Staff Report

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall University defensive end Vinny Curry announced his plans to return for his senior season at a press conference Monday.

Curry, a six-foot-four, 260-pound junior from Neptune, N.J., earned first-team All-Conference USA honors this past season after leading all defensive linemen in tackles with 94 total stops (7.83 per game) and ranking fifth in the nation with 12 sacks (1 per game average).

His 18 tackles for loss also ranked second in C-USA and ranked among the top totals in the country.

The Thundering Herd standout said he explored the possibility of declaring for this year’s National Football League Draft and received a positive evaluation from the NFL. He also spent a great deal of time discussing the potential pros and cons with his family and the Marshall coaching staff over the course of the last month before reaching his decision.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL and to be so close to that opportunity is very enticing,” Curry said.

“I put in for the NFL evaluation and it was favorable. However, I have the chance to be only the second person in my family to earn a college degree and I have some unfinished business here at Marshall. I love our coaches and the direction we are going and I want to help my teammates compete for a championship next year.”

Marshall Head Coach Doc Holliday had this to say about Curry’s decision.

“I have been coaching a long time and Vinny did a great job of researching this decision and listening to the right people,” Holliday said. “He is an outstanding young man with a bright future and I could not be more proud of him.”