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—Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said that West Virginia hasn’t started to trim down the cornerback battle but it’s looking like five guys are in the mix. They’re going to continue to pair it down moving forward but they have to be willing to cover and tackle.
—The starters at linebacker in redshirt sophomore Charlie Benton at SAM, redshirt sophomore Dylan Tonkery at MIKE and redshirt junior David Long at WILL have done some good things. They’ve made some plays and continue to improve which is what they have to do this time of the year.
—Benton has transitioned well from the spring and is a long athletic linebacker that is getting bigger, stronger and faster. He’ll lay his hat on defenders and Gibson said they hadn’t had one with length so he was a good fit. He can talk and run with tight ends and it helps that he’ll have three years left.
—David Long studies more film than anybody on the defense and makes his teammates often come in and watch it with him to learn from their mistakes. He does all of that on his own and he knows the scheme so well he could teach it all. During practice if you’re loafing he isn’t afraid to call out his teammates.
—The second team at linebacker has been junior Adam Hensley and redshirt sophomore Zach Sandwisch at the MIKE, freshman Josh Chandler at the WILL and redshirt junior Shea Campbell and redshirt freshman Exree Loe at SAM. That group has to get better it the good news is that it’s early into camp.
—Gibson trains the linebackers in different roles so they can be best utilized. Josh Chandler is one that fills that role.
—West Virginia has been targeting more athletic linebackers on the recruiting trail and while he can’t speak to specifics they’ve had to find WILL or SAM bodies that could potentially grow into MIKE or even safeties.
—Freshman Dante Stills is going to be a great player but how quick he is going to be great is the question. Gibson is hoping that will be in a few weeks.
—Gibson believes that sophomore Kenny Robinson has put together a strong off-season and is a lot more confident.
—Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital said that redshirt sophomore Jack Allison has continued to practice well. Freshman Trey Lowe also has put together some good practices and the plan is to throw him more into the fire today. He had his best practice yesterday and continues to get better but the goal is to get the communication aspect down so he can operate at a higher level.
—The running backs have been on of the most surprising groups on offense and all four of them have been rotating in and out with the first team. Spavital feels confident with all four of them.
—When it comes to the offensive line, Spavital feels the best about the continuity with the running backs and how they’re on the same page. That has made them more efficient in the run game.
—Spavital believes that the tight ends will make the offense more efficient because of the element of the bigger body that will create mismatches. Those type of players aren’t going to be stretching the field vertically more so it will be a lot of safer underneath throws.
—Wide receivers coach Tyron Carrier told me that the top four is pretty much set and it’s all the usual suspects with seniors David Sills, Gary Jennings, junior Marcus Simms and redshirt sophomore TJ Simmons. But the battle for the backup spots has two players out front in senior Dominique Maiden and sophomore Tevin Bush while the rest of the competition is completely wide open at this stage.
—Maiden has really matured since last season and being in the program has really helped him. He always had the talent but now he’s looking really good coming out if breaks. It happens to most kids coming from junior college as it’s a big adjustment but now he’s focused and ready to take some reps. He is strictly an outside wide receiver and even has seen some reps with the first team. He is big and smooth and he understands his body and what he’s capable of at this level. Carrier told me he’s a 4.5 guy that can run.
—As for Bush, he is a smaller athlete but he can be used basically all over the field as a shifty guy that can catch screens or somebody that can stretch the field vertically as well.
—As part of that Carrier believes he is a lot better off than he was last year but it’s now about those other players rising to the occasion and taking one of those jobs. He said all of the freshmen are taking good steps but there is a thin line with trying not to put too much on them. They have the routes down but now it’s working on the things to do in order to get there.
—Junior Marcus Simms has been more consistent and has been working harder than he has in the past. He’s known as a field stretcher but he’s been better in a lot of the other areas going underneath and catching quick slants. He’s capable of all of that but his role is to be that guy that gets vertical because he’s the fastest wide receiver on the team and can take the top off a defense.
—Tight ends coach Dan Gerberry has been impressed with freshman T.J Banks started slower with no pads but once they strapped them up he’s been a lot better and really turned it up. Gerberry said that he is simply a grown man and in three or four years he’s going to be a dynamic player.
—Gerberry said that his room is a lot different than in the past because of the focus on recruiting the position and getting different body types in the program. The body types and players are just drastically different than what it was in the past.
—As for how the position will be used, Gerberry didn’t tip his hand but he said that he hopes they have an impact more so than just playing offense such as special teams and other areas. They are going to be classified as h-backs which is what they did some last year but it will be an expansion of what they’ve done in the past.
—Redshirt senior Trevon Wesco has bought into everything and really grown up. His biggest step has been off the field with handling his business and approaching the meetings and treatments as a man. Redshirt sophomore Jovani Haskins is a phenomenal athlete that has really bought into the blocking aspect which was the hurdle.
—Offensive line coach Joe Wickline said that the battle for the guards is basically between redshirt sophomore Josh Sills, senior Isaiah Hardy and the Brown brothers. There are going to be options there and they’ll have enough to have some depth on the interior with some different body types. You want competition and this fall camp they’re getting it there.
—Same can be said at center where redshirt sophomore Jacob Buccigrossi is battling redshirt junior Matt Jones. There has been no decision made there but regardless who wins it they will have two guys that can play there if needed.
—The third tackle right now is redshirt junior Kelby Wickline and he can flip from right to left if needed. The other body that is seeing time there is redshirt freshman Tyler Thurmond. He still has a ways to go but he’s giving great effort and cares.
—Wickline said that both redshirt juniors Mike and Joe Brown are still developing and getting into shape but they are taking steps forward every single day. They are the right type of bodies in terms of size and skill set but it’s now about molding them into high level contributors.
—Redshirt sophomore Chase Behrndt has been bouncing back and forth between guard and tackle in camp to find the best spot for him. It only adds to the versatility of the offensive line as a whole.
Access to premium WVU coverage and $99 in FREE West Virginia gear. What's not to like?
New members can sign up for an annual account at WVSports.com and you will get $99 in gear and an entire year to browse the coverage that we provide.
What are you waiting for because the deal is only around while supplies last!
New users: https://westvirginia.rivals.com/sign_up_offer
************
—Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said that West Virginia hasn’t started to trim down the cornerback battle but it’s looking like five guys are in the mix. They’re going to continue to pair it down moving forward but they have to be willing to cover and tackle.
—The starters at linebacker in redshirt sophomore Charlie Benton at SAM, redshirt sophomore Dylan Tonkery at MIKE and redshirt junior David Long at WILL have done some good things. They’ve made some plays and continue to improve which is what they have to do this time of the year.
—Benton has transitioned well from the spring and is a long athletic linebacker that is getting bigger, stronger and faster. He’ll lay his hat on defenders and Gibson said they hadn’t had one with length so he was a good fit. He can talk and run with tight ends and it helps that he’ll have three years left.
—David Long studies more film than anybody on the defense and makes his teammates often come in and watch it with him to learn from their mistakes. He does all of that on his own and he knows the scheme so well he could teach it all. During practice if you’re loafing he isn’t afraid to call out his teammates.
—The second team at linebacker has been junior Adam Hensley and redshirt sophomore Zach Sandwisch at the MIKE, freshman Josh Chandler at the WILL and redshirt junior Shea Campbell and redshirt freshman Exree Loe at SAM. That group has to get better it the good news is that it’s early into camp.
—Gibson trains the linebackers in different roles so they can be best utilized. Josh Chandler is one that fills that role.
—West Virginia has been targeting more athletic linebackers on the recruiting trail and while he can’t speak to specifics they’ve had to find WILL or SAM bodies that could potentially grow into MIKE or even safeties.
—Freshman Dante Stills is going to be a great player but how quick he is going to be great is the question. Gibson is hoping that will be in a few weeks.
—Gibson believes that sophomore Kenny Robinson has put together a strong off-season and is a lot more confident.
—Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital said that redshirt sophomore Jack Allison has continued to practice well. Freshman Trey Lowe also has put together some good practices and the plan is to throw him more into the fire today. He had his best practice yesterday and continues to get better but the goal is to get the communication aspect down so he can operate at a higher level.
—The running backs have been on of the most surprising groups on offense and all four of them have been rotating in and out with the first team. Spavital feels confident with all four of them.
—When it comes to the offensive line, Spavital feels the best about the continuity with the running backs and how they’re on the same page. That has made them more efficient in the run game.
—Spavital believes that the tight ends will make the offense more efficient because of the element of the bigger body that will create mismatches. Those type of players aren’t going to be stretching the field vertically more so it will be a lot of safer underneath throws.
—Wide receivers coach Tyron Carrier told me that the top four is pretty much set and it’s all the usual suspects with seniors David Sills, Gary Jennings, junior Marcus Simms and redshirt sophomore TJ Simmons. But the battle for the backup spots has two players out front in senior Dominique Maiden and sophomore Tevin Bush while the rest of the competition is completely wide open at this stage.
—Maiden has really matured since last season and being in the program has really helped him. He always had the talent but now he’s looking really good coming out if breaks. It happens to most kids coming from junior college as it’s a big adjustment but now he’s focused and ready to take some reps. He is strictly an outside wide receiver and even has seen some reps with the first team. He is big and smooth and he understands his body and what he’s capable of at this level. Carrier told me he’s a 4.5 guy that can run.
—As for Bush, he is a smaller athlete but he can be used basically all over the field as a shifty guy that can catch screens or somebody that can stretch the field vertically as well.
—As part of that Carrier believes he is a lot better off than he was last year but it’s now about those other players rising to the occasion and taking one of those jobs. He said all of the freshmen are taking good steps but there is a thin line with trying not to put too much on them. They have the routes down but now it’s working on the things to do in order to get there.
—Junior Marcus Simms has been more consistent and has been working harder than he has in the past. He’s known as a field stretcher but he’s been better in a lot of the other areas going underneath and catching quick slants. He’s capable of all of that but his role is to be that guy that gets vertical because he’s the fastest wide receiver on the team and can take the top off a defense.
—Tight ends coach Dan Gerberry has been impressed with freshman T.J Banks started slower with no pads but once they strapped them up he’s been a lot better and really turned it up. Gerberry said that he is simply a grown man and in three or four years he’s going to be a dynamic player.
—Gerberry said that his room is a lot different than in the past because of the focus on recruiting the position and getting different body types in the program. The body types and players are just drastically different than what it was in the past.
—As for how the position will be used, Gerberry didn’t tip his hand but he said that he hopes they have an impact more so than just playing offense such as special teams and other areas. They are going to be classified as h-backs which is what they did some last year but it will be an expansion of what they’ve done in the past.
—Redshirt senior Trevon Wesco has bought into everything and really grown up. His biggest step has been off the field with handling his business and approaching the meetings and treatments as a man. Redshirt sophomore Jovani Haskins is a phenomenal athlete that has really bought into the blocking aspect which was the hurdle.
—Offensive line coach Joe Wickline said that the battle for the guards is basically between redshirt sophomore Josh Sills, senior Isaiah Hardy and the Brown brothers. There are going to be options there and they’ll have enough to have some depth on the interior with some different body types. You want competition and this fall camp they’re getting it there.
—Same can be said at center where redshirt sophomore Jacob Buccigrossi is battling redshirt junior Matt Jones. There has been no decision made there but regardless who wins it they will have two guys that can play there if needed.
—The third tackle right now is redshirt junior Kelby Wickline and he can flip from right to left if needed. The other body that is seeing time there is redshirt freshman Tyler Thurmond. He still has a ways to go but he’s giving great effort and cares.
—Wickline said that both redshirt juniors Mike and Joe Brown are still developing and getting into shape but they are taking steps forward every single day. They are the right type of bodies in terms of size and skill set but it’s now about molding them into high level contributors.
—Redshirt sophomore Chase Behrndt has been bouncing back and forth between guard and tackle in camp to find the best spot for him. It only adds to the versatility of the offensive line as a whole.
