Defense work in progress at West Virginia
Development of depth is critical for the secondary
West Virginia is just a few weeks away from its season opener Sept. 4 at Maryland. Here’s a look at how the roster is shaping up with a handful of practices in the books.
Quarterback
• Options: Jarret Doege (senior), Garrett Greene (freshman), Will Crowder (freshman)
• Thoughts: Doege is the man in more ways than one. Not only has he been named to some national award watch lists after passing for 2,587 yards and 14 touchdowns against just four interceptions last year, he’s also the only quarterback in the room with any relevant experience. His health will be key.
Running back
• Options: Leddie Brown (senior), Troy Mathis (sophomore), A’Varius Sparrow (freshman), Justin Johnson Jr. (freshman), Jaylen Anderson (freshman)
• Thoughts: Brown is the other focal point of this offense alongside Doege after rushing for 1,010 yards at a healthy percarry average of 5.1. He should get the bulk of the carries, but monitor the situation with Anderson, who has yet to report to camp after signing as one of the top prospects from the recruiting class of 2021. Johnson has been generating camp buzz, too.
Receiver
• Options: Sean Ryan (junior), Isaiah Esdale (senior), Sam James (junior), Bryce Ford-Wheaton (junior), Winston Wright Jr. (junior), Reese Smith ( freshman), Sam Brown (freshman), Kaden Prather (freshman)
• Thoughts: Wright had nearly twice as many receptions as everyone else last season but was more of a possession option with 553 total yards. Ford-Wheaton, James and Ryan, meanwhile, got less attention but still gained 250plus yards each. This is a deep group. The question is whether any of these veterans can establish themselves as consistent downfield threats.
Tight end
• Options: Mike O’Laughlin (junior), T.J. Banks (junior), Charles Finley (freshman), Treylan Davis (freshman), Victor Wikstrom (freshman)
• Thoughts: This offense tends not to target the tight end much, but when it does, O’Laughlin has been a reliable target, with 15 catches in 2020. He has been working through a foot injury in camp.
Offensive line
• Options: John Hughes (junior), Doug Nester (junior), James Gmiter (junior), Brandon Yates ( sophomore), Parker Moorer (sophomore), Zach Frazier (sophomore), Jordan White (freshman), Donovan Beaver (sophomore), Ja’Quay Hubbard (sophomore), Chris Mayo (freshman), Wyatt Milum (freshman), Tomas Rimac (freshman)
• Thoughts: Gmiter is a Bethel Park product who established himself with 20 starts in his career. Yates, Frazier, Moorer and Hughes have all gotten long looks. And Nester joins the group as a transfer after a productive stint at Virginia Tech. It is an experienced group that should be solid in 2021.
Defensive line
• Options: Dante Stills (senior), Taijh Alston (junior), Darel Middleton (senior), Tavis Lee (junior), Akheem Mesidor (sophomore), Sean Martin (freshman), Taurus Simmons (freshman), Lanell Carr (freshman), Brayden Dudley (freshman), Hammond Russell IV (freshman), Jordan Jefferson (sophomore), Jalen Thornton (sophomore), Edward Vesterinen (freshman)
• Thoughts: Mesidor led this team in sacks a year ago with five and figures to be a big factor again. Stills appears on the Outland and Nagurski award watch lists. And Middleton is a player to watch after transferring to West Virginia from Tennessee in the offseason. Together, the hope is that this group can generate a bit more pressure.
Linebackers
• Options: Vandarius Cowan (senior), Josh Chandler-Semedo (senior), Exree Loe ( junior), Deshawn Stevens ( senior), Jared Bartlett (sophomore), James Thomas (freshman), Eddie Watkins Jr. ( freshman), Lance Dixon (freshman), Jairo Faverus (freshman), Devell Washington (freshman), Ja’Corey Hammett (freshman)
• Thoughts: ChandlerSemedo is the team’s top returning tackler behind Alonzo Addae and figures to be the focal point of this group. Cowan is experienced, too, and Bartlett chipped in 3½ sacks in 2020. The Mountaineers hope veteran savvy leads to more production.
Secondary
• Options: Sean Mahone (senior), Scottie Young (senior), Alonzo Addae (senior), Kerry Martin Jr. ( sophomore), Aubrey Burks (freshman), Davis Mallinger (freshman), Saint McLeod (freshman), Caleb Coleman (freshman), Jackie Matthews (junior), Nicktroy Fortune (junior), Charles Woods (junior), Daryl Porter Jr. (sophomore) Andrew Wilson-Lamp (freshman)
• Thoughts: This unit is reeling a bit after the loss of All-American safety Tykee Smith to Georgia and Dreshun Miller to Auburn. Some experience returns in Addae, Mahone, Fortune and Young, who will try to fill the hole left by Smith. But there’s not a whole lot of veteran depth behind them, so keeping them healthy will be critical.
Specialists
• Options: Evan Staley (senior), Kolton McGhee (sophomore), Tyler Sumpter (senior)
• Thoughts: Staley has been the kicker for most of his West Virginia tenure, though Sumpter stepped in after Staley’s injury last year. Sumpter and McGhee figure to be in competition for punting duties again after McGhee unseated Sumpter forthe starting role last year.