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Marshall secures pair of verbal commitments from in-state linemen this week

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Marshall University has secured a pair of verbal commitments from in-state offensive linemen in the span of four days. On Monday, Wheeling Park senior Caleb Bryan accepted a scholarship offer from the Herd. On Thursday, Spring Valley senior Bryce Biggs did the same.

Biggs holds sixteen Division I offers. Marshall was the first, making the offer in January.

“Everybody’s first offer is a special moment,” Biggs said. “You work so hard for something, you want it so bad. And when somebody gives you an opportunity to play, pay for your school and all that, it is important. Marshall being the first really showed that they cared about me. They saw something special and they have a good relationship with our coaches.”

The recruiting cycle for the Class of 2021 has been a unique one with many student-athletes unable to visit campuses or meet coaches in person due to the pandemic.

“It has been crazy,” Biggs said. “I was talking to Coach (Greg) Adkins last night and he was talking about how he took three guys he has never met before. Of course he has talked to them on the phone and things like that.

“I had been there on game day visits (prior to the pandemic) and I had some classes through Marshall, so I am very familiar with it. Looking at other schools too before I committed was hard because I couldn’t get to go see them. I couldn’t go on visits and I couldn’t get to know the coaches in person. That is a big thing for people. Fortunately for me, Marshall is the right fit.”

The 6-foot-6, 281-pounder is in his second season as a starting tackle for the Timberwolves and could play guard or tackle in Huntington.

“I think I am a guard-tackle hybrid. If they want me to play guard, I will play guard. Coach Adkins has mentioned me a lot more at tackle than guard.”

Biggs is one of three Division I prospects currently playing on the Spring Valley line. Wyatt Milum has committed to WVU. Corbin Page owns several ‘Power 5’ conference offers, including WVU. And Biggs says competing against those players in practice has served as great preparation for the next level.

“It is great going against those people. We have another kid, he is a junior right now, Evan Ferguson. His dad played at Marshall and was an All-American. He is going to be a stud too and I think Marshall is going to recruit him a little bit. I go up against those guys in practice all the time and they help tremendously.”

Caleb Bryan boasts a dozen Division I offers and says Marshall has been near the top of his list throughout the recruiting process.

“Ever since Marshall came into the mix and they were talking to me, I knew I liked them more than most of the other schools I was talking to,” Bryan said. “Since they offered me, there was always something about them with staying in-state.”

Bryan’s high school teammate, fellow offensive lineman Tristen Bittner is in his redshirt freshman season with the Herd.

“He said it is no joke. It is a lot harder than high school, but I expected that coming into college football. He said he loves it down there and he had nothing but good words to say about it.”

Bryan is a 6-foot-5, 275-pound tackle who entered the Wheeling Park program with high expectations three years ago.

“My freshman year coming in, Coach Doc (Chris Daugherty) told me I had the size that colleges are looking for. I believed him and that motivated me to work hard in the weight room and to try to be a better football player. After my junior year I was hoping to see a little something. It all started building up from there.”

Bryan’s recruiting experience differed from Biggs’. Bryan has committed to Marshall without an official visit.

“It was fun the whole time it was just a little bit different not being able to go anywhere or see any of the schools in person. But I couldn’t really change that.

“I was not able to see Marshall in person but I have been down to Huntington and I have seen the area. So it wasn’t that big of a factor not seeing it first.”