Marshall football coach Tony Gibson hands back a signed poster to a fan during a Thundering Herd sports fan day Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Marshall football coach Tony Gibson hands back a signed poster to a fan during a Thundering Herd sports fan day Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON — Marshall football coach Tony Gibson said the Thundering Herd's starting quarterback will remain a mystery until kickoff on Saturday in Athens, Georgia.
The all-offseason battle among Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Zion Turner and JacQai Long is still ongoing.
“You guys will know at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, along with me,†Gibson said. “I like all three of our guys.â€
Gibson said he anticipates a scenario in which all three quarterbacks will see action against the No. 5-ranked Bulldogs.
“Depending on how the game goes, we’re not going to let one guy sit there and struggle all day,†Gibson said. “If he’s not moving the ball, then the next guy will go in. We’re planning for that right now. We have a plan for all three of those guys, and we’ll see where we’re at.â€
Each contender has strengths that have become apparent to the coach.
“Carlos, obviously he’s got some experience. Zion has started games. JacQai is the young guy with a big arm,†Gibson said. “They’re all a little different with what they do. You may see all three of them.â€
Herd offensive lineman Eric Meeks and tight end Toby Payne are essentially indifferent to who starts. Meeks is one of two captains on the offensive line and said the goal is to make anyone who enters the game comfortable.
“They can all pass the ball great,†Meeks said. “They’re all really good game managers. JacQai has really stepped up in his young role. Carlos is a great leader, and he obviously has experience playing. So does Zion. They’re all great quarterbacks and great guys. I love them all. They all have their own unique styles and strengths.â€
Payne can catch a ball from anyone.
“I don’t care who they really put back there,†Payne said. “I love all three of those guys. They all can run, they all can throw and they’re all smart guys. It doesn’t really matter.
“You throw the ones and twos out there, and you can’t really tell. We’re that deep at a lot of positions.â€
Overall, Gibson remained true to his words spoken before fall camp began – Marshall will use its depth chart as a tool to build competition and evaluate talent.
“This depth chart is going to be revolving for the first few weeks to see where we’re at,†Gibson said.
It has resulted in a large amount of depth at most positions and has opened opportunities across the field.
“There’s some guys that you all will be surprised with when you see them all run on the field with the first defense or offense on Saturday,†Gibson said. “I’m proud of those kids. We had some position movement within camp. We had [defensive backs] that were playing well in camp that were ones or twos that are ones now. We’re moving pieces, and it’s not over.
“Georgia is a big evaluation of where we’re at. When the lights come on, how are they going to react? Sunday, we’ll get back in here win, lose or draw and figure this thing out – who are the best 11 guys on both sides of the ball, and who are the guys that are backups we can count on?â€
Saturday’s game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
Tyler Kennett is a sports writer for HD Media. Reach him at tkennett@hdmediallc.com. Follow @tylerkennett on X.
