Mike Green having tremendous impact for the Marshall Thundering Herd football team

 By Ben Anderson

Editor’s Note

    This package is about Marshall football defensive lineman Mike Green. Green was selected by the students of JMC 303 to be the top athlete of Marshall football. The criteria for the top athlete of Marshall football were based on the most significant accolades, stats, overall impact on the team, and performance on the field. 

    The name at the top of the most important Marshall football stats this season is that of redshirt sophomore defensive back Mike Green is the name that is at the top all season long.

    The transfer from the University of Virginia is now in his second season with the Thundering Herd. In 2023, he finished with 43 tackles, including 9 tackles for loss, and 4 1/2 sacks with six quarterback hurries. 

    The Williamsburg, Virginia native, was expected to be one of the captains of the Thundering Herd this season. He was selected by Marshall head football coach Charles Huff to represent Marshall at the Sun Belt Conference Media Days. 

    Reporters such as Luke Creasy, Herald-Dispatch sports writer of Marshall athletics, expected Green to have a standout season this year.

    “Green is the biggest threat on the defensive line and has come a long way since he joined the Herd as a transfer last season,” Creasy said in an interview with Eleven Warriors. “He's got the talent to play on Sundays and is the emotional leader on that side of the ball. He's got a chance for a special season.”

    The breakout season for Green started with his maturity in the offseason working with Marshall defensive line coach Ralph Streets.

    “Every day, he’ll come in here and sit right beside my desk,” Street said during an interview with the Herald-Dispatch. “I spend the most time with him. “Someway Owen Porter was. Same way Koby Cumberland was when I first got here. I’m attached to the hip with him, and he’s really taken off. 

    Green said that he has learned a lot since he transferred to Marshall in 2023.

     “Where I came from a Power Five school, they didn’t really teach those fundamentals of football like footwork or hand placement and those types of things,” Green said. “Once I continued to build in those categories, I ended up realizing how much more important it was than I thought.”

    Green said that he credits what he learned in the previous off-season to his success back in the spring season.

    “I’ve grown a lot simply because of the fact that when I get on the field, I can look down the line and realize which plays are run, which plays are pass, who’s pulling, and who’s expected to block me,” Green said, “I’ve got a better understanding of what football is, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot since I’ve been here.”

    Green had a strong start to the season for Marshall. Through the first three games of the season Green and 4.5 sacks, an average of 1.5 sacks per game which led the nation at the time.

    When I’m entering the field, I think that I sometimes put a lot of pressure on myself only because of the standard that everyone holds me up to,” Green said. “When you release the pressure and do what you’re supposed to do and make some plays its rewarding.”

    Green was also chosen to be on the player leadership committee selected by the team.

    “We have a leadership committee. On that leadership committee is one player from each position that the coaches and the team feel have influence,” Huff said. “It doesn’t mean they are perfect, or they are the best player, doesn’t mean they’ll start or not start, but who has influence in the room when things are going well and not going well?”

    Green’s standout season as being one of the top sack leaders in the nation has brought him many accolades.

    In October, Green was added to the 2024 Bednarik Award, which is presented to the College Football Defensive Player of the Year.

    At the time of the nomination, Green led the Sun Belt Conference and was top 5 in four statistical categories in the FBS.

    Ranked 3rd in the FBS in sacks with 8 on the season, 5th in tackles for loss with 10 ½, and 3rd in the FBS in sack yardage with 60.

    Green had at least one tackle for loss in five of the first six games of the season. 

    Green’s biggest game of the season thus far came against Western Michigan when he finished with a career-high 11 tackles. 

    Green was also named Sun Belt Conference, Reese’s Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week, and the Group of Five Team of the Week on November 4th.

    The award came after Green finished with 9 tackles (4 solo), including 3 ½ tackles for loss and 2 sacks with a forced fumble in Marshall’s 28-23 win against ULM on Nov. 2, 2024. 

    “I couldn’t be happier for Mike, a young man who embodies our culture and the values of our program,” Huff told West Virginia Metro News. “Being recognized for his hard work and talent is great for him and his family.”

    Green then, for the third straight week, received national honors with being named the East-West Shrine Bowl Breakout Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in Marshall’s 31-19 win against Coastal Carolina on Nov. 16, 2024.

    In the victory against the Chanticleers in the 75 games, Green finished with 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two quarterback hurries. 

    Green, early in the fourth quarter, worked through a double-team to get to Coastal Carolina quarterback Ethan Vasko, forcing a fumble that Marshall recovered and turned into a touchdown on the next play. Later, Green put the stamp on the victory when he sacked Vasko on fourth down inside the red zone with the Chanticleers looking to make it a one-score game.

    Green, with the success of this season, was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. 

    As of the following the Sun Belt Conference Championship game on Saturday, Green now holds the Sun Belt Conference for most sacks in a season with 17. Green leads the nation in tackles for loss with 22 1/2, sack yardage with 144 yards, tackles for loss yardage with 155, and tackles by a defensive lineman with 84.

    Green said that the biggest reason for his success this season has been his coaching staff,

    “The constant people I have in my ear and making sure I'm doing the right things. I know sometimes it's hard for guys that have early success to keep on and improving them in games and stuff like that.” Green said during a weekly news conference on October 29th. “I have a strong support system that makes sure  that I'm on top of all my things, and I'm not just getting all these compliments and constantly looking myself up and stuff like that. When you have people that are always on you (who) always knows your potential and wants you to strive for more. It’s kind of just puts a little bit more ease on your mind just to know that you're not there yet, you haven't accomplished anything yet.”