Topic: H-D: Chuck Landon: Another Marshall recruit passes test

[biggreenarms]

Call it Deja MU.

Just consider the following circumstances.

Remember when A.J. Leggett signed with Marshall's football program in 2012?

Since the South Miami (Fla.) High School star decommitted from the University of Miami to sign with the Herd, everyone assumed Leggett was going to be an academic non-qualifier. After all, as the No. 9 cornerback prospect in America, according to the Rivals recruiting service, he was the highest ranked recruit in Marshall's history.

Well, guess what?

Leggett wasn't a prop.

Instead, the 5-foot-11, 192-pound defensive back was redshirted in 2012, then blossomed at free safety during the 2013 season with 45 tackles (32 solo) and a team-high four interceptions. Now, Leggett appears to be on the cusp of stardom in 2014.

Next, there's Michael Johnson.

Remember when the standout cornerback decommitted from Florida State and signed with Marshall in 2013? Since the Booker T. Washington High School star in Miami, Fla., had scholarship offers from WVU, Texas Tech, Kansas State and the Seminoles, everyone assumed Johnson was going to be an academic non-qualifier.

Wrong again.

Johnson made his test score.

That allowed the 5-10, 163-pound defensive back to play in 11 games last season on special teams as a true freshman. Look for his role to expand in 2014. Johnson was the first-team nickel back during spring drills and probably will remain there.

That leads us to Kendall Gant.

Remember when the four-star safety decommitted from Georgia and surprisingly signed with Marshall last February? Again, everyone assumed the Lakeland, Fla., native was going to be an academic non-qualifier.

After all, the 6-3, 184-pound Gant was ranked as the No. 20 safety in the nation by the 247Sports recruiting service. That's why he had scholarship offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Louisville, Ohio State, Tennessee, Southern Cal, Wisconsin and Georgia.

Well, guess what?

It's happening again.

Although Marshall officials haven't confirmed Gant made his test score, reports from reliable outlets surfaced Monday that the standout safety would be academically eligible to play for Marshall during the 2014 season.

So, for the third consecutive year it appears Marshall has gambled on a top-flight prospect that didn't have his test score. ... and won.

That qualifies as really good news.

Particularly since depth-wise the safety positions were the most shallow spots on Marshall's defense during spring practice. There was Leggett at free safety, Tiquan Lang at strong safety and Taj Letman, who can backup both positions.

But that was about it.

Since D.J. Hunter was moved from strong safety to linebacker, that created an opening at safety on Marshall's two-deep depth chart.

Hello, Kendall.

Considering his pedigree, size and speed, all indications are that Gant should be an impact player for the Herd next season.

Sound familiar?

It should

It's deja MU all over again.

And it's all because the "power five" conference schools have begun giving up on prospects that haven't achieved a satisfactory test score by the time the first Wednesday in February rolls around.

That opens the door for Marshall to steal an elite prospect.

It has happened once, twice, three times a player.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall/x271214735/Another-Marshall-recruit-passes-test

[BHFIOHIO]

wow....great get....the future is bright for the D