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SPORTS
Hart, Portis to share playing time
Linebackers Corey Hart, 44, and Andre Portis run through defensive drills during Marshall football practice on Aug. 14 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
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HUNTINGTON -- There are position battles and there's the competition between Corey Hart and Andre Portis.
At certain positions, earning the starting nod following preseason football camp translates to a large majority, or monopoly, of game day snaps. This definitively is not the case at Marshall University's strong-side linebacker spot this season.
Personal pride, of course, is driving Hart and Portis to line up on the season's first defensive play Aug. 30 against Illinois State. Each knows well, however, that the plan is to share practice and game time.
"It's not really a battle I can say, but we'll split time," Portis said. "We're both going to play."
Ditto, said Hart.
"I don't see it as a battle," he said. "I see it as both of us learning what to do because we're both going to play."
At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, Portis is arguably the more physical of the tandem. The junior college transfer also has displayed ball skills, however, intercepting a pass in stride and sprinting to the end zone earlier in camp.
Hart, a 6-2, 222-pound sophomore, boasts edges in experience and pass coverage. He played in seven games last season as a true freshman, and was afforded extended spring practice reps when Portis was sidelined because of a back sprain.
"He has the advantage on me right now -- I can't lie -- because he knows the plays," said Portis, rated as a top five junior college linebacker nationally last season by www.rivals.com. "In the base package I know the plays as much, but (with recently added packages) he knows the plays fairly well. So I think he's got it at one right now.
"But they're going to rotate us in there."
Hart's head start in absorbing defensive coordinator Rick Minter's playbook has carried to preseason camp.
"He caught on faster than me and I sat out (during spring)," Portis said. "Rolling into here it was just a remembering process for him. For me, I'm learning again and learning more stuff.
"We've got the same stuff from spring but then they added stuff and he's basically just learning what's being added. I'm learning all of the above."
Hart took full advantage during spring, not only learning the basics of Minter 101, but performing in scrimmage situations.
"Spring was real important for me because it was a new system," Hart said. "And from day one I said I was going to learn this new system in and out. I took the spring learning it.
"Now I'm trying to perfect technique."
Marshall's depth at strong side linebacker mirrors similar numbers throughout the defense. It's been well-documented that head coach Mark Snyder and Minter will roll multiple players at multiple defensive positions.
Yes, earning the moniker of starter is significant, but Hart and Portis could approach a 50-50 playing time split.
"We've got depth over there," Snyder said. "We've got a role for a lot of people. Per se, the starter on that side of that side of the ball really isn't going to mean much, because depending on who we're playing -- in our league especially -- everybody is going to have a role and we're going to be able to roll a lot of bodies."
Depth hamstrung the Thundering Herd defense throughout 2007, leading to fourth quarter struggles. Marshall's front seven was particularly thin, a trouble spot that could evolve into a strength.
That dramatic flip from just a year ago is typified by the daily back and forth between Portis and Hart.
"Corey and I are competing for the same position but what I like is that he isn't one of those people that are like 'We're battling for the same position, so forget him. I'm not helping him'," Portis said. "He helps me a lot when I have any questions.
"If I don't know what I'm doing and I'm on the field and they call a play, I just look to the sideline and he tells me exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. That helps me a lot.
"We're both starters. He might start, but we're both going to be on the field. I'm just going to buy into the system and make the best of it. I'm not going to worry about it."
Hart's current lead isn't locked down, but Portis concedes that he's been in catch-up mode throughout camp.
"Since then (spring practice) he hasn't done anything to lose the position so he's still starting," Portis said. "Coach (Snyder) says I have to take it from him."
