Print |
E-mail to a friend
SPORTS
Recruits commit to Marshall
HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University football's recruiting weekend resulted in at least another four commitments for first-year coach John "Doc" Holliday, including a high-profile quarterback, a much-needed offensive lineman, some bulk on the interior defensive line and a playmaking defensive back.
After Eddie Sullivan, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound signal-caller from Boca Raton (Fla.), committed to the Thundering Herd on Saturday, the Herd landed three more verbal commitments.
Holliday has made offensive line a priority in this recruiting class and Sunday landed a verbal commitment from Garrett Scott, a 6-4, 270-pound lineman with promising upside from Coffee County (Ga.) High School. Scott chose Marshall over Troy, UAB, Arkansas State and Jackson State.
In addition to Scott, Holliday continued sweeping up some of the best talent in the Sunshine State with another pair of Florida commitments -- Dwyer defensive tackle Mike Fleurizard and New Smyrna Beach defensive back Joe Johnson.
Fleurizard is a 6-4, 285-pound defensive tackle that was an All-Palm Beach County first-team selection after a senior season that produced 50 tackles -- 15 for loss -- and 11 sacks.
In addition to his success on the field, Fleurizard maintained a 3.1 grade point average in the classroom.
Fleurizard chose Marshall over Eastern Michigan, Iowa State and a host of FCS schools (formerly Division I-AA).
Johnson is a 5-11, 173-pound athlete that amassed 85 tackles while intercepting six passes and breaking up 16 others during his senior season at New Smyrna Beach.
South Florida, Western Michigan and Tennessee State also offered Johnson.
While the three commitments add to an already-impressive first class for Holliday, the highlight of the weekend was Saturday's commitment by Sullivan, who is rated the nation's No. 23 quarterback prospect by ESPN.com.
As a senior, Sullivan threw for 2,277 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed for 222 yards and four touchdowns. He has a 3.0 GPA and has met NCAA academic requirements. Kansas State, Iowa State, Southern Miss, Rutgers and Florida International also offered the athletic quarterback.
He visited Marshall last weekend and said the enormity of the experience led to his decision.
"I've been to about 15 colleges and everybody has the same stuff," Sullivan said. "Everybody has the weight room and the facilities, but no one has the same people.
"That's why I chose Wake Forest and then I went to Marshall and they're all about football. They bleed the Green and White."
Sullivan also embraced Marshall's one-back, three-wideout scheme under co-offensive coordinators Tony Petersen and Bill Legg. Both Petersen and Holliday recruited Sullivan.
"I like that set," Sullivan said. "It's what I've been doing my whole life, the one-back set."
Sullivan continued, offering a hint of the swagger needed as a Division I-A quarterback.
"I like having all the pressure on me," he said. "You want all the fame and all the blame. If you want to blame, put it all on me."
National signing day is Feb. 3.
