-Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson echoed what head coach Dana Holgorsen said about an improvement from the defensive line. Gibson said the defensive line was probably the best group during the practice. Gibson had high praise for both Bruce Tall and Damon Cogdell. Gibson says Tall and Cogdell are doing a "great job" of working together.
-Corners coach Brian Mitchell says his position group have gotten great reps. He says between 40 team and 40 seven on seven reps, he's gotten to see a number of his guys especially with Daryl Worley sidelined for the spring. Mitchell says he never realized Ricky Rumph is as fast as he is. Rumph is standing out. Mitchell says Rumph is doing a tremendous job because he's no longer bouncing around from corner to free safety to corner to nickle. Rumph is simply a corner.
-At the running back spot, West Virginia moved Jacky Marcellus to the position from receiver. Running back coach JaJuan Seider says the one thing about Marcellus is that he isn't afraid of carrying the ball.
-The consensus on Marcellus is that he is much more comfortable at the running back spot. Seider, Lonnie Galloway, Jordan Thompson and Rushel Shell all said that Marcellus looks fluid and smooth at the running back spot. Marcellus played running back in high school.
-Dontae Thomas-Williams missed practiced with a knee injury. Seider said it was really unfortunate because Thomas-Williams was really starting to put it together. Seider said Thomas-Williams had two really good practices before the injury. Seider said Thomas-Williams looked like the player that he recruited.
-Receivers coach Lonnie Galloway says his guys aren't close to where they need to be in order to create a first team and second team at the outside receiver spot. Galloway says Shelton Gibson, Devonte Mathis, Lamar Parker and Ricky Rogers have shown flashes but aren't there yet. He feels if they can consistency, all four guys have the talent to make plays.
-GA turned defensive/special teams assistant Mark Scott met with media members for the first time. Scott says all the special teams schemes will stay the same and that he has learned a lot from Joe DeForest, we'll have a full story coming on Scott.
-Inside receiver Daikiel Shorts believes he will be leaned on a little more this season since West Virginia doesn't have as much talent as they did a year ago at the outside receiver spot. Shorts says he and Jordan Thompson have been prepping to take the next step as critical play makers for Skyler Howard or William Crest. Shorts and Thompson have started to embrace the fact that they'll be the guys needed to make plays.
-Linebacker Jared Barber is happy to be back on the field after a long road to recovery. Barber feels good and is thrilled to be playing in the 3-3-5 stack scheme he was recruited to play in. Barber says it has made the transition back to playing easier. He also is thrilled to be playing alongside Nick Kwiatkoski and Shaq Petteway again, two players he came in with.
Greg Madia
Radio Host/Writer
WVSports.com
Follow on Twitter @GregMadia
-Corners coach Brian Mitchell says his position group have gotten great reps. He says between 40 team and 40 seven on seven reps, he's gotten to see a number of his guys especially with Daryl Worley sidelined for the spring. Mitchell says he never realized Ricky Rumph is as fast as he is. Rumph is standing out. Mitchell says Rumph is doing a tremendous job because he's no longer bouncing around from corner to free safety to corner to nickle. Rumph is simply a corner.
-At the running back spot, West Virginia moved Jacky Marcellus to the position from receiver. Running back coach JaJuan Seider says the one thing about Marcellus is that he isn't afraid of carrying the ball.
-The consensus on Marcellus is that he is much more comfortable at the running back spot. Seider, Lonnie Galloway, Jordan Thompson and Rushel Shell all said that Marcellus looks fluid and smooth at the running back spot. Marcellus played running back in high school.
-Dontae Thomas-Williams missed practiced with a knee injury. Seider said it was really unfortunate because Thomas-Williams was really starting to put it together. Seider said Thomas-Williams had two really good practices before the injury. Seider said Thomas-Williams looked like the player that he recruited.
-Receivers coach Lonnie Galloway says his guys aren't close to where they need to be in order to create a first team and second team at the outside receiver spot. Galloway says Shelton Gibson, Devonte Mathis, Lamar Parker and Ricky Rogers have shown flashes but aren't there yet. He feels if they can consistency, all four guys have the talent to make plays.
-GA turned defensive/special teams assistant Mark Scott met with media members for the first time. Scott says all the special teams schemes will stay the same and that he has learned a lot from Joe DeForest, we'll have a full story coming on Scott.
-Inside receiver Daikiel Shorts believes he will be leaned on a little more this season since West Virginia doesn't have as much talent as they did a year ago at the outside receiver spot. Shorts says he and Jordan Thompson have been prepping to take the next step as critical play makers for Skyler Howard or William Crest. Shorts and Thompson have started to embrace the fact that they'll be the guys needed to make plays.
-Linebacker Jared Barber is happy to be back on the field after a long road to recovery. Barber feels good and is thrilled to be playing in the 3-3-5 stack scheme he was recruited to play in. Barber says it has made the transition back to playing easier. He also is thrilled to be playing alongside Nick Kwiatkoski and Shaq Petteway again, two players he came in with.
Greg Madia
Radio Host/Writer
WVSports.com
Follow on Twitter @GregMadia
