Marshall’s official athletics website posted a story on the football team’s spring depth chart, among other tidbits, on Monday. Now, you might as well consider a spring practice depth chart a rough draft of a rough draft, but it does offer some insight as to which way the coaches are thinking as the season gets closer.

Among the more interesting items:

— Running back this spring will be a Stew Butler/Remi Watson production. Kevin Grooms has been working out with the team, but Doc Holliday said he’s have to “earn the trust” of the team before he can officially return to the roster. Grooms was arrested on misdemeanor charges twice in seven months and indefinitely suspended after his arrest in November. Considering Butler and Watson are the only two guys listed on the RB depth chart, I’d say a lack of contact would be a good idea.

— Gunnar Holcombe, the quarterback with the most experience behind Rakeem Cato, currently is listed as the No. 2  behind Cato, but that depth chart is probably one of the most malleable on the roster. That’s not saying Holcombe won’t win the job, but I think Kevin Anderson and Cole Garvin (and more Anderson than Garvin, to preserve Garvin’s redshirt) will get plenty of opportunities to move up the list.

— There’s plenty of movement — and not much depth of experience — on the offensive line. Sebastian Johansson moves from left guard, where he started all last year, to left tackle. Blake Brooks, who played 47 snaps in the team’s first 13 games, will begin the spring as the starting left guard. Brooks did a really nice job helping the running game get going in Marshall’s Military Bowl win over Maryland. Center Chris Jasperse is a lock, as is right tackle Clint Van Horn. Michael Selby, who played well as a reserve lineman as a freshman, will start at right guard. The only other lineman with any 2013 experience is Trevor Mendelson, who played 29 snaps in the first 13 games.

— Tiquan Lang’s hold on the starting strong safety spot is so tight, D.J. Hunter has moved back to strong-side linebacker. What’s interesting about that: Marshall started the game with three linebackers just twice last season, against UAB and Tulsa. The rest of the time, Marshall started out in its nickel package. Corey Tindal, who shared Conference USA freshman of the year honors, is listed as both a starting corner and the starting nickelback. Looks like he’ll be on the field, no matter what defense the Herd runs.

We’ll get our chance to talk to Doc Holliday on Monday, about 24 hours before spring practices begin. I’m sure there’ll be plenty more to talk about from there.

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