--West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said they are eight practices in and it happens fast. You saw some good 11 on 11 work but I wouldn't pay a whole lot of attention to who was out there first or second because they want to get players a lot of work to get guys ready for the season. It's not about winning the drill but getting better as we approach toward fall camp.
--Brown didn't think the wide receivers were very good Monday but the toughest part of the spring is they went Thursday-Saturday-Monday three physical days and the offense did not react well. He has been excited about the receivers and liked their demeanor and how they prepared but they struggled in practice seven. The results weren't very good but the emotions weren't good but they were much better today. That group has some pressure after outperforming expectations especially when it comes to the young guys. They surprised some people last year, but that element is gone now. Now, they have proven they are capable of playing at this level so what does the next step look like.
--They're have to get better throwing the ball quarterbacks have to be more accurate, offensive line has to protect better and wide receivers and running backs have to get open.
--Tomas Rimac started doing some individual but won't do any 11 on 11. The first five that roll out there up front they're trying to get them better. Nick Malone is somebody that has really pleased Brown with the step he has taken. It's about getting the young guys like Johnny Williams ready. Sully Weidman and Mo Hamilton have gotten a lot of reps and it's time for them. Brandon Yates is out for a couple days with nothing serious so Landen Livingston is getting a lot of reps he might be one of the most improved players. Xavier Bausley and Nick Krahe they feel like will be ready to play this fall. They're all a work in progress but this spring is about getting prepared and ready to play.
--Marchiol starts with his preparation but he has matured as a football player. He knows what to watch, he knows how to prepare. He's done a really good job with preparation. From a fundamental standpoint he is much more compact and his confidence has risen because he's gotten the repetitions and the game is slowing down. Nicco would be in the conversation for most improved players on offense.
--Defensively a player that has really shown that is preparing to be an all-league player is Eddie Vesterinen. He has been difficult to block and Sean Martin is in the same boat. He has great length and his size and he's up to weight where he is really powerful and he's one of the strongest guys. He is starting to show that he can maybe be a dominant player at times and can be somebody that could be an early round pick. Tyrin Bradley he played his best game in the bowl game, pleased with what he's doing and he gives them more size. Ben Cutter is another.
---The thing with scheduling in the spring it has evolved. They don't go back-to-back days and it lets guys get fully healed. There are such time demands on the staff and the players they try to avoid weekends. From a quality of life leaving the weekends free makes it better. That stretch I was talking about Thursday-Monday. They needed Saturday to bring the families in and family camp, they wanted to be able to test them. They went a bunch of team 11 on 11 Thursday and turned around and did it on Monday. He wanted to see who could do hard things better.
--Players will leave if they want. They are going a week later this year because they wanted to avoid injuries. Brown doesn't know if players will leave and it's their hope that they won't have a ton of portal activity. The window is 15-days and it doesn't matter. He is unsure.
---This class coming in the numbers will be there at linebackers. We have not been at full strength there for a long time. There are so many more people in space it's hard to evaluate them in high school so you have to project a bit. They've missed on some guys and rather than reach and it not work, they bided their time and now they've got Tray Lathan, Reid Carrico, Josiah Trotter, Caden Biser and Ben Cutter. Biser is one that has really made a step forward. They have five guys there that can really help them and a couple more really coming and it's put them in the best spot they've been so far.
--CJ Cole has done a really good job on special teams and developed into one of the leaders of the team. Has a chance to start on three special teams. Colin McBee is ready to grow into a special teams role as well as Donald Brandel. The other walk-on to watch is Derek Berlitz, he has a chance to get into special teams.
--It's critical that in-state kids do well here. Anytime you're the state university and you represent an entire state you need to not only from a how you play the game identity standpoint but you're well represented from the state. They've been fortunate there are two areas they've done a good job of getting almost every one of the in-state players that are power five players and their walk-on program has really been productive. Brown's vision is if they can be a close to 25-percent of their scholarships are homegrown or grew while they were here and earned it, it's pretty good. There were games where Hudson Clement started at receiver, Preston Fox started, Wyatt Milum, Doug Nester, Zach Frazier and Nick Malone started games and they were a top 25 offense in the country.
--You never know until a player does it in the game, but you have no chance if you don't make plays in practice. Preston Fox and Hudson Clement did that over time they just needed an opportunity. You look for who is winning some one on ones. If they are consistently making plays in practice it is going to translate into the game.
--Brown said that Jacolby Spells will miss the rest of the spring due to surgery.
--Red zone is something that West Virginia has to get better at. He challenged his team in the team meeting and they answered which is the sign of a team that's hungry.
--Hammond Russell is giving them some good things and it's time for him.
--Brown didn't think the wide receivers were very good Monday but the toughest part of the spring is they went Thursday-Saturday-Monday three physical days and the offense did not react well. He has been excited about the receivers and liked their demeanor and how they prepared but they struggled in practice seven. The results weren't very good but the emotions weren't good but they were much better today. That group has some pressure after outperforming expectations especially when it comes to the young guys. They surprised some people last year, but that element is gone now. Now, they have proven they are capable of playing at this level so what does the next step look like.
--They're have to get better throwing the ball quarterbacks have to be more accurate, offensive line has to protect better and wide receivers and running backs have to get open.
--Tomas Rimac started doing some individual but won't do any 11 on 11. The first five that roll out there up front they're trying to get them better. Nick Malone is somebody that has really pleased Brown with the step he has taken. It's about getting the young guys like Johnny Williams ready. Sully Weidman and Mo Hamilton have gotten a lot of reps and it's time for them. Brandon Yates is out for a couple days with nothing serious so Landen Livingston is getting a lot of reps he might be one of the most improved players. Xavier Bausley and Nick Krahe they feel like will be ready to play this fall. They're all a work in progress but this spring is about getting prepared and ready to play.
--Marchiol starts with his preparation but he has matured as a football player. He knows what to watch, he knows how to prepare. He's done a really good job with preparation. From a fundamental standpoint he is much more compact and his confidence has risen because he's gotten the repetitions and the game is slowing down. Nicco would be in the conversation for most improved players on offense.
--Defensively a player that has really shown that is preparing to be an all-league player is Eddie Vesterinen. He has been difficult to block and Sean Martin is in the same boat. He has great length and his size and he's up to weight where he is really powerful and he's one of the strongest guys. He is starting to show that he can maybe be a dominant player at times and can be somebody that could be an early round pick. Tyrin Bradley he played his best game in the bowl game, pleased with what he's doing and he gives them more size. Ben Cutter is another.
---The thing with scheduling in the spring it has evolved. They don't go back-to-back days and it lets guys get fully healed. There are such time demands on the staff and the players they try to avoid weekends. From a quality of life leaving the weekends free makes it better. That stretch I was talking about Thursday-Monday. They needed Saturday to bring the families in and family camp, they wanted to be able to test them. They went a bunch of team 11 on 11 Thursday and turned around and did it on Monday. He wanted to see who could do hard things better.
--Players will leave if they want. They are going a week later this year because they wanted to avoid injuries. Brown doesn't know if players will leave and it's their hope that they won't have a ton of portal activity. The window is 15-days and it doesn't matter. He is unsure.
---This class coming in the numbers will be there at linebackers. We have not been at full strength there for a long time. There are so many more people in space it's hard to evaluate them in high school so you have to project a bit. They've missed on some guys and rather than reach and it not work, they bided their time and now they've got Tray Lathan, Reid Carrico, Josiah Trotter, Caden Biser and Ben Cutter. Biser is one that has really made a step forward. They have five guys there that can really help them and a couple more really coming and it's put them in the best spot they've been so far.
--CJ Cole has done a really good job on special teams and developed into one of the leaders of the team. Has a chance to start on three special teams. Colin McBee is ready to grow into a special teams role as well as Donald Brandel. The other walk-on to watch is Derek Berlitz, he has a chance to get into special teams.
--It's critical that in-state kids do well here. Anytime you're the state university and you represent an entire state you need to not only from a how you play the game identity standpoint but you're well represented from the state. They've been fortunate there are two areas they've done a good job of getting almost every one of the in-state players that are power five players and their walk-on program has really been productive. Brown's vision is if they can be a close to 25-percent of their scholarships are homegrown or grew while they were here and earned it, it's pretty good. There were games where Hudson Clement started at receiver, Preston Fox started, Wyatt Milum, Doug Nester, Zach Frazier and Nick Malone started games and they were a top 25 offense in the country.
--You never know until a player does it in the game, but you have no chance if you don't make plays in practice. Preston Fox and Hudson Clement did that over time they just needed an opportunity. You look for who is winning some one on ones. If they are consistently making plays in practice it is going to translate into the game.
--Brown said that Jacolby Spells will miss the rest of the spring due to surgery.
--Red zone is something that West Virginia has to get better at. He challenged his team in the team meeting and they answered which is the sign of a team that's hungry.
--Hammond Russell is giving them some good things and it's time for him.
