PHOENIX — While the ineligibility of All-Big 12 cornerback Daryl Worley has dominated pregame coverage of the Cactus Bowl, senior safety K.J. Dillon said West Virginia’s defense had recalibrated before the team plane touched down in Arizona.
“That’s a hard, tough loss but nobody has mentioned Daryl since we’ve been out here,” Dillon said Thursday.
Fellow senior, and Dillon’s fellow Floridian, Rick Rumph will start in Worley’s absence. With 41 career games, there are worse fallback plans as the Mountaineers (7-5) prepare to face Arizona State (6-6).
“I know Rick’s got that dog in him. He’s not going got let us down,” Dillon said. “I hope they attack him. I hope they really go after him. I predict he’s going to have a pick in that game.”
At 5-foot-11, Rumph has one career interception, while the 6-1 Worley made six this season. Rump’s only start this season came against Iowa State when Terrell Chestnut was sidelined by a shoulder injury. Come Saturday night, Rumph will line up opposite Chestnut.
“Ricky’s going to do great,” Chestnut said. “We always considered him a third starter.”
Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said “there’s virtually no dropoff” from Worley to Rumph, though there’s concern about a trickle-down effect should Chestnut’s shoulder weaken throughout the game. Another in-game injury could leave WVU shorthanded, considering how Rumph’s spot in the nickel and dime packages must be reallocated.
Dillon’s quotes will be missed: This week closes the college career of Wes Virginia’s straightest-shooting, most entertaining interview. A few other gems from Thursday’s Cactus Bowl media day …
— Asked if Arizona State is similar to other offenses WVU has encountered: “They run the ball, they throw the ball, so yeah.”
— On junior cornerback Rasul Douglas: “Next year will be his year. I think he’s going to be their Daryl next year. Well, I ain’t saying Daryl ain’t going to be back, you know. (laughs) Shhhhhh, you didn’t hear that from me. (More laughter) Dang, I wish I had never said that.”
— On whether pregame animosity was building up to rival what WVU experienced with Texas A&M last year at the Liberty Bowl: “We haven’t even seen Arizona State yet. Those guys have been locked down. I’ve actually been trying to see those guys so we can get into little scuffles. … I don’t want to pretend like I’m cool with those guys. I don’t like those guys. I don’t like their coaches. Especially KP (Sun Devils defensive coordinator Keith Patterson), I don’t want to see him.”
— On TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin being suspended for the Alamo Bowl after striking a police officer in a San Antonio bar fight: “That’s what coaches tell you when you go out, that people are going try to fight you because of who you are. He’s dumb for that. That’s tough. I hate to see talent like that go to waste. I’m pretty sure the situation was somebody probably said something to him and he just lost it. The cop probably tried to step in, but you can’t swing on a cop, dude. You just can’t.”