Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Football Announces Class of 2023
2/1/2023 9:11:00 AM | Football
Many new Thundering Herd players will participate in spring drills
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall head coach Charles Huff officially welcomed several new members to his Thundering Herd football family on Wednesday as part of National Signing Day festivities.
Huff, who also took part in 'Marshall Day at the Capitol' festivities on Wednesday, said the needs filled with this class will help Marshall's football program maintain its momentum after a successful first season in the Sun Belt Conference.
"I'm really excited about this class!" Huff said. "We were able to attract some quality people, students and players to Marshall University. The young men in this class will help us continue toward our championship goals as a program while also serving as intricate pieces of this university and community."
Marshall is coming off a 9-4 season during its first year in the Sun Belt Conference and won five straight games to end the season – the sixth-longest winning streak currently in FBS football.
The Class of 2023 offered a mix of high school talent and transfer portal additions that will bolster Marshall's needs in all three phases both immediately and for the long-term.
One of the more recognizable transfer additions on the list is local talent J.J. Roberts, who played his high school football at nearby Cabell Midland. After playing at Wake Forest for the last three seasons, Roberts returns to his hometown where he will again team up with former high school teammate Logan Osburn, Marshall's center and leader on the offensive line.
Roberts was one of several players targeted on the defensive side of the football by Marshall in this recruiting class, which helps shore up losses brought on by graduation on the back end of the defense.
In all, 17 of Marshall's announced signees are projected to line up on defense for the Thundering Herd. That number includes seven defensive backs.
Another addition of note for Marshall's defense this year is former App State linebacker Kesean Brown, who appeared in 49 career games for the Mountaineers. Brown started eight games for App State last season.
One of the most intriguing signees for the Class of 2023 comes to bolster the front of the Marshall offense as Chinazo "C.K." Obobi joins the Thundering Herd. Obobi, a London, England, product, is a three-star prospect that is ranked as the No. 1 offensive lineman in Europe.
In addition to the wealth of transfers for Huff, there were two high school signees added to the class on Wednesday that will bring plenty of talent to the team on the defensive side.
Jayven Hall is a three-star linebacker out of Roswell (Ga.) High School who had nearly 30 offers, including many Power Five schools, but felt at home with the Herd after his visit on January 13.
Hall will join defensive back Tashawn Jeter out of Winston Salem, N.C. Jeter is also a three-star talent named as one of North Carolina's top-50 prospects. He chose Marshall over offers from Arkansas, Iowa State and Old Dominion.
Many of the transfers included in this year's class are already enrolled for the spring semester at Marshall and will participate in spring drills.
The Thundering Herd also added several players in December's early signing period – names such as Cabell Midland offensive lineman Shawn Rouse, Columbus Gahanna's Jaden Yates (son of former Marshall linebacker Max Yates) and several others who will grow within the program.
"I'm very appreciative of the staff and all the hard work they put in as we continue to close the gap," Huff said.
With the signing class announced, focus now shifts to finishing the Fourth Quarter program and getting set for spring practice, which starts on March 27.
Marshall's annual spring game will be played on April 22.
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Members of the Class of 2023
11:53 a.m.: Mathis Haygood, LB, 6-3, 210, Fayetteville, Ga., Sandy Creek, H.S.
8:42 a.m.: Tashawn Jeter, DB, 6-2, 180, Winston Salem, N.C., R.J. Reynolds H.S.
7:18 a.m.: Jayven Hall, LB, 6-2, 230, Woodstock, Ga., Roswell H.S.
Enrolled: Jaden Yates, LB, 6-1, 220, Chicago, Ill./Columbus, Ohio, Gahanna Lincoln H.S.
Enrolled: Caleb Clark-Glover, DB, 5-11, 165, Springdale, Ohio, Cincinnati Princeton H.S.
Enrolled: Kesean Brown, LB, 6-2, 230, Columbia, S.C., Appalachian State
Enrolled: J.J. Roberts, DB, 6-0, 190, Hurricane, W.Va., Wake Forest
Enrolled: Josh Moten, DB, 6-0, 175, Waldorf, Md., Texas A&M
Enrolled: Chris Thomas, DL, 6-5, 315, Tallahassee, Fla., Univ. of Florida
Enrolled: Kylen McCracken, DL, 6-3, 305, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Ohio University
Enrolled: Michael Green, DL, 6-4, 250, Williamsburg, Va., Univ. of Virginia
Enrolled: Marc Viechec, LB, 6-0, 225, Naples, Fla., Southeastern Univ.
Enrolled: Tah Mac Bright, DB, 6-2, 180, Houston, Texas, Incarnate Word
Enrolled: Chinazo "C.K." Obobi, OL, 6-5, 310, London, England, UK, Laney College
Enrolled: Lloyd Willis, OL, 6-7, 315, Miami, Fla., Florida State
Enrolled: Luke Soto, TE, 6-4, 260, Tehachapi, Calif., UTEP
Enrolled: DeMarcus Harris, WR, 6-1, 190, Vero Beach, Fla., Kentucky
Enrolled: Mason Pierce, WR, 5-7, 165, Pearland, Texas, McNeese State
Signed (December): Ian Foster, DB, 5-11, 180, Brundidge, Ala., Pike County H.S.
Signed (December): Beni Tshita, DL, 6-3, 260, Louisville, Ky., Dupont Manual H.S.
Signed (December): Tracy Stephens, TE, 6-5, 260, Columbia, S.C., Ridge View, H.S.
Signed (December): Ahmere Foster, DB, 5-9, 165, Miami, Fla., Christopher Columbus H.S.
Signed (December): Shawn Rouse, OL, 6-4, 260, Milton, W.Va., Cabell Midland H.S.
Signed (December): C.J. Davis, DB, 6-0, 175, Fort Wayne, Ind., Bishop Dwenger H.S.
Marshall football Class of 2023 bios
Biographical information for high school signees, arranged in alphabetical order
Caleb Clark-Glover
Position: DB
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
Hometown: Springdale, Ohio
High School: Cincinnati Princeton H.S.
Rated a three-star prospect and a 2nd Team All-Ohio selection after finishing with 32 tackles and nine pass breakups this year for Princeton. Also ran track. Committed to Marshall in June 2022. Chose Marshall over offers including Air Force, Army, Navy, Old Dominion and Toledo, among others.
C.J. Davis
Position: DB
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
High School: Bishop Dwenger H.S.
Rated a three-star prospect and the No. 24 prospect from Indiana by 247Sports after a season in which he registered 70 tackles while adding five interceptions and two forced fumbles. Also had 23 receptions for 340 yards and scored seven total touchdowns on the year. Committed to Marshall in June. Chose Marshall over offers including Air Force, Army, Central Michigan and Western Michigan.
Ahmere Foster
Position: DB
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
High School: Christopher Columbus H.S.
Rated as a three-star recruit after a season in which he helped lead Christopher Columbus to a state championship. For the year, he registered 53 tackles while adding four interceptions and one forced fumble. He also scored four touchdowns this season. Committed to Marshall in July. Chose Marshall over offers from Coastal Carolina, James Madison, Florida Atlantic and Akron.
Name: Ian Foster
Position: DB
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180
Hometown: Brundidge, Ala.
High School: Pike County
Foster is a three-star multi-talented athlete that impacted games for Pike County in many ways. In addition to being a defensive standout, Foster caught 28 passes for 895 yards and 19 touchdowns while adding two kickoff return scores and a punt return score. Foster chose Marshall over Vanderbilt, Navy and Army, among others.
Name: Jayven Hall
Position: LB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 230
Hometown: Woodstock, Ga.
High School: Roswell
Hall is a three-star linebacker in the Class of 2023 that has nearly 30 Division I offers. Visited Marshall on January 13. Only played in two games in 2022, but in 2021, Hall finished with 153 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions for Roswell. Hall chose Marshall over notable schools such as Colorado, Kansas State, Kansas, UCF, Houston, East Carolina, Memphis, Tulane, Syracuse, Coastal Carolina, Charlotte and Georgia State.
Name: Mathias Haygood
Position: LB
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210
Hometown: Fayetteville, Ga.
High School: Sandy Creek H.S.
Haygood joins Sandy Creek High School teammate Mikailin Haygood as part of the 2023 class for the Thundering Herd. Haygood was selected as a Georgia 5-3A Second Team selection at linebacker after helping lead Sandy Creek to success in 2022.
Name: Tashawn Jeter
Position: DB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180
Hometown: Winston Salem, N.C.
High School: R.J. Reynolds H.S.
Jeter committed to the Thundering Herd in June 2022. Last season for R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston Salem, Jeter finished with 28 tackles, 12 pass breakups and one interception. Jeter is listed as a three-star recruit and one of the top-50 players in the state of North Carolina for the Class of 2023. Jeter chose Marshall over offers from Arkansas, Iowa State and Old Dominion.
Shawn Rouse
Position: OL
Height: 6-4
Weight: 260
Hometown: Milton, W.Va.
High School: Cabell Midland H.S.
A local talent, Rouse helped Cabell Midland's offense to recover from a slow start to make the Class AAA postseason. Rouse was a First Team All-MSAC selection that committed to Marshall in June. Rouse chose Marshall from offers including James Madison, Eastern Kentucky and Murray State.
Tracy Stephens
Position: TE
Height: 6-5
Weight: 260
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
High School: Ridge View H.S.
Huge target makes for a formidable two-way talent at tight end. Caught 10 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns this season at Ridge View. The big-bodied tight end chose Marshall over offers from USF and Georgia State.
Beni Tshita
Position: DL
Height: 6-3
Weight: 260
Hometown: Louisville, KY
High School: DuPont Manual H.S.
Rated a three-star prospect after finishing with an impressive statistic line in his final season. Tshita finished with 43 tackles, including 13.5 tackles for loss with 7.5 sacks, and seven blocked kicks to his credit. Chose Marshall over offers from Central Michigan and Eastern Kentucky.
Mikailin Warren
Position: DL
Height: 6-4
Weight: 385
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
High School: Sandy Creek H.S.
Warren is joining high school teammate Mathis Haygood as part of the 2023 class. Warren's presence on the interior of the line helped Sandy Creek's defense keep the opposition in check in the 2022 season. A born gap-stuffer in the middle, Warren will bring size and strength to the interior of the Thundering Herd defense.
Jaden Yates
Position: LB
Height: 6-1
Weight: 220
Hometown: Chicago, Ill./Columbus, Ohio
High School: Gahanna Lincoln H.S.
All-Ohio First Team selection, as well as an All-Region selection and the Conference Player of the Year. Son of former Marshall standout linebacker Max Yates, Jaden kept on his father's playmaking ability, finishing with 122 tackles, including 23 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Yates chose Marshall over offers from Kentucky, Ohio and Toledo, among others. Also received heavy interest from Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Biographical information for transfer additions, arranged in alphabetical order
Name: Kesean Brown
Position: LB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Previous School: App State
Brown comes to Marshall from Sun Belt East Division rival App State where he appeared in 49 career games. In 2022, Brown made eight starts at outside linebacker for the Mountaineers, finishing with 39 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. Brown has also been a key special teams contributor. Brown chose Marshall over SMU and Indiana.
Name: Michael Green
Position: DL
Height: 6-4
Weight: 250
Hometown: Williamsburg, Virginia
Previous School: Univ. of Virginia
Green finished with four tackles and a sack in 2021 for the Cavaliers. The 6-4, 250-pound edge presence possesses a 380-pound bench press and 440-pound squat. Out of Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Green was offered by 25 schools, including Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Kansas State and Pitt before deciding to choose Virginia.
Name: DeMarcus Harris
Position: WR
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
Hometown: Vero Beach, Fla.
Previous School: Kentucky
Harris played in 39 career games with eight starts for Kentucky, catching 30 passes for 327 yards and one touchdown. Had a career-long 58-yard catch against Youngstown State. The former Treasure Coast High School standout was a three-star recruit out of high school where he was considered one of the nation's top 150 receivers for the Class of 2019. At Marshall, Harris reunites with Marshall receivers coach and pass game coordinator Jovon Bouknight.
Name: Tah Mac-Bright
Position: LB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 230
Hometown: Houston, Tex.
Previous School: Incarnate Word
Bright played in 10 games, finishing with 35 tackles for Incarnate Word. Notched 60 tackles in his first year of organized football as a junior for Westside H.S. Bright chose Marshall over offers from WKU and FIU while also garnering interest from Wake Forest and Liberty.
Name: Kylen McCracken
Position: DL
Height: 6-3
Weight: 305
Hometown: Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Previous School: Ohio University
McCracken totaled 31 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in 25 career games at Ohio University. The multi-sport talent out of Cleveland Heights High School played both ways on the offensive line and also was a standout wrestler. McCracken will have one season of eligibility left with the Thundering Herd.
Name: Josh Moten
Position: DB
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Hometown: Waldorf, Md.
Previous School: Texas A&M
Moten is a former four-star recruit in the Class of 2020 out of Maryland. Moten had offers from Michigan, Oregon, Oklahoma, Penn State, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Wisconsin, West Virginia and more. In his senior year at Fort Washington, Moten was targeted just 16 times, but recorded four interceptions and had eight pass breakups.
Name: Chinazo "C.K." Obobi
Position: OL
Height: 6-5
Weight: 310
Hometown: London, UK
Previous School: Laney College
The three-star prospect is ranked as the No. 1 offensive lineman in Europe. Played for Laney College in Oakland, California. Committed to Marshall on Jan. 6. Obobi chose Marshall over offers from Troy, North Texas, New Mexico and UTEP.
Name: Mason Pierce
Position: WR
Height: 5-7
Weight: 165
Hometown: Pearland, Texas
Previous School: McNeese State
Pierce led McNeese State with 40 receptions for 512 yards and two touchdowns in 2022 while also handling punt and kickoff return duties. Pierce was a 2022 All-Southland Conference Preseason First Team punt returner and Second Team wide receiver.
Name: J.J. Roberts
Position: DB
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
Hometown: Hurricane, W.Va.
Previous School: Wake Forest
Roberts went to Wake Forest out of Cabell Midland High School. There, Roberts spent three seasons with the Demon Deacons, finishing with 46 tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception for his career. In 2022, Roberts finished with 20 tackles and seven pass break-ups for Wake Forest. Roberts chose Marshall over offers from Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Virginia, Memphis, Georgia Southern, Charlotte, Old Dominion and Appalachian State.
Position: TE
Height: 6-4
Weight: 260
Hometown: Tehachapi, Calif.
Previous School: UTEP
Soto caught one pass for 21 yards in nine games last season. Played for three seasons with the Miners after coming to UTEP from Bakersfield College. Committed to Marshall on Jan. 6. Lettered in rodeo and football at Tehachapi H.S. Soto has one year of eligibility left.
Name: Chris Thomas
Position: DL
Height: 6-5
Weight: 315
Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla.
Previous School: Univ. of Florida
Thomas appeared in one game during the 2022 season while at Florida, recording one tackle in the win over Eastern Washington. A three-star prospect in the Class of 2021, Thomas finished with 88 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and nine sacks as a senior in helping Dunbar H.S. to the 6A Region Finals. Has three seasons of eligibility left. Thomas chose Marshall over Temple.
Name: Marc Viechec
Position: LB
Height: 6-0
Weight: 225
Hometown: Naples, Fla.
Previous School: Southeastern University
Viechec comes to Marshall after three years at Southeastern where he totaled 189 tackles, including 20.5 tackles for loss while adding 7.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries. In 2022, he finished with 88 tackles with eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. The Naples, Fla., native was the Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Linebacker of the Year.
Name: Lloyd Willis
Position: OL
Height: 6-7
Weight: 315
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Previous School: Florida State University
Willis played in 25 career games over three years for Florida State. The product of Miami's Killian High School was rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 85 offensive tackle in the country in the Class of 2019, according to 247Sports. Willis has two seasons of eligibility.
