Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1478022
34 NOV. 20, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: MARSHALL Huff expects him to take the reins and run with them. "I think you can clearly see that he has a veteran presence," Huff said. "Nothing rattles him. Nothing gets him off-kilter. Doesn't matter if he makes a completion, doesn't matter if he takes off running, doesn't matter if he throws an interception. "He's done a good job of taking lead- ership when he's on the field." Expect to see Colombi strike up a strong rapport with senior wide receiver Corey Gammage, who led Marshall with 78 catches and 869 receiving yards last season. No Marshall pass catcher had more than 3 touchdown receptions in 2021, though, which could pose a prob- lem without Ali. Colombi understands it's his job to make those around him better. "Every week that you are out here, every week that you're running the offense is another opportunity to get more comfortable in the system and to continue to build chemistry with the receivers, the offensive line and the run- ning backs," Colombi said. "I'm excited to move forward." FACING ADVERSITY Huff made sure his team realized the full scope of the Ali situation before Mar- shall's season opener. He took his players back to where Ali was one year ago. "We told them the story of Rasheen Ali," Huff said. "Three-hundred and sixty-five days ago, we did a simulated scrimmage and Rasheen ran with the third group in that scrimmage. That's where he was on the depth chart a week before the first game." Translation: Anybody could step up and be a hero. "Don't get me wrong, Rasheen is a phenomenal player," Huff said. "But 2022 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 3 at Ohio State L, 21-10 Sept. 10 Marshall (NBC) 2:30 p.m. Sept. 17 California (NBC) 2:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at North Carolina TBD Oct. 8 vs. BYU* (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 Stanford (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 UNLV (Peacock) 2:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at Syracuse TBD Nov. 5 Clemson (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 vs. Navy^ (ABC/ESPN) 12 p.m. Nov. 19 Boston College (NBC) 2:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at USC TBD * at Las Vegas; ^ at Baltimore 2022 MARSHALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 3 Norfolk State W, 55-3 Sept. 10 at Notre Dame 2:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at Bowling Green 5 p.m. Sept. 24 at Troy 7 p.m. Oct. 1 Gardner-Webb TBA Oct. 12 Louisiana (ESPN2) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at James Madison TBA Oct. 29 Coastal Carolina TBA Nov. 5 at Old Dominion TBA Nov. 12 Appalachian State TBA Nov. 19 at Georgia Southern TBA Nov. 26 Georgia State TBA Redshirt junior linebacker Eli Neal has increased his tackle total every year. He made 96 total stops with 7 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 2021. PHOTO COURTESY MARSHALL ATHLETICS