Spots up for grabs along offensive front

HUNTINGTON -- It's not exactly breaking news to declare quarterback as Marshall University's marquee spring practice position.

The road to naming a new No. 1 begins Tuesday when spring drills open at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Five quarterbacks will battle side by side to replace three-year starter Bernard Morris.

Hovering below the radar, however, will be real -- and just as important -- competition along the offensive line. From replacing four-year starter Doug Legursky at center to providing needed stability and athleticism at both tackle spots, restructuring Marshall's offensive front is a top priority.

Gone are starters Legursky, a possible National Football League draft selection, and left tackle John Inman. Right guard Brian Leggett (6-foot-1, 287 pounds) will shift to center, a position the rising senior has occasionally occupied, leaving competition open at virtually every other position.

Josh Evans, a physical, 6-4, 324-pound sophomore, returns as the starting right guard. Junior right tackle Daniel Baldridge (6-9, 307) is a fellow returning starter but will miss spring practice because of an injury.

Marshall's likely first team offensive line this spring will team Leggett and Evans along with left guard Matt Altobello, right tackle Brandon Campbell and left tackle Jimmy Rogers.

Altobello, a 6-1, 301-pound senior, gradually has emerged as a team leader. Campbell, a 6-5, 319-pound sophomore, ranks among the most promising of numerous underclassmen offensive linemen. Rogers (6-4, 325) is expected to earn to earn immediate playing time as a junior college transfer.

Intrigue is found in a talented, if untested, group of backups. Redshirt freshmen John Bruhin (6-5, 304), Branden Curry (6-6, 315), C.J. Wood (6-5, 300) and Ryan Tillman (6-5, 280) will join sophomore Chad Schofield (6-4, 320) on the second team front. Bruhin will back Leggett at center and be flanked by Tillman at left guard, Curry at left tackle, Schofield at right guard and Wood at right tackle.

Underclassmen Micah Carter (6-4, 312), Erik Vint (6-4, 285) and Sergio Glenn (6-6, 330) also will factor in spring practice's offensive line rotation.

"Offensively, the obvious attention is at quarterback, but there's going to be competition on the offensive line," Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder said. "The tackle positions are going to be interesting to watch."

Tuesday's spring practice opener is closed but the April 3 (3:30 p.m.) session and April 5 (11 a.m.) practice -- the first in full pads -- are open to the public.