-- He says that this a busy time for him and his staff. They wrapped up their third UNC practice today and they'll practice tomorrow and then get three days off. Signing day is on Wednesday and he's been gone during the week recruiting. There's a lot going on with the portal and looking to retain those players and work on gaining players. They've been practicing on the weekend to meet the busy schedule. He said they've been scrimaging their young players together and these players have stuck out: Josiah Jackson, Asani Redwood, DJ Oliver, Nicco Marchiol, Tyler Evans, Nick Krahne and Johnny Williams IV. Brown says the four-game redshirt rules does not apply for the bowl game. He says those guys have improved so much from season start to finish and will get some opportunities on special teams against UNC.
-- RB CJ Donaldson and C Zach Frazier will miss the bowl game, Donaldson had surgery. He says it's too early to tell if WR Preston Fox will play, but they will find out closer to the game. He said expects Brandon Yates to play center and they will play a defensive backfield rotation.
-- Brown says CB Beanie Bishop is a great fit and that WVU is a underdog program and that fits well with him and his journey. He came here and just worked hard. Brown said he's so happy for him and it has just helped his defensive backfield and that they are better because of him.
-- Brown said he was surprised about one transfer out but the rest of them he understood. He used former spear Hershey McLaurin as an example of a player who finished his obligation with WVU, graduated and Brown understood why he moved on. He didn't want him to leave of course, but he understands why he did.
-- He thinks that bowl games will go to the team who is more excited and both teams will have young players who are fired up and excited, including Corey McIntyre on the defensive line.
-- Brown says North Carolina is talented and has played well offensively and have a top-10 offense. He sees a talented group that could be dangerous since they've recruited at a high level and will have new players who are amped up to see the field. Brown says UNC's running back is a great player and that their elite-level pass rush is something they haven't seen.
-- He says that UNC's freshman QB is really fast and can throw the deep routes really well. He says they'll look somewhat different without Drake Maye but they have confidence in throwing the deep ball. He thinks they'll do some quarterback run game and things similar to what WVU does. Brown says Maye is special, but there's some energy around new guys playing and an opportunity for their quarterback to make his first start and show out. Brown thinks he's really talented.
-- Brown said winning is what makes it and it was the process of getting to the wins that was better this year. He said it's had a different feel since the team's leadership is better, defensive scheme changed and changed who they were offensively. He also says that locker room dynamics were different and better and all of these things inhibited success. He says their attitude is much better this year.
-- Brown says it's a challenge after a month to keep the offense at the level it was and the layoff creates challenges. With a big window between games, they don't practice the same during bowls than regular work. He concerned about being a running football team and getting work in while also being conscious of being too physical. This is so the tight end, running backs and offensive line and getting off the ball to play physical. He says they're not tackling to maintain physicality on defense and balancing that so that they can still stop the run and make tackles on defense.
-- He says they want to be the most excited to play and for their guys to be the freshest, and it's important with how your preparation is done. It's different than what they did at the end of the season but that's not all bad.
-- RB CJ Donaldson and C Zach Frazier will miss the bowl game, Donaldson had surgery. He says it's too early to tell if WR Preston Fox will play, but they will find out closer to the game. He said expects Brandon Yates to play center and they will play a defensive backfield rotation.
-- Brown says CB Beanie Bishop is a great fit and that WVU is a underdog program and that fits well with him and his journey. He came here and just worked hard. Brown said he's so happy for him and it has just helped his defensive backfield and that they are better because of him.
-- Brown said he was surprised about one transfer out but the rest of them he understood. He used former spear Hershey McLaurin as an example of a player who finished his obligation with WVU, graduated and Brown understood why he moved on. He didn't want him to leave of course, but he understands why he did.
-- He thinks that bowl games will go to the team who is more excited and both teams will have young players who are fired up and excited, including Corey McIntyre on the defensive line.
-- Brown says North Carolina is talented and has played well offensively and have a top-10 offense. He sees a talented group that could be dangerous since they've recruited at a high level and will have new players who are amped up to see the field. Brown says UNC's running back is a great player and that their elite-level pass rush is something they haven't seen.
-- He says that UNC's freshman QB is really fast and can throw the deep routes really well. He says they'll look somewhat different without Drake Maye but they have confidence in throwing the deep ball. He thinks they'll do some quarterback run game and things similar to what WVU does. Brown says Maye is special, but there's some energy around new guys playing and an opportunity for their quarterback to make his first start and show out. Brown thinks he's really talented.
-- Brown said winning is what makes it and it was the process of getting to the wins that was better this year. He said it's had a different feel since the team's leadership is better, defensive scheme changed and changed who they were offensively. He also says that locker room dynamics were different and better and all of these things inhibited success. He says their attitude is much better this year.
-- Brown says it's a challenge after a month to keep the offense at the level it was and the layoff creates challenges. With a big window between games, they don't practice the same during bowls than regular work. He concerned about being a running football team and getting work in while also being conscious of being too physical. This is so the tight end, running backs and offensive line and getting off the ball to play physical. He says they're not tackling to maintain physicality on defense and balancing that so that they can still stop the run and make tackles on defense.
-- He says they want to be the most excited to play and for their guys to be the freshest, and it's important with how your preparation is done. It's different than what they did at the end of the season but that's not all bad.
