2025 WV Team Preview: John Marshall Monarchs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% Off Your Subscription with Code PRZWV30 at Checkout!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep an eye on John Marshall to sneak their way into the playoffs in 2025 after missing the postseason the past several seasons. The Monarchs have the bulk of their skill players back, but will need to find some new faces along the trenches to step up and play well if they want to make the playoffs for the first time since 2018. There are quite a few coin flip games on their schedule this season, as they'll even have the opportunity to host a playoff game if they can win a few of those evenly matched contests. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2025 Schedule</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8/29: vs Marietta (OH)<br>9/5: at Weir<br>9/12: vs Bellaire (OH)<br>9/26: at Parkersburg South<br>10/3: at Warren (OH)<br>10/10: at Keyser<br>10/17: vs Brooke<br>10/24: at Fairfield Union (OH)<br>10/31: vs Point Pleasant<br>11/7: vs Wheeling Park</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 Record: </strong>2-8<br><strong>2025 Prediction:</strong> 5-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1136969"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a3710eb4eb0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If 2026 John Marshall QB [player_tooltip player_id='1136969' first='Kayden' last='Knapp'] can elevate his game as a senior, look for the Monarchs to surprise a lot of teams on their schedule. After a 2-8 campaign last season, Knapp and his teammates are looking to flip the script in 2025 and have the potential to do so. He's shown a lot of flashes during his career, but he needs to put it all together this fall to reach his and the team's ceiling. Knapp has the size and athleticism to earn D2 looks as a QB or ATH this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18122099/682913aaf67f4d8643586088' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a3710eb5297"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1139390"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a3710eb5317"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">John Marshall's top player on defense will be 2026 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1139390' first='Mason' last='Markonich']. 2025 graduate Maverick Lemasters got a lot of deserving attention last season, but Markonich was right with him for the impact they had on that side of the ball. He's a tough, physical middle linebacker who plays with an edge. Markonich comes downhill with bad intentions and welcomes contact, which you love to see in your middle linebacker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18354884/673277b92523d8e245fdfd03' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a3710eb5355"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1137699"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a3710eb53c3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of several weapons for the Monarchs to utilize in the passing game this season will be 2026 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1137699' first='Xavier' last='Wells']. He's their big receiver out wide who has good straight-line speed and can take the top off of the defense. Wells will be a factor as a returner on special teams as well as an underrated playmaker for the Monarchs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's what we recently said about Wells in our <em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/new-additions-to-the-2026-top-250-pt-3/">2026 Rankings New Additions article</a></em>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137699' first='Xavier' last='Wells']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/xavier-wells/"></a> is ready to have his breakout season for John Marshall as a senior after showing glimpses the past two seasons. They graduated their top target from last season, so increased opportunities should be coming for Wells this year. He's been a very good kick returner for the Monarchs with impressive straight-line speed that gives him the potential to also be a deep threat in the passing game. If Wells has improved his agility and lateral quickness, he can take his game to new levels as a receiver and open up his capability in the route tree."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18122042/674670ea6e40c524fcb5f2c9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a3710eb53ff"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1667691"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a3710eb546c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2026 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1667691' first='Kyle' last='Williams'] is one of the few returning offensive linemen with experience as the Monarchs look to replace several starters from last season. Williams saw a lot of action as a good depth piece with some starting experience as a junior, but will be counted on to be a leader in that group as a senior. We got to see him perform at our Combine Series camp earlier this summer, and Williams is a name that small colleges will want to keep tabs on this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18446565/6831b69f39650b36f8fb6e27' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a3710eb54a5"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1624347"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a3710eb550e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The sky is the limit for 2028 John Marshall RB [player_tooltip player_id='1624347' first='Dalton' last='Cooper']. If you aren't familiar with him heading into this season, he will quickly grab your attention as a sophomore. Going into the season as the starter this year, Cooper has a great chance to be a future stock riser in the rankings with an already high ranking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's what we recently said about Cooper in our <em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/2028-rankings-debut-the-top-30/">2028 Rankings Debut article</a></em>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"A name that will emerge in a much bigger way this season in the 2028 class is John Marshall RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1624347' first='Dalton' last='Cooper']</strong>. He finished his freshman season with two monster performances once he took over the starting running back spot late in the season and showed flashes of what he's going to do for three more years. Cooper is as physically impressive as any prospect in this class, which will be displayed in his running style this year. He also has the straight-line speed to pair with his size, which will cause serious issues for defenses. Developing his lateral quickness and ability will take his game higher as he gets older, and once he gets more comfortable as a varsity player."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22855893/6781c785d5569dbed3e0c56e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a3710eb5562"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>OTHER PLAYERS TO KNOW</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bryar Haught - 2026 LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cain Martin - 2026 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Landen Snyder - 2027 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->