HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Curtis Keyes' first start at safety for Marshall carries a daunting assignment: shadowing the Mid-American Conference's version of Michael Vick.

Kent State's Josh Cribbs - who tormented Marshall last year with 199 rushing yards and three touchdowns and added 145 yards passing - is the center of attention for Keyes and the Thundering Herd coaching staff this week.

''Wherever he goes, I'm in his back pocket,'' Keyes said. ''This is my first test, the biggest test I'm going to face this year. (Kent State is) an option team, very hard to contain, very hard on the safety.''

Marshall coach Bob Pruett figures Cribbs will be fully recovered Saturday from a high ankle sprain suffered Sept. 20 against Penn State.

Before the injury, Cribbs was averaging 56 rushing yards per game. He has a minus-5 yard-per-game average in Kent State's most recent three games, including his early exit from the Penn State game.

Still, among MAC quarterbacks, Cribbs' 249 yards rushing is second to only Ohio's Freddie Ray, who has 392, and Ray rarely passes in the Bobcats' ground-based offense.

''Basically, (Cribbs) is the axis of the offense,'' Keyes said. ''Everybody works around him. If he rolls out right, everybody's rolling right. If he pitches it, that's good. If he keeps it, that's the worst thing that could happen.''

That's because, as Herd defensive lineman Toriano Brown said, ''he will make you look bad.''

Keyes expects Cribbs to rush early and often because his ankle is healing and because of Marshall's poor reputation against the run. The Herd (2-3, 0-1 MAC) is allowing opponents to run for 198 yards per game.

''Against Marshall, (other teams say) we can't stop the run, we can't stop this,'' Keyes said. ''We're looking forward to him tucking the ball a little bit more than usual.''

But Pruett said Cribbs, a junior, also has progressed steadily in the passing game. He threw for a career-best 390 yards in the opener against Akron and had 205 passing yards last week against Ball State.

''He's made plays against anybody and everybody,'' Pruett said. ''He has improved his throwing, and he's a force to be reckoned with. … He can beat you either way now. We used to think he was a streaky thrower, but he's more consistent.''

Keyes has spent extra time studying film this week, trying to determine Cribbs' tendencies. He said the homework and hoopla surrounding his first college start has left him at times overwhelmed.

''I wish I had a remote control to put this thing on pause for at least a day,'' Keyes said. ''I feel like I'm falling behind and still not getting enough done. But I'm getting it.''