Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Evans captaincy not a surprise
9/2/2020 11:38:00 PM | Football, Word on the Herd
Junior running back leads Herd against EKU
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – At the culmination of preseason football camp last month, Marshall head coach Doc Holliday called up four players to speak to the team. Three players shared their thoughts with their teammates, encouraging them to make the correct decisions and not jeopardize the season.
And then running back Sheldon Evans grabbed the microphone.
What ensued was emotional. It was moving. It came from a place deep inside Evans, who rushed for 375 yards on 69 carries last season. This is a player who sits behind Conference USA Most Valuable Player Brenden Knox on the depth chart, but he was summoned by the coaches to speak the truth to his teammates.
And Evans spoke, for sure.
"I wish you all would have had the opportunity to hear him talk to our team at practice," Marshall head coach Doc Holliday told the media Tuesday afternoon. "He's always got a great message."
Evans, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound junior from Roswell, Georgia, was one of four players Holliday announced as a game captain for this Saturday's 2020 season opener against Eastern Kentucky. The game, which will be played in front of a limited amount of fans at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, will kick off at 1 p.m., and be televised nationally by ESPN.
"Everybody knows what Knox is all about, but Knox himself would tell you that Sheldon Evans is as good of a leader as we have on this football team," Holliday said. "He's got such great respect from our team."
The other three captains announced by Holliday were seniors: Alex Mollette (offensive line), Tavante Beckett (linebacker) and Nazeeh Johnson (safety). Mollette has made 23 career starts, while Beckett and Johnson are the top two leading returning tacklers.
Evans has never started a game, although he has been impressive in relief of Knox. Evans averaged 5.4 yards per carry last season compared to Knox's 5.1.
"What a great story he is," Holliday said. "He came in here as a freshman and the work he's put into it and the respect he has from his teammates. It is a privilege to name Sheldon as one of our captains this week."
***
Holliday took time during his weekly press conference – this year being conducted virtually via a laptop computer – to commend the efforts of everyone who has contributed to Marshall football playing this season.
"There's been so much work from so many people to get to this point, from Mike Hamrick to all the doctors to the strength staff to the trainers," Holliday said. "I think I'd be remiss if I didn't start out this press conference by thanking everyone for making this happen and us getting to this point. I really appreciate everything they've done. Our players, everything they've had to deal with since May 30 to get us to this point. I can assure you they are excited, and our coaches are excited."
The Marshall football program is testing everyone associated with the team three times per week: Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. EKU is required to follow the same protocol.
"What I've told our team from day one: This is probably the most important year that I've ever been a part of," Holliday said. "Leadership and taking ownership of this football team is so important. It's not just what happens here but what happens when you leave this building that's going to play a part in us playing this season."
***
According to the Herald-Dispatch, redshirt freshman Grant Wells will start Saturday's game against EKU.
Holliday addressed Wells during Tuesday's press conference.
"The big thing is he was here for spring ball, he came in January of his freshman year," Holliday said. "We knew he had the skill set. We knew he could make all the throws. He has been around here a long time. Our players have great confidence in him. You guys who have seen practice have seen that he can make all of the throws. We have seen him from practice to practice. Our players have confidence in him."
Wells is a 6-2, 210-pound freshman from Charleston, West Virginia. He has never attempted a collegiate pass. He'll be backed up by redshirt freshman Luke Zban, a Huntington native.
***
Saturday will be an introduction to the unknown for Herd fans. Spring football drills were canceled before they could begin, and that's often an opportunity for Marshall's most fervent fans to take in a practice or the spring game and assess talent. Then, the coronavirus pandemic ruled out fans from attending preseason camp practices.
If there's a newcomer on the roster, Herd fans have not seen them in action.
"I think we've had a lot of kids that the fans are going to see for the first time on Saturday because there was no spring ball," Holliday said. "Normally they can come out to the spring game and see some newcomers. We've got some linebackers … a couple new guys in the secondary that are playing extremely well … we've got some receivers we like … the Woodyard guy from Nebraska, you're going to like watching him run, he can flat fly … Shadeed Ahmed, we like him a lot … there will be a lot of new faces running around out there."
The full depth chart for the EKU game is below:
OFFENSE
X-WR
13 Broc Thompson (So., 6-2, 188, Indianapolis, Ind.)
7 Corey Gammage (R-So., 6-4, 227, Delray Beach, Fla.)
Z-WR
1 Willie Johnson (R-Sr., 6-0, 176, Fort Myers, Fla.)
0 Jaron Woodyard (R-Sr., 5-11, 180, Gaithersburg, Md.)
A-WR
9 Talik Keaton (R-So., 6-1, 188, Sarasota, Fla.)
80 Shadeed Ahmed (So., 6-0, 166, Richmond, Tx.)
LT
50 Will Ulmer (R-Sr., 6-5, 314, Richmond, Ky.)
OR 79 Josh Ball (R-Sr., 6-8, 309, Fredericksburg, Va.)
52 Ethan Driskell (R-Fr., 6-9, 315, Louisville, Ky.)
LG
55 Alex Mollette (R-Sr., 6-3, 294, Suwanee, Ga.)
54 Zack Ferris (R-So., 6-5, 311, Somerset, Ky.)
C
78 Alex Salguero (R-Sr., 6-4, 325, Bradenton, Fla.)
70 Sean Behrens (R-Sr., 6-3, 320, Lithia, Fla.)
65 Logan Osburn (R-Fr., 6-3, 296, Ona, W.Va.)
RG
62 Cain Madden (R-Sr., 6-3, 313, South Webster, Ohio)
63 James Magee (R-Jr., 6-4, 315, Anaheim, Ca.)
RT
79 Josh Ball (R-Sr., 6-8, 309, Fredericksburg, Va.)
OR 71 Tarik Adams (R-Sr., 6-4, 329, Valdosta, Ga.)
56 Kendrick Sartor (R-Jr., 6-6, 299, Cincinnati, Ohio)
TE
11 Xavier Gaines (R-Sr., 6-3, 220, Frostproof, Fla.)
83 Devin Miller (R-Jr., 6-3, 233, Metuchen, N.J.)
OR 12 Garet Morrell (R-Sr., 6-3, 251, Leesburg, Ga.)
QB
8 Grant Wells (R-Fr., 6-2, 210, Charleston, W.Va.)
17 Luke Zban (R-So., 6-2, 202, Huntington, W.Va.)
RB
20 Brenden Knox (R-Jr., 6-0, 223, Columbus, Ohio)
5 Sheldon Evans (R-Jr., 5-11, 200, Roswell, Ga.)
DEFENSE
DE
2 Darius Hodge (R-Jr., 6-2, 245, Wake Forest, N.C.)
18 Charlie Gray (Jr., 6-3, 209, Edwardsville, Ks.)
NT
92 Rodney Croom (R-Jr., 6-3, 265, Cincinnati, Ohio)
90 Esaias Carpenter (R-Jr., 6-3, 286, Wichita, Ks.)
95 Kyron Taylor (R-Jr., 6-2, 296, Homestead, Fla.)
DT
99 Jamare Edwards (R-Jr., 6-3, 270, Miami, Fla.)
15 T.J. Johnson (R-Sr., 6-5, 263, Southfield, Mich.)
59 Immanuel Bush (Fr., 6-1, 257, Lancaster, S.C.)
DE
32 Koby Cumberlander (R-Jr., 6-3, 247, Roswell, Ga.)
55 Owen Porter (R-So., 6-2, 240, Huntington, W.Va.)
58 Elijah Alston (R-Fr., 6-3, 245, Chesapeake, Va.)
SLB
41 Abraham Beauplan (Jr., 6-0, 220, Boynton Beach, Fla.)
25 J'Coryan Anderson (So., 6-2, 229, Knoxville, Tn.)
MLB
24 Eli Neal (So., 6-1, 240, Memphis, Tn.)
16 Brian Cavicante (R-Sr., 6-0, 229, Portsmouth, Va.)
WLB
4 Tavante Beckett (R-Sr., 5-10, 214, Chesapeake, Va.)
40 Domenick Murphy (R-Jr., 6-1, 215, Weirton, W.Va.)
CB
7 Jaylon McClain-Sapp (R-Sr., 5-11, 181, Jacksonville, Fla.)
10 Joshua Bowers (Jr., 5-9, 181, Bradenton, Fla.)
FS
13 Nazeeh Johnson (R-Sr., 5-10, 200, Martinsburg, W.Va.)
21 E.J. Jackson (So., 6-1, 176, Belle Glade, Fla.)
SS
1 Derrek Pitts (R-Jr., 6-0, 187, Dunbar, W.Va.)
14 Naquan Renalds (R-Jr., 6-2, 189, Winter Garden, Fla.)
CB
3 Steven Gilmore (Jr., 5-11, 175, Rock Hill, S.C.)
6 Micah Abraham (So., 5-10, 178, Tampa, Fla.)
Nickel
3 Steven Gilmore (Jr., 5-11, 175, Rock Hill, S.C.)
13 Nazeeh Johnson (R-Sr., 5-10, 200, Martinsburg, W.Va.)
SPECIALISTS
KO
97 Daton Montiel (R-Fr., 5-11, 189, Pompano Beach, Fla.)
OR 35 Cameron Shirkey (Fr., 5-10, 190, Carroll, Ohio)
PK 96 Shane Ciucci (R-So., 5-8, 180, Livonia, Mich.)
OR 35 Cameron Shirkey (Fr., 5-10, 190, Carroll, Ohio)
P
43 Robert LeFevre (R-Sr., 6-2, 209, Hilliard, Ohio)
97 Daton Montiel (R-Fr., 5-11, 189, Pompano Beach, Fla.)
H
43 Robert LeFevre (R-Sr., 6-2, 209, Hilliard, Ohio)
97 Daton Montiel (R-Fr., 5-11, 189, Pompano Beach, Fla.)
LS
48 Zach Appio (R-Jr., 5-11, 195, Normal, Ill.)
42 Eric Brown (Fr., 6-3, 218, Williamstown, W.Va.)
KR
5 Sheldon Evans (R-Jr., 5-11, 200, Roswell, Ga.)
22 Rasheen Ali (R-Fr., 6-0, 200, Cleveland, Ohio)
0 Jaron Woodyard (R-Sr., 5-11, 180, Gaithersburg, Md.)
20 Brenden Knox (R-Jr., 6-0, 223, Columbus, Ohio)
PR
9 Talik Keaton (R-So., 6-1, 188, Sarasota, Fla.)
13 Broc Thompson (So., 6-2, 188, Indianapolis, Ind.)
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).
