Marshall Thundering Herd 2026 Defensive Breakdown: Javae Gilmore, Daytione Smith Lead a Rebuilt Defense and 4 Prop Bets

The Marshall Thundering Herd enter the 2026 college football season with a new defensive coordinator, an extensively rebuilt defensive front and several legitimate All-Sun Belt playmakers around whom Tony Gibson can construct his second Marshall team.

Improvement is necessary.

Marshall finished 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the Sun Belt in 2025 while allowing 30.25 points and 410.6 total yards per game. The Herd were respectable against the run, allowing 148.9 rushing yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry, but opposing quarterbacks attacked Marshall successfully throughout the season. The Herd surrendered 261.7 passing yards per game and 24 passing touchdowns.

There were also encouraging numbers.

Marshall generated 29 sacks, intercepted 13 passes and recovered eight opponent fumbles. The Herd’s defense was especially dangerous when it created multiple turnovers; Marshall went 3-0 when forcing at least three takeaways.

That gives Gibson and new defensive coordinator Brad Lambert a clear objective.

Don’t completely reinvent the defense.

Fix the weaknesses.

Keep generating pressure.

Improve the pass coverage.

Create more takeaways.

And eliminate the explosive plays that too often turned manageable games into shootouts.

Lambert is an intriguing choice to accomplish that.

This isn’t his first experience in Huntington.

Lambert previously coordinated Marshall’s defense in 2019 and 2020. His 2020 unit finished No. 1 nationally in scoring defense at 13.0 points per game, No. 2 in total defense at 279.4 yards per game and No. 4 in rushing defense at 95.5 yards per contest.

Nobody should expect Marshall to instantly reproduce those numbers.

But Lambert has already proven he can build a dominant defense at Marshall.

And the Herd have several important players around whom he can build.

Javae Gilmore returns after producing 63 tackles and a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss.

Braydin Ward returns after leading Marshall with five sacks and forcing four fumbles.

Daytione Smith returns after recording 50 tackles and three interceptions.

Mikailin Warren returns to strengthen the interior defensive line.

Jalen Marshall returns after an ACL injury limited him to five tackles last season.

Marshall then attacked the transfer portal with defensive additions such as Kelvon McBride, Charles McCartherens, Terrente Hinton, Brayden Hall, BJ Carter, Kenyatta Hardge, Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala and Eddie Pleasant III.

There is considerably more experience on this roster than Marshall possessed during Gibson’s first season.

The question is whether Lambert can turn that experience into a better defense.

Marshall Thundering Herd 2026 Defensive Projections

Projected Record: 7-5

Projected Points Allowed Per Game: 25-27

Projected Total Defense: 370-390 yards per game

Projected Rushing Defense: 140-150 yards per game

Projected Passing Defense: 225-240 yards per game

Projected Team Sacks: 30-34

Projected Interceptions: 12-15

Projected Total Takeaways: 20-24

Projected Tackles for Loss: 75-85

Biggest Defensive Strength: Linebacker Production and Pass-Rush Potential

Biggest Defensive Question: Can Marshall dramatically improve a pass defense that allowed 261.7 yards per game?

Brad Lambert’s New Marshall Defense

The most important defensive addition may be Brad Lambert.

Lambert returns to Marshall as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, bringing nearly four decades of coaching experience and previous stops as a coordinator, head coach and defensive assistant.

This is actually his third stint at Marshall.

Lambert was originally part of the program from 1991-95, when Marshall reached four FCS national championship games and won the 1992 title. He later returned for the 2019 and 2020 seasons before working at Purdue, Wake Forest and Kentucky.

His 2020 Marshall defense provides the obvious reason for optimism.

That unit wasn’t simply good.

It was one of the best defenses in the country.

Marshall led the FBS in scoring defense while ranking second nationally in total defense and among the national leaders against the run and in the red zone.

One of Lambert’s fundamental defensive principles during that previous Marshall tenure was eliminating what he called defensive “gifts” — penalties and mental mistakes that extend drives and create easy scoring opportunities.

That philosophy fits exactly what the 2026 Herd need.

Marshall doesn’t necessarily need a radically complicated defense.

It needs a more disciplined one.

Last year’s unit actually did several things well.

The Herd recorded 29 sacks.

Opponents averaged fewer than four yards per rushing attempt.

Marshall intercepted 13 passes.

The major problem was explosive passing production.

Opponents averaged 8.53 yards per pass attempt and accumulated 3,140 passing yards in only 12 games.

That is the statistic Lambert must change.

Better coverage will help.

Better communication will help.

Additional transfer experience will help.

But pass defense also begins with pressure.

If Ward, Gilmore and Marshall’s new edge players consistently force quarterbacks to speed up their decisions, the secondary becomes considerably easier to protect.

Marshall Defensive Line Breakdown

This position group may determine how much Marshall’s defense improves.

The Herd lost several important interior defenders from 2025, including Naquan Crowder, Sid Kaba, Jamaal Whyce and KaTron Evans. Crowder alone recorded 26 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack before transferring to Minnesota.

That is significant turnover.

Marshall responded aggressively.

The biggest returning player may be Mikailin Warren.

Warren appeared in only six games last season and recorded eight tackles, but his physical dimensions make him impossible to ignore.

Marshall lists Warren at 6-foot-4 and approximately 380 pounds.

That is enormous.

Warren doesn’t need to record eight sacks to become important.

His job is controlling space.

Occupying two blockers.

Preventing interior offensive linemen from freely reaching Marshall’s linebackers.

And creating favorable one-on-one opportunities for the players around him.

Marshall also added BJ Carter from Iowa State, Kenyatta Hardge from Kentucky and Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala from Vanderbilt. Nwabuisi-Ezeala is listed around 329 pounds, giving the Herd another massive interior presence.

Mickel Williams arrives from UTSA.

Simeon John comes from UVA Wise.

And Cole Funderburk transferred from Wake Forest after redshirting there last season. Funderburk previously recorded 34 tackles for loss and 10 sacks during his senior high-school season.

The quantity matters.

Marshall doesn’t need one defensive tackle playing 65 snaps every Saturday.

Lambert and defensive-line coach Anthony Leonard can rotate bodies. Marshall lists Leonard as its run-game coordinator and defensive-line coach.

That should keep the interior fresher during Sun Belt play.

The goal is simple.

Maintain last season’s respectable run defense while creating more consistent interior disruption.

Marshall allowed 148.9 rushing yards per game and only 3.9 yards per attempt in 2025.

If that number drops closer to 140 while the pass defense improves, the entire unit becomes substantially better.

Marshall Edge-Rusher Breakdown

This is where Braydin Ward becomes extremely important.

Ward enters 2026 as Marshall’s most proven returning pass rusher.

He finished last season with 15 tackles, five sacks and four forced fumbles, earning preseason Third-Team All-Sun Belt recognition from Phil Steele entering 2026.

His development has been impressive.

Ward recorded only one sack as a redshirt freshman in 2024.

He jumped to five in 2025.

Now the question becomes whether he can make another leap.

At 6-foot-6 and 258 pounds, Ward has the frame offensive tackles don’t want to see on obvious passing downs.

Length matters.

He can affect quarterbacks without immediately winning the rush.

He can alter throwing lanes.

Force quarterbacks to move.

And extend plays long enough for another defender to finish the sack.

Marshall also added Kelvon McBride from NC State.

McBride appeared in eight games for the Wolfpack last season and has 22 career appearances and 19 career tackles.

The statistical résumé doesn’t immediately jump off the page.

The familiarity does.

McBride is reuniting with several members of Marshall’s staff who previously worked at NC State.

That can accelerate his transition.

Then there is Keydel Painter, another transfer addition at edge, along with Funderburk and several younger defenders who could contribute to the rotation. Marshall’s 2026 signing class was specifically constructed to add size and depth throughout the defensive front.

Ward doesn’t have to become a 10-sack player.

If he produces six or seven and McBride contributes four or five, Marshall could spread the remaining pressure among Gilmore, Jalen Marshall and the interior defensive line.

That is probably the ideal formula.

Projected Marshall Team Sacks: 30-34

Javae Gilmore: Marshall’s Defensive Leader

Javae Gilmore may be the most important player on Marshall’s defense in 2026.

The Mississippi State transfer found exactly what he needed during his first year in Huntington.

Opportunity.

Gilmore spent three seasons at Mississippi State and appeared in 24 games but never became a full-time starter.

That changed at Marshall.

Gilmore finished 2025 with 63 tackles and a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss, immediately becoming one of the most productive players on the defense. He enters 2026 as a Phil Steele preseason Second-Team All-Sun Belt selection.

That tackles-for-loss number is particularly important.

Gilmore wasn’t simply cleaning up plays five yards downfield.

He was attacking.

Eleven-and-a-half tackles for loss means he consistently crossed the line of scrimmage and disrupted offenses before plays fully developed.

That is exactly the type of linebacker Lambert can maximize.

Lambert coaches the linebackers himself.

Gibson also has an extensive defensive background.

That should give Gilmore an opportunity to play aggressively.

At 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds, he has enough size to attack the box while still possessing the athleticism required to operate in space.

The next step is turning more disruption into sacks and turnovers.

Gilmore’s 11.5 tackles for loss show he gets into the backfield.

If two or three additional quarterback pressures become sacks, his national profile could increase considerably.

He will also have more responsibility as a leader.

Marshall’s defense contains many transfer players.

Some have considerable experience.

But experience at another school doesn’t automatically produce communication at Marshall.

Gilmore has already spent a full season in Gibson’s program.

He understands the expectations.

That matters.

Javae Gilmore Projection: 70-82 tackles, 10-13 tackles for loss, 3-5 sacks and multiple forced turnovers.

Marshall Linebacker Breakdown

Gilmore is the centerpiece.

But he isn’t Marshall’s only intriguing linebacker.

Jalen Marshall may effectively become one of the Herd’s most important additions despite already being on the roster.

His 2025 season was destroyed by injury.

Marshall recorded only five tackles before suffering a torn ACL and missing most of the year. Despite that, Phil Steele still selected him as a 2026 Preseason Second-Team All-Sun Belt linebacker.

That preseason recognition reflects the talent level.

If Marshall returns healthy, the Herd could essentially gain another high-level linebacker without using the portal.

The roster also includes Chason Clark, who produced four tackles and a sack in Marshall’s spring game, along with Andrew Hamad, Cannon Lewis, Jaasai Simmons, Brysen Davies, Andre Parker and other younger options.

The combination of Gilmore and a healthy Marshall could become one of the better linebacker duos in the Sun Belt.

The defensive line becomes critical to their success.

If Warren and the new interior defenders occupy blockers, Gilmore can attack.

If offensive guards consistently reach him untouched, the job becomes considerably more difficult.

Lambert’s previous defenses have traditionally emphasized strong early-down football.

That remains important here.

Stop the run.

Create second-and-long.

Force third-and-long.

Then attack.

Marshall allowed opponents to convert 39.7% of their third downs last season.

Improving that figure begins before third down ever arrives.

Marshall Secondary Breakdown

This is the position group that needed the most help.

Marshall allowed 261.7 passing yards per game, ranking near the bottom of the FBS, and surrendered 24 passing touchdowns.

The good news is that the Herd attacked the problem directly.

Everything begins with Daytione Smith.

Smith is one of the best returning defensive backs in the Sun Belt.

He started all 12 games last season and recorded 50 tackles and three interceptions.

Those three interceptions are tied for the most among all returning Sun Belt defensive players entering 2026.

The preseason recognition reflects his importance.

Smith is a consensus Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt selection, was chosen to represent Marshall at Sun Belt Media Days and was named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list.

That gives Lambert one proven playmaker around whom he can organize the secondary.

Marshall then added experience.

Charles McCartherens may be the most important transfer.

McCartherens comes from Buffalo, where he was a three-year starter.

He owns 75 career tackles and four interceptions. His 2025 season was limited to four games, but he still recorded nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

College Football News identified McCartherens as Marshall’s best transfer signing and noted that he produced 69 tackles, four interceptions and seven pass breakups during his first two seasons at Buffalo.

That is exactly what Marshall needs.

A veteran corner.

Not just talent.

Experience.

The Herd also added Brayden Hall from Central Connecticut State.

Hall started all 13 games last season and recorded 51 tackles and 10 pass breakups.

Ten pass breakups is legitimate ball-disruption production.

Terrente Hinton joins Marshall from NC State.

Hinton appeared in all 13 games during the 2024 season and enters 2026 with 16 career tackles.

Eddie Pleasant III follows McCartherens from Buffalo after appearing in 19 games for the Bulls and producing five career pass breakups.

Then there is Josh Pierre-Louis, a veteran defensive back who previously spent time at NC State, Iowa Western and West Georgia before arriving at Marshall.

The Herd have options.

And new position coaches.

Chip West takes over the cornerbacks.

Dean Hood coaches the safeties.

The talent level is encouraging.

The question is communication.

Almost every transfer secondary faces the same problem.

Coverage is interconnected.

One defensive back misunderstanding a call can ruin the work of the other 10 defenders.

Marshall doesn’t need every newcomer to become an All-Sun Belt player.

It needs Smith to remain the leader, McCartherens to stabilize one corner spot and the rest of the group to communicate consistently.

If that happens, reducing passing defense from 262 yards per game toward 230 is realistic.

Projected Marshall Passing Defense: 225-240 yards per game

Projected Marshall Interceptions: 12-15

Daytione Smith: Marshall’s Defensive Playmaker

Daytione Smith enters 2026 with an opportunity to become one of the best safeties in the Sun Belt Conference.

The statistical foundation is already there.

Fifty tackles.

Three interceptions.

Twelve starts.

Thirty-three career appearances in a Marshall uniform.

That last number matters.

Marshall has heavily reconstructed the defense through the transfer portal.

Smith represents continuity.

He knows Huntington.

He knows Gibson.

He knows Marshall’s opponents.

He understands Sun Belt offenses.

And he has already demonstrated he can create turnovers.

Smith’s three interceptions last season tie the highest returning total among Sun Belt defenders.

His leadership will be particularly important because the secondary is changing around him.

McCartherens is new.

Hall is new.

Hinton is new.

Pleasant is new.

New defensive backs will inevitably have questions during the early part of the season.

Smith can help provide answers.

The Thorpe Award watch-list recognition demonstrates how highly he is regarded entering the season.

Daytione Smith Projection: 55-65 tackles, 5-8 pass breakups and 3-4 interceptions.

Four Marshall Thundering Herd 2026 Defensive Prop Bets

Note: Full-season college football defensive player and team statistical props are not consistently available at every sportsbook. The defensive statistical lines below should therefore be treated as projection-based betting benchmarks, not claims that every sportsbook currently offers these exact markets.

Prop Bet #1: Marshall Over 28.5 Team Sacks

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Marshall Over 28.5 Team Sacks

• 29 Sacks in 2025
• Braydin Ward Returns
• Brad Lambert’s Aggressive Defensive System

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Why the Over Is a Good Bet

Marshall recorded 29 sacks last season.

That means the Herd only need to essentially maintain their 2025 production to surpass this benchmark.

Ward returns after recording five sacks.

Gilmore returns after producing 11.5 tackles for loss.

Marshall also gets Jalen Marshall back after his 2025 season was largely eliminated by a torn ACL.

Then come the transfers.

McBride provides another edge option.

Funderburk adds pass-rushing upside.

The interior is bigger and deeper.

Lambert has also demonstrated throughout his coaching career that his best defenses can create negative plays.

Marshall doesn’t need one player to record 12 sacks.

Six from Ward.

Four from Gilmore.

Four from McBride.

Interior pressure.

Linebacker blitzes.

Secondary pressure.

There are multiple ways to reach 30.

Why the Under Is a Good Bet

Marshall lost a substantial amount of defensive-line experience.

Crowder, Kaba, Whyce and Evans are gone.

That matters.

Ward is the only returning player with five sacks from last season.

McBride produced only five tackles at NC State in 2025.

Several other defensive-line additions are largely projection-based.

Marshall may generate pressure without consistently finishing sacks.

There is also the Penn State opener.

Facing Big Ten offensive linemen immediately could produce a slow statistical start.

Projection: 30-34 Team Sacks

Bet: Over 28.5 Team Sacks

Confidence: 7.5/10

Prop Bet #2: Javae Gilmore Over 10.5 Tackles for Loss

FanDuel

4.6/5

Tip: Javae Gilmore Over 10.5 Tackles for Loss

• 11.5 TFLs in 2025
• Lambert Coaches Linebackers
• Experienced Defensive Front Around Him

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Why the Over Is a Good Bet

Gilmore already surpassed this benchmark last season.

He recorded a team-leading 11.5 tackles for loss while accumulating 63 total tackles.

Nothing about his 2026 role suggests Marshall wants him becoming less aggressive.

Lambert is both defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

That means Gilmore will work directly with the person constructing the defense.

The improved size along the defensive line could also help.

If Warren and Marshall’s transfer defensive tackles occupy offensive linemen, Gilmore should have cleaner paths into the backfield.

He only needs 11 tackles for loss to cash the Over.

That is less than one per game.

Why the Under Is a Good Bet

Eleven tackles for loss is a significant number for an off-ball linebacker.

Opponents now have an entire season of Marshall film showing Gilmore’s strengths.

They will identify him.

Block him differently.

Use motion.

Use play-action.

And attempt to force him to hesitate.

The return of Jalen Marshall could also distribute opportunities across the linebacker room.

A better Marshall defensive line may create tackles for loss itself rather than allowing Gilmore to make as many.

Gilmore could become a better overall player while producing nine or 10 tackles for loss.

Projection: 10-13 Tackles for Loss

Bet: Over 10.5 Tackles for Loss

Confidence: 7.5/10

Prop Bet #3: Daytione Smith Over 2.5 Interceptions

Caesars

4.4/5

Tip: Daytione Smith Over 2.5 Interceptions

• Three INTs in 2025
• Thorpe Award Watch List
• Improved Cornerback Depth

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Why the Over Is a Good Bet

Smith intercepted three passes last season.

Three interceptions cash this Over.

There are several reasons to believe he can repeat that production.

The secondary should be deeper.

McCartherens brings four career interceptions.

Hall produced 10 pass breakups last season.

Pleasant brings additional experience.

That could allow Smith to play more aggressively rather than constantly compensating for problems elsewhere.

Improved pressure also helps.

If Ward and Gilmore force quarterbacks into hurried throws, Smith should receive opportunities to attack the football.

He already demonstrated that he can finish those opportunities.

Why the Under Is a Good Bet

Interceptions are unpredictable.

Smith could have an outstanding season and intercept only two passes.

Quarterbacks also know who he is now.

He is a Thorpe Award watch-list player.

He is a preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt selection.

Smart quarterbacks may intentionally avoid testing him.

The improved cornerback room could also distribute interceptions more evenly.

McCartherens.

Hall.

Other safeties.

Marshall doesn’t need Smith to personally intercept four passes for the defense to improve.

Projection: 3-4 Interceptions

Bet: Over 2.5 Interceptions

Confidence: 7/10

Prop Bet #4: Marshall Under 27.5 Points Allowed Per Game

BetMGM

4.5/5

Tip: Marshall Under 27.5 Points Allowed Per Game

• Brad Lambert’s Proven Defensive Record
• Experienced Transfer Secondary
• Strong Returning Linebackers

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Why the Under Is a Good Bet

Marshall allowed 30.25 points per game in 2025.

This bet requires noticeable improvement.

There are reasons to expect it.

Lambert’s previous Marshall defense led the nation in scoring defense in 2020.

Gilmore returns.

Ward returns.

Smith returns.

Jalen Marshall returns.

The secondary has been aggressively rebuilt.

And the defensive front has added substantially more size.

Marshall also doesn’t need to become elite to get Under 27.5.

Trimming approximately three points per game would be enough.

Considering four of Marshall’s losses last season came by five points or fewer, even moderate defensive improvement could dramatically change the season.

Why the Over Is a Good Bet

The 2025 pass defense was a major problem.

Marshall allowed 261.7 passing yards and two passing touchdowns per game.

Replacing several defensive linemen also creates uncertainty.

Then consider the schedule.

Marshall opens at Penn State, then later travels to James Madison, Old Dominion, Georgia Southern and ULM while hosting Coastal Carolina, South Alabama and Appalachian State.

A couple of 35-or-40-point games can destroy a season-long scoring-defense Under.

The transfer secondary may also require time to establish chemistry.

September could be uneven.

Projection: 25-27 Points Allowed Per Game

Bet: Under 27.5 Points Allowed Per Game

Confidence: 7/10

Best Marshall Thundering Herd 2026 Defensive Prop Bet

Marshall Over 28.5 team sacks is my favorite defensive wager.

The Herd already recorded 29 sacks last season.

They don’t need a major statistical transformation.

They need to maintain one of the things the 2025 defense already did well.

Ward returns after producing five sacks.

Gilmore returns after leading the team with 11.5 tackles for loss.

Jalen Marshall should provide additional linebacker pressure if healthy.

McBride adds another edge option.

And Lambert inherits a defensive staff built around attacking football.

There is risk because of the defensive-line turnover.

But 29 sacks isn’t an aggressive benchmark for a defense with this much athleticism.

My projection is 30-34 sacks.

That makes Over 28.5 the Marshall defensive prop I trust the most.

How Marshall’s Defense Could Determine the 2026 Season

Marshall’s current regular-season win total is 7.5 victories.

BetMGM’s July 31 board listed Marshall at Over 7.5 (-105) and Under 7.5 (-115), while the market has continued to center around 7.5 in August.

That is an interesting number.

College Football News projects Marshall at 6-6, while the betting market asks whether the Herd can reach eight regular-season victories.

The offense gives Marshall a chance.

Carlos Del Rio-Wilson returns after throwing for 2,043 yards and 17 touchdowns while also setting a Marshall single-season quarterback record with 661 rushing yards.

That means the defense doesn’t necessarily have to carry the football team.

It has to stop wasting good offensive performances.

Marshall scored 51 points against Louisiana last season.

And lost.

The Herd scored 40 against Texas State.

That game still required a three-point victory.

Marshall scored 27 against Coastal Carolina and allowed 44.

Those are the games Lambert was hired to change.

The 2026 schedule creates opportunities.

Marshall opens at No. 18 Penn State on September 5.

Then come Middle Tennessee, Missouri State and Gardner-Webb.

Sun Belt play begins at James Madison before Marshall hosts Coastal Carolina and South Alabama.

The Herd then travel to Old Dominion and Georgia Southern before finishing with Appalachian State, Georgia State and ULM.

The Penn State game is difficult.

James Madison is difficult.

But the rest of the schedule doesn’t contain many games Marshall should view as unwinnable.

The difference between six wins and eight may come down to defense.

Can Marshall hold Middle Tennessee to 20-something?

Can it stop Missouri State late?

Can it force Coastal Carolina into turnovers?

Can it survive road trips to Old Dominion and Georgia Southern?

Those are the questions.

My projection is 7-5.

That would make the Under 7.5 a narrow lean while still representing substantial improvement from last season.

But if the defense develops faster than expected, eight or nine victories are absolutely attainable.

Conclusion

The Marshall Thundering Herd enter the 2026 season with one of the clearest defensive improvement opportunities in the Sun Belt Conference.

The 2025 defense wasn’t without strengths.

Marshall held opponents to 3.9 yards per rushing attempt.

The Herd generated 29 sacks.

They intercepted 13 passes.

They recovered eight fumbles.

But the overall results weren’t good enough.

Marshall allowed 30.25 points and 410.6 total yards per game.

The biggest problem was obvious.

Opponents threw for 261.7 yards per contest and 24 touchdowns, averaging more than 8.5 yards per passing attempt.

Tony Gibson responded with significant changes.

Brad Lambert returns to Huntington as defensive coordinator.

That matters.

Lambert already knows what elite Marshall defense looks like.

His 2020 Herd unit led the country in scoring defense and ranked second nationally in total defense.

Nobody should expect the 2026 defense to instantly become that dominant.

But the standard exists.

And the personnel gives Lambert something to work with.

Javae Gilmore returns after producing 63 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss.

Braydin Ward returns after recording five sacks and four forced fumbles.

Daytione Smith returns after recording 50 tackles and three interceptions and enters the season on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.

Jalen Marshall returns after missing most of last season with a torn ACL.

Mikailin Warren gives the defensive front an enormous interior presence.

Then come the transfers.

Charles McCartherens brings three years of starting experience from Buffalo and four career interceptions.

Brayden Hall arrives after producing 10 pass breakups.

Terrente Hinton brings NC State experience.

Kelvon McBride adds another edge defender from NC State.

BJ Carter, Kenyatta Hardge, Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala and several others completely reshape the defensive-line rotation.

There is talent.

There is experience.

There is also considerable uncertainty.

New defensive linemen must learn to play together.

New defensive backs must communicate.

Lambert must install his system.

And Marshall must solve a pass-defense problem that lasted almost the entire 2025 season.

My projection has Marshall allowing approximately 25-27 points and 370-390 total yards per game, while producing 30-34 sacks, 12-15 interceptions and 20-24 total takeaways.

Those numbers would represent meaningful improvement.

They could also completely change Marshall’s record.

The Herd lost four games by five points or fewer last season.

One stop changes those games.

One sack.

One interception.

One fourth-down tackle.

Marshall doesn’t need Lambert to immediately recreate the 2020 defense.

It needs the defense to become reliable enough that Del Rio-Wilson and the offense don’t have to score 35 every Saturday.

From a betting perspective, my strongest defensive play is Marshall Over 28.5 team sacks.

Ward is proven.

Gilmore creates negative plays.

Marshall should return another impact linebacker from injury.

And Lambert has enough front-seven pieces to manufacture pressure from several positions.

The player who could ultimately define this defense is Daytione Smith.

He is experienced.

He creates turnovers.

He is receiving national recognition.

And he gives Marshall a veteran leader exactly where the Herd needs one most — in a secondary trying to rebound from allowing more than 260 passing yards per game.

The ceiling depends on how quickly the new pieces fit.

If Warren and the transfer defensive tackles stabilize the interior, Ward develops into a six-or-seven-sack edge rusher, Gilmore remains one of the Sun Belt’s most disruptive linebackers and Smith helps McCartherens and the rebuilt secondary dramatically reduce explosive passing plays, Marshall’s defense could improve enough to push the Thundering Herd back into the Sun Belt championship conversation during Tony Gibson’s second season in Huntington.