Marshall football No. 95

HUNTINGTON — Marshall University’s string of losing football seasons could end at four, The Sporting News publication predicts.

The Sporting News is counting down its Top 100 college football teams for 2009, featuring one team each day leading into the season.

Marshall was No. 95 on the list.

Following is the outlook from www.sportingnews.com:

“Marshall has faded into irrelevancy since leaving the MAC (Mid-American Conference) for Conference USA in 2005. If the Thundering Herd can find a capable quarterback — they aren’t lacking candidates with Mark Cann, Brian Anderson, Press Taylor and Jake Laudenslayer all in the mix — they could post their first winning record since joining C-USA.

“The starter will be equipped with a weapon in tight end Cody Slate, although talented and aptly-named running back Darius Marshall was suspended last month.”

Anderson, a junior, came out of spring practice with the starting job. Cann passed for 1,767 yards and 14 touchdowns in 11 games last season as a sophomore. Taylor and Laudenslayer are junior college transfers.

Slate is a senior who had 40 receptions for 518 yards and eight touchdown in 2008.

Darius Marshall pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor marijuana possession. The junior was suspended by head coach Mark Snyder, and nothing has been announced regarding his status.

He made the All-CUSA second team with 1,095 yards rushing and five TDs.

Ball State, led by former Marshall head coach Stan Parrish, ranked below the Thundering Herd at No. 96 followed by No. 97 Washington, No. 98 Louisiana-Monroe, No. 99 Louisiana-Lafayette and No. 100 Ohio.