--Beautiful day out there today but it was definitely starting to get hot by the end of the 13th period which is what the media was allowed to observe today. Can say for sure that there is a noticeable difference in the body types in the secondary and the words to best describe it is simply "big, long and fast." And truthfully that size and length is noticeable on both of the fronts as well.
--West Virginia had these players snapping at the beginning Brandon Yates, Landen Livingston, Cooper Young, Bryce Biggs, Aiden Ellis and Griffin Fogle.
--One thing that also was noticeable is now many coaches were on the field working with players due to the new rules and how they could break up into smaller groups to rep the same drills and get more individualized attention. The Mountaineers continue to two-spot on areas all over the field with players mixing in and out of the various drills. We have one more day before pads come on but there was a lot of action unfolding on the field in different spots with a lot of drill work and some special teams with some 7-on-7 and minimal 11-on-11 without tackling of course.
--The inside linebackers look very big and fast. Trey Lathan has noticeably added weight and was moving well, while Josiah Trotter just looks different there. He moves very well for his size and is huge.
--On offense from a physical perspective two players that stood out to me that are new were tight end Gregory Genross as he is just simply a big man that looks the part and the same can be said for Justin Robinson, who is every bit of the 6-foot-4 he is listed and thick. On the defensive side, I'll be really interested to see how TJ Crandall progresses after he battled and injury in the spring.
--The young defensive linemen just look the part. Not sure how much they're going to be able to help this year, but physically they are bigger and have the size to play. That's Elijah Kinsler, Zach Keith, Nate Gabriel and down the board.
--West Virginia prepped several drills where the entire offensive line was together and like most things they utilized two-spotting with multiple groups on the field at the same time. One unit was LT: Wyatt Milum, LG: Tomas Rimac, C: Brandon Yates, RG: Ja'Quay Hubbard and RT Nick Malone while another was LT: Xavier Bausley, LG: Nick Krahe, C: Laden Livingston, RG: Sully Weidman and RT: Johnny Williams. A third one that I was able to record was LT: Justin Terry, LG: Aiden Ellis, C: Cooper Young, RG: Bryce Biggs and RT: Lucas Austin. With those units were different skill players with one being Garrett Greene, Jahiem White, Kole Taylor, Treylan Davis, Hudson Clement and Preston Fox and others rotated in with different groups. Saw quite a bit of two tight end looks today in what was open. Remember these are not depth charts though and the players continued to shift in and out.
--West Virginia also worked various defensive groups with one being:
DL: Eddie Vesterinen, Fatorma Mulbah, Sean Martin
LB: Trey Lathan, Josiah Trotter, Tyrin Bradley
S: Aubrey Burks, Anthony Wilson, Josiah Jackson
CB: Garnett Hollis, Ayden Garnes
Another was:
DL: TJ Jackson, Hammond Russell, Derek Berlitz
LB: Ben Cutter, Reid Carrico, Ty French
S: Jaheem Joseph, Kekoura Tarnue, Zae Jennings
CB: Dontez Fagan, TJ Crandall
And there were at least two others with players mixing in and out as well but I wasn't able to get all of those numbers and try to watch the action unfold.
--Garrett Greene had some really nice throws today including a touchdown toss to Preston Fox, but also misfired on some as you'll get with any practice. He has such a command to him and a presence and you can tell he is really enjoying the fact that this is his football team. He is a great leader. Also Nicco Marchiol continues to look much improved. The talk about him has been nothing but positive.
--One other plays I noticed was a Raleigh Collins pick six on the opposite side which elicited a huge celebration from the defense on that end, a Jaylen Anderson touchdown run and a really well designed screen play that worked for a big chunk of yards on opposite ends with Traylon Ray and Jaden Bray.
--Jacolby Spells was participating with a green jersey today and had a couple nice plays on the ball including an almost interception. Asani Redwood was also wearing green and participated, while Dom Collins was wearing red but was out there.
--We'll know a lot more once the pads get on but overall it was nice to finally get to see some football again. Things got a little heated at times between the units but that's what you want as it means there is a high level of competition between the groups. There was a good energy as well from the coaches and a lot of hands on teaching across the board.
--West Virginia had these players snapping at the beginning Brandon Yates, Landen Livingston, Cooper Young, Bryce Biggs, Aiden Ellis and Griffin Fogle.
--One thing that also was noticeable is now many coaches were on the field working with players due to the new rules and how they could break up into smaller groups to rep the same drills and get more individualized attention. The Mountaineers continue to two-spot on areas all over the field with players mixing in and out of the various drills. We have one more day before pads come on but there was a lot of action unfolding on the field in different spots with a lot of drill work and some special teams with some 7-on-7 and minimal 11-on-11 without tackling of course.
--The inside linebackers look very big and fast. Trey Lathan has noticeably added weight and was moving well, while Josiah Trotter just looks different there. He moves very well for his size and is huge.
--On offense from a physical perspective two players that stood out to me that are new were tight end Gregory Genross as he is just simply a big man that looks the part and the same can be said for Justin Robinson, who is every bit of the 6-foot-4 he is listed and thick. On the defensive side, I'll be really interested to see how TJ Crandall progresses after he battled and injury in the spring.
--The young defensive linemen just look the part. Not sure how much they're going to be able to help this year, but physically they are bigger and have the size to play. That's Elijah Kinsler, Zach Keith, Nate Gabriel and down the board.
--West Virginia prepped several drills where the entire offensive line was together and like most things they utilized two-spotting with multiple groups on the field at the same time. One unit was LT: Wyatt Milum, LG: Tomas Rimac, C: Brandon Yates, RG: Ja'Quay Hubbard and RT Nick Malone while another was LT: Xavier Bausley, LG: Nick Krahe, C: Laden Livingston, RG: Sully Weidman and RT: Johnny Williams. A third one that I was able to record was LT: Justin Terry, LG: Aiden Ellis, C: Cooper Young, RG: Bryce Biggs and RT: Lucas Austin. With those units were different skill players with one being Garrett Greene, Jahiem White, Kole Taylor, Treylan Davis, Hudson Clement and Preston Fox and others rotated in with different groups. Saw quite a bit of two tight end looks today in what was open. Remember these are not depth charts though and the players continued to shift in and out.
--West Virginia also worked various defensive groups with one being:
DL: Eddie Vesterinen, Fatorma Mulbah, Sean Martin
LB: Trey Lathan, Josiah Trotter, Tyrin Bradley
S: Aubrey Burks, Anthony Wilson, Josiah Jackson
CB: Garnett Hollis, Ayden Garnes
Another was:
DL: TJ Jackson, Hammond Russell, Derek Berlitz
LB: Ben Cutter, Reid Carrico, Ty French
S: Jaheem Joseph, Kekoura Tarnue, Zae Jennings
CB: Dontez Fagan, TJ Crandall
And there were at least two others with players mixing in and out as well but I wasn't able to get all of those numbers and try to watch the action unfold.
--Garrett Greene had some really nice throws today including a touchdown toss to Preston Fox, but also misfired on some as you'll get with any practice. He has such a command to him and a presence and you can tell he is really enjoying the fact that this is his football team. He is a great leader. Also Nicco Marchiol continues to look much improved. The talk about him has been nothing but positive.
--One other plays I noticed was a Raleigh Collins pick six on the opposite side which elicited a huge celebration from the defense on that end, a Jaylen Anderson touchdown run and a really well designed screen play that worked for a big chunk of yards on opposite ends with Traylon Ray and Jaden Bray.
--Jacolby Spells was participating with a green jersey today and had a couple nice plays on the ball including an almost interception. Asani Redwood was also wearing green and participated, while Dom Collins was wearing red but was out there.
--We'll know a lot more once the pads get on but overall it was nice to finally get to see some football again. Things got a little heated at times between the units but that's what you want as it means there is a high level of competition between the groups. There was a good energy as well from the coaches and a lot of hands on teaching across the board.
