and maybe this gives us some reason for optimism since it has to be better, right? RIGHT?

tldr: we played 13 games last year. in 8 of them, we allowed 2 different WRs to have a 40+ yard reception. The other games weren't even that pretty. Like AZ, where one guy destroyed us.

Penn St: 50, 55 - so again, this was the long reception for 2 different players, not one guy with 2 long catches

Albany: 41, 49 and a 3rd with a 33 yarder

pitt: 42, 40

Kansas - a true success story, the only game without a 40+ yard reception allowed. 36 was the high

Okie St: 43, 41

Iowa St: 60, 37 and a 34 by a 3rd WR.

Kansas St: 60, 53

Arizona: 49 (so only one player but we gave up 202 yards to him) TAMPA 2!!!!!!

Cincy: 80 (again, this is one of our better pass D showings)

Baylor: 43, 40

UCF: 45

Texas Tech: 41, 31 and 30

Memphis: 89 and 48

I mean, a modicum of competence and we can likely cut this list in half. But in basically every game we played minus Kansas, we gave up at LEAST one backbreaking reception.

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Fort Worth (Tx). North Crowley 2026 defensive back Aaron Bradshaw told me that heading into his official visit to West Virginia he had heard a lot of things about the place such as there was nothing to do but when he was able to get there and experience it himself all of that was a myth. He told me that he didn't meet one bad person on his June 11-13 official visit and the team is full of good guys. The trip exceeded his expectations on the first day and the environment really stood out to him. Bradshaw spent a lot of time with both safeties coach Gabe Franklin and defensive coordinator Zac Alley and he liked seeing their scheme and the history of success it has had over the years. He is being targeted at safety but has some versatility to his game to play other spots. He liked the fact that the defense is aggressive and forces turnovers as well at it being a defense anybody can play within. He told me he will take a visit to Texas Tech June 20-22 but those programs are the two standing out. He did admit to me that he's glad he got to take this trip because it gave him a real look at the school and everything about it.

the portal guy I am looking forward to is Ryan Ward. Talked to a Carolina chef friend in Asheville last weekend and he said the last staff loved his upside and more importantly his ability to stretch the field from the slot. Said he has great wheels, fabulous hands and runs perfect routes.

Only played four games to protect redshirt.

Thought the tight end would be good for 20 or so catches this year but I could see that changing semi drastically. May get some carries out of fullback/slot too.

Robinson, Ward, Vaughn and Ashton Woods should make an impact

Cameron Dwyer and Antoine Sharp

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Cameron Dwyer and Antoine Sharp

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"Alley wants his defenses to be relentless and make opposing offenses feel like they have 13, 14, or 15 guys on the field with how they attack."

- quoted from Keenan's article.

is being replaced by Gen Ham and Cheese.

D'Nilyeon Taylor will announce on June 21.

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RIP Doug Skaff. I think the original Mountaineer Maniac.
Terrible. Guy just recovering from multiple poisonous snake bites

https://wvmetronews.com/2025/06/10/...businessman-doug-skarr-jr-dead-in-i-79-crash/