-Senior receiver Jordan Thompson is catching passes from his fifth quarterback in four years at West Virginia. As a true freshman Thompson caught passes from Geno Smith, before a strange sophomore year when three different gunslingers Paul Millard, Clint Trickett and Ford Childress all threw to Thompson. Last year, Thompson worked with Trickett again, but this year he has another quarterback in Skyler Howard. He says Howard is as good of a leader as any of the quarterbacks he's caught passes from before.
-Thompson says the biggest difference as far as catching the ball from the different quarterbacks go, with Howard he finds himself coming back to the ball way more because of Howard's ability to extend the play. He says he feel like he has great chemistry with Howard because the first-year quarterback made it a point to get on the same page with his wide receivers during the summer.
-Thompson also says Daikiel Shorts is back to primarily repping alongside Thompson at inside receiver.
-Junior Jeremy Tyler says he is the backup at both the spur and free safety spots. He says he can also play the bandit spot, but feels most comfortable at the spur and free. Tyler expects to play from time to time with the first team defense. He says as the backup, he's learned to remain focused on what he can control. He knows he's only a play away from playing more and more each week.
-Redshirt sophomore Elijah Wellman is in an interesting situation. While West Virginia has a number of the fullback/tight end guys in Cody Clay, Michael Ferns and Stone Wolfley, Wellman is the only fullback/running back type. Wellman is the only one of those guys that sits in JaJuan Seider's meetings. The other three meet with GA Dan Gerberry.
-Wellman senses he'll play running back in some short-yardage and goal line situations. He think he'll get some carries in those situations and occasionally catch the ball out of the backfield like in the Liberty Bowl off of play action. Other times, he'll likely be a blocking back. Wellman knows his role and says he has no problem spending most the time as the blocking back.
-Offensive tackle Marquis Lucas has played mentor to Yodny Cajuste. Both are from the Miami area and when Cajuste came as a recruit to visit West Virginia, Lucas actually hosted him on his visit to the school. Since then they've always had a strong bond. Lucas says Cajuste is light years ahead of where he was a redshirt freshman.
-DL Christian Brown said he is focusing more on his position this year at defensive end after playing nose at times last season. He likes that spot because there are more opportunities to get after the quarterback. Eric Kinsey is currently the backup at the spot and has really pushed him to work hard at the position in order to keep his role.
-Brown believes this is the deepest group not only on the defensive line but on the entire defense since he has been at West Virginia. Brown echoed the importance of Bruce Tall because he has been here in the past and understands what needs to happen up front. The focus has been on technique.
-OL Marquis Lucas said that the cohesion with the offensive lineman has been great so far. While he has never been a vocal leader in the past, he understands that as a senior the younger players on the team have really looked up to him and almost forced him into that role. Lucas said that the second team unit has been pushing hard for the starters, he specifically mentioned Marcell Lazard and his development with the fact he can do some things that Lucas can’t do right now.
-Lucas said he has not been surprised that Yodny Cajuste has held onto the left tackle spot because he is a “freak,” and has shown many things that he didn’t come close to showing during his freshman season. The two are very close and have competed to make each other better although they are playing different sides of the offensive line.
-LB Nick Kwiatkoski finding out ways to bring blitzes in order to bring pressure and get after the quarterback this year. The senior linebacker has seen a lot out of Larry Jefferson and he is a great pass rusher that is a tall, quick player off the edge that can bring a lot there.
-Brown said that he did not know that Jefferson was that explosive off the edge. He also said that he has seen a lot out of Darrien Howard and on the offensive side he has seen a lot out of Ka’Raun White, Yodny Cajuste, Daikiel Shorts, Rushel Shell and Skyler Howard.
-S Jarrod Harper said that his shoulder is healthy now and he is comfortable at all three of the safety positions in the West Virginia defense. He singled out the play of Shaq Petteway as somebody that has really stood out in fall camp and said that S Kevin Williams has really progressed as well.
-RB Wendell Smallwood said that Donte Thomas-Williams just needs to continue learn and there could be a role for him this fall because of how big and physical he is.
-Smallwood spoke specifically about things slowing down for him and he feels the most comfortable he has been since he’s been on campus and he has been using that speed to burst out of holes where in the past he has tried to hurry things and not follow his blocks.
-Smallwood said that Tyler Orlosky, KJ Myers and all the senior linebackers are all players that stood out.
-Shelton Gibson said that he has really had to battle some of the issues of him pushing himself too hard and it was a situation where if he didn’t change he wasn’t going to see the field. He has come a long way in that area and now doesn’t focus on every single mistake that he makes. The competition at outside wide receiver has been something that has really motivated him and he’s trying not to think too much on the field and trust the coaching.
-Thompson says the biggest difference as far as catching the ball from the different quarterbacks go, with Howard he finds himself coming back to the ball way more because of Howard's ability to extend the play. He says he feel like he has great chemistry with Howard because the first-year quarterback made it a point to get on the same page with his wide receivers during the summer.
-Thompson also says Daikiel Shorts is back to primarily repping alongside Thompson at inside receiver.
-Junior Jeremy Tyler says he is the backup at both the spur and free safety spots. He says he can also play the bandit spot, but feels most comfortable at the spur and free. Tyler expects to play from time to time with the first team defense. He says as the backup, he's learned to remain focused on what he can control. He knows he's only a play away from playing more and more each week.
-Redshirt sophomore Elijah Wellman is in an interesting situation. While West Virginia has a number of the fullback/tight end guys in Cody Clay, Michael Ferns and Stone Wolfley, Wellman is the only fullback/running back type. Wellman is the only one of those guys that sits in JaJuan Seider's meetings. The other three meet with GA Dan Gerberry.
-Wellman senses he'll play running back in some short-yardage and goal line situations. He think he'll get some carries in those situations and occasionally catch the ball out of the backfield like in the Liberty Bowl off of play action. Other times, he'll likely be a blocking back. Wellman knows his role and says he has no problem spending most the time as the blocking back.
-Offensive tackle Marquis Lucas has played mentor to Yodny Cajuste. Both are from the Miami area and when Cajuste came as a recruit to visit West Virginia, Lucas actually hosted him on his visit to the school. Since then they've always had a strong bond. Lucas says Cajuste is light years ahead of where he was a redshirt freshman.
-DL Christian Brown said he is focusing more on his position this year at defensive end after playing nose at times last season. He likes that spot because there are more opportunities to get after the quarterback. Eric Kinsey is currently the backup at the spot and has really pushed him to work hard at the position in order to keep his role.
-Brown believes this is the deepest group not only on the defensive line but on the entire defense since he has been at West Virginia. Brown echoed the importance of Bruce Tall because he has been here in the past and understands what needs to happen up front. The focus has been on technique.
-OL Marquis Lucas said that the cohesion with the offensive lineman has been great so far. While he has never been a vocal leader in the past, he understands that as a senior the younger players on the team have really looked up to him and almost forced him into that role. Lucas said that the second team unit has been pushing hard for the starters, he specifically mentioned Marcell Lazard and his development with the fact he can do some things that Lucas can’t do right now.
-Lucas said he has not been surprised that Yodny Cajuste has held onto the left tackle spot because he is a “freak,” and has shown many things that he didn’t come close to showing during his freshman season. The two are very close and have competed to make each other better although they are playing different sides of the offensive line.
-LB Nick Kwiatkoski finding out ways to bring blitzes in order to bring pressure and get after the quarterback this year. The senior linebacker has seen a lot out of Larry Jefferson and he is a great pass rusher that is a tall, quick player off the edge that can bring a lot there.
-Brown said that he did not know that Jefferson was that explosive off the edge. He also said that he has seen a lot out of Darrien Howard and on the offensive side he has seen a lot out of Ka’Raun White, Yodny Cajuste, Daikiel Shorts, Rushel Shell and Skyler Howard.
-S Jarrod Harper said that his shoulder is healthy now and he is comfortable at all three of the safety positions in the West Virginia defense. He singled out the play of Shaq Petteway as somebody that has really stood out in fall camp and said that S Kevin Williams has really progressed as well.
-RB Wendell Smallwood said that Donte Thomas-Williams just needs to continue learn and there could be a role for him this fall because of how big and physical he is.
-Smallwood spoke specifically about things slowing down for him and he feels the most comfortable he has been since he’s been on campus and he has been using that speed to burst out of holes where in the past he has tried to hurry things and not follow his blocks.
-Smallwood said that Tyler Orlosky, KJ Myers and all the senior linebackers are all players that stood out.
-Shelton Gibson said that he has really had to battle some of the issues of him pushing himself too hard and it was a situation where if he didn’t change he wasn’t going to see the field. He has come a long way in that area and now doesn’t focus on every single mistake that he makes. The competition at outside wide receiver has been something that has really motivated him and he’s trying not to think too much on the field and trust the coaching.
