via @Keenan Cummings
—West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said game week is finally here. They are grateful to open the season and they have to find joy in coaching and playing at this time of the year. There’s a lot going on in the world that’s negative and hopefully the fans, players and staff enjoy to get out and compete. Brown is glad they are on the road to start and they want to be much improved. Starting off with a rivalry game against a talented Maryland team. You can see the talent they are building. They have new coordinators in all three phases.
—Maryland is spread, multiple and they have really talented players. QB is a dual threat and can run the football as well as having nice touch. They have very talented wide receivers that are 4-6 deep. They have Demas and Jarret who are NFL players and their tight end is back who is also an NFL caliber player.
—On defense they played extremely well toward the end of last season. They are very good in the back end and challenge people. They recruited Tarheeb Still hard and he was a freshman all-American.
—There is a lot of unknowns in the first game. The college system has flaws and you’d like to see some scrimmages or preseason practices against other teams perhaps even at the lower level. Any coach that says they know what they have he doesn’t believe in them because you’re always lining up and playing against yourself. It’s time to play and see where they’re at but there is always concerns.
—Maryland has a lot of returning players but only played five games a year ago but has three new coordinators. You’re kind of guessing on what they’re going to do overall.
—Brown wants to get the bad taste out of their mouth from going on the road and not playing well. It hasn’t been an issue in the past but they didn’t last year.
—The newcomers that played a year ago weren’t able to really experience what a road game is truly like. Although it wasn’t the same there was a decent feel but it will be different.
—Kaden Prather will be in the rotation, Wyatt Milum will play and Justin Johnson will see some playing time. Aubrey Burks is a possibility on defense.
—Casey Legg is the starting kicker that won the job in fall camp. Evan Staley was able to battle back from a severe knee injury and kick is impressive but he will handle kickoff duties. Legg was really consistent in fall camp and did a good job changing the ball flight and getting it higher. Soccer player growing up and came here and really waited his turn and took advantage of his opportunities.
—West Virginia is a work in progress but those guys that have been in the program are starting to show signs of development. Only spot on defense they are young is the backend. They have to get them playing time.
—Daryl Porter was most productive in the room and had some growth but Jackie Matthews is going to play and play a lot.
—Parker Moorer and Wyatt Milum both are expected to play. But some of that will be determined in practice this week and how the reps will be split up.
—Rakim Jarrett is super talented and he will be more comfortable than he was a year ago. They have to locate him and they’ve lined him up in multiple positions and they’ll try to get him the ball.
—Jordan White had a solid fall camp and is the second center. Brown likes his potential and he is a smart football player.
—Jalen Thornton and Jordan Jefferson earned those backup opportunities. Darel Middleton will be out this game. Jalen and JJ earned their rights.
—Mike O’Laughlin and Tony Mathis will be game day decisions.
—Maryland is an area that is important to them in recruiting so going in there and getting a win will help their efforts. He recruited there a bit at Kentucky but at the highest level there is really no regional recruiting anymore.
—Jarret Doege has earned the right to start and they’ve been talking about dreamers and people with visions. Visions have a plan and it’s about action and it’s hard. The expectation and belief is that Doege will play well.
—West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said game week is finally here. They are grateful to open the season and they have to find joy in coaching and playing at this time of the year. There’s a lot going on in the world that’s negative and hopefully the fans, players and staff enjoy to get out and compete. Brown is glad they are on the road to start and they want to be much improved. Starting off with a rivalry game against a talented Maryland team. You can see the talent they are building. They have new coordinators in all three phases.
—Maryland is spread, multiple and they have really talented players. QB is a dual threat and can run the football as well as having nice touch. They have very talented wide receivers that are 4-6 deep. They have Demas and Jarret who are NFL players and their tight end is back who is also an NFL caliber player.
—On defense they played extremely well toward the end of last season. They are very good in the back end and challenge people. They recruited Tarheeb Still hard and he was a freshman all-American.
—There is a lot of unknowns in the first game. The college system has flaws and you’d like to see some scrimmages or preseason practices against other teams perhaps even at the lower level. Any coach that says they know what they have he doesn’t believe in them because you’re always lining up and playing against yourself. It’s time to play and see where they’re at but there is always concerns.
—Maryland has a lot of returning players but only played five games a year ago but has three new coordinators. You’re kind of guessing on what they’re going to do overall.
—Brown wants to get the bad taste out of their mouth from going on the road and not playing well. It hasn’t been an issue in the past but they didn’t last year.
—The newcomers that played a year ago weren’t able to really experience what a road game is truly like. Although it wasn’t the same there was a decent feel but it will be different.
—Kaden Prather will be in the rotation, Wyatt Milum will play and Justin Johnson will see some playing time. Aubrey Burks is a possibility on defense.
—Casey Legg is the starting kicker that won the job in fall camp. Evan Staley was able to battle back from a severe knee injury and kick is impressive but he will handle kickoff duties. Legg was really consistent in fall camp and did a good job changing the ball flight and getting it higher. Soccer player growing up and came here and really waited his turn and took advantage of his opportunities.
—West Virginia is a work in progress but those guys that have been in the program are starting to show signs of development. Only spot on defense they are young is the backend. They have to get them playing time.
—Daryl Porter was most productive in the room and had some growth but Jackie Matthews is going to play and play a lot.
—Parker Moorer and Wyatt Milum both are expected to play. But some of that will be determined in practice this week and how the reps will be split up.
—Rakim Jarrett is super talented and he will be more comfortable than he was a year ago. They have to locate him and they’ve lined him up in multiple positions and they’ll try to get him the ball.
—Jordan White had a solid fall camp and is the second center. Brown likes his potential and he is a smart football player.
—Jalen Thornton and Jordan Jefferson earned those backup opportunities. Darel Middleton will be out this game. Jalen and JJ earned their rights.
—Mike O’Laughlin and Tony Mathis will be game day decisions.
—Maryland is an area that is important to them in recruiting so going in there and getting a win will help their efforts. He recruited there a bit at Kentucky but at the highest level there is really no regional recruiting anymore.
—Jarret Doege has earned the right to start and they’ve been talking about dreamers and people with visions. Visions have a plan and it’s about action and it’s hard. The expectation and belief is that Doege will play well.
