MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — We’re less than 40 days before the start of West Virginia’s preseason football camp as MetroNews reveals our picks for Top 10 Most Pivotal Players for 2014. We continue with a long-armed, barrel-chested senior who could become the key to the Mountaineers’ pass rush:
No. 9 DONTRILL HYMAN
Position: Defensive end
Class: Senior
Measurables: 6-4, 294
Former defensive coordinator Keith Patterson and defensive line coach Erik Slaughter grew wide-eyed discussing Hyman’s physique before last season. After registering 14 sacks at Hinds (Miss.) Community College, the transfer had the build, brawn and burst to be a transformative player.
One year later, he’s still looking for his first sack at West Virginia and managed only 3.5 tackles for loss in 12 games. One of those was a memorable third-down goal-line stop against Oklahoma State—the brand of disruptive play new D-line coach Tom Bradley expects more of in 2014.
After Will Clarke graduated and Kyle Rose moved inside to tackle, Hyman must be more consistent in technique and effort to emerge as the team’s dominant end.