 – Ryan Yurachek, honorable mention
2015 – Ryan Yurachek, honorable mention
2014 – Eric Frohnapfel, honorable mention
2013 – Gator Hoskins, first team
2012 – Gator Hoskins, second team
Gaines appears poised to make it nine consecutive seasons. He ranks second among C-USA tight ends in receptions, first in receiving yards and is tied for second in receiving touchdowns.
He is moving up Marshall career lists, too. Gaines is knocking on the door of the Top 10 in program history for career receptions by a tight end, 14 behind Larry Carter (1967-69) and Levias. Gaines is 41 yards away from catching Lee Smith for No. 10 all-time in that category. Gaines already ranks No. 8 all-time among MU tight ends with seven career receiving touchdowns.
This season, it's not only Gaines doing the damage, though.
Marshall ranks No. 1 in Conference USA in receptions by a tight end and receiving yards by a tight end. The Herd is tied with WKU in touchdowns by a tight end with five. In the season opener against Eastern Kentucky, five different Marshall tight ends recorded a reception.
It is hard to deny – if you're a tight end who wants to be featured at the collegiate level, Marshall should be high on your list.
"It's one of the harder positions to recruit nowadays," Segler said. "With us, I've been very blessed. We have a lot of depth in the room and we have very talented football players who also happen to be very intelligent football players. The backgrounds of all these guys is what helps them be so successful on the field. X has the quarterback background, so does Garet Morrell. Devin Miller is probably one of the smartest football players I've coached in my career. Hayden (Hagler) and Amir (Richardson) being the young bucks coming in and kind of getting their opportunities in their limited roles.
"If you're a tight end in college football, having the opportunity to be showcased within an offensive scheme is pretty rare, and we're going to do a lot of cool stuff with those guys. We're only limited with how much they can handle, but thankfully we haven't found that threshold yet."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and an eight-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
