HUNTINGTON - With five junior college transfers already confirmed as commitments for Marshall University football, the Thundering Herd is anticipating as many as another dozen high school seniors to sign letters of intent on Wednesday.

Eight student-athletes, including two wide receivers from the state of West Virginia, have announced they will be on campus for the 2009 season. The list features homegrown talent in South Charleston's Aaron Dobson and Huntington's C.J. Crawford.

Dobson drew interest from West Virginia University and Wake Forest before committing to Marshall on New Year's Day. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder caught 45 receptions for more than 1,000 yards and scored 17 touchdowns as the Black Eagles finished 14-0 and claimed the Class AAA state title this past fall. His father, Robert, also attended Marshall.

Exactly where Crawford fits into the Thundering Herd's lineup remains to be seen. The 6-2, 200-pounder, who also received offers from Arkansas and Wake Forest, played multiple positions for the Highlanders.

One year after passing for 1,611 yards and 13 TDs and rushing for another 492 yards and seven TDs, Crawford completed his senior season rushing for 467 yards and six TDs; hauling in 27 passes for 343 yards and two TDs; and completed 19 attempts for another 274 yards and one TD at quarterback.

With Freddie Moore (6-3, 190) and Michael Rhynes (6-5, 205) also expected to sign on Wednesday, that will only strengthen the depth at wide receiver. In one game for Austin High School (Decatur, Ala.) last September, Moore caught touchdown passes for 36, 53 and 45 yards and also returned a punt 98 yards for another score.

Despite being slowed by injuries, Rhynes had four touchdown receptions in his first six games for national power Independence High School (Charlotte, N.C.).

The future of the linebacking crew at Marshall also is receiving a boost with the addition of Phil Walker (6-1, 208), Matt Pickett (6-2, 210) and Zakee Bashir (6-2, 212). Pickett, who turned down an offer to play at Air Force, started at weakside linebacker and also lined up at fullback and tight end for Providence High School (Charlotte, N.C.).

In his final two seasons with Walnut Ridge High School (Columbus, Ohio), Bashir recorded 127 tackles and 14 sacks. Walker played on a highly-touted defense at Cypress High School (Weston, Fla.), which included fellow linebackers Austin Gamble and Shane Gordon. Gamble is headed to Duke, while Gordon is being recruited by several Division-I programs - including four Big East schools.

Another player scheduled to sign is James Rouse - a defensive end from Harrisonburg High School (Va.). The 6-6, 207-pounder received interest from Virginia, Virginia Tech and Purdue.

Among the top prospects who have been offered scholarships by Marshall but are still undecided about their future plans are quarterback A.J. Graham from Amos P. Godby High School (Tallahassee, Fla.), defensive end Marques Aiken from Boyd H. Anderson High School (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) and running back Boogie McCray from Lake Taylor High School (Norfolk, Va.).