MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Dropped passes have been rare during preseason camp, a fact West Virginia’s top returning receiver Ka’Raun White attributes to offseason work.
“A lot of the receivers, we were on the Jugs every day this summer,” he said. “We were doing like 200 straight and if we dropped one we had to start back over.”
Amid 2016’s breakout season in which he made 48 catches for 583 yards and five touchdowns, White also two drops that led to interceptions.
White missed the final two games with a broken leg and subsequently sat out spring practice, costing him quality reps with new quarterback Will Grier. The two tried to make up ground during the summer.
“He can put the ball on the money — I know that,” White said. “He’s really smart and understanding. He knows the coverages and what the defense is in. So, he knows when and when not to throw the ball.”
Ferns staying at Mike
The contingencies for replacing injured Will linebacker David Long apparently don’t include shifting Brendan Ferns outside.
Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson prefers to keep the four-star recruit at Mike as the backup for Al-Rasheed Benton, who was overused last season.
“We need Ferns to give some relief for Al,” Gibson said.
Ferns, coming off an ACL-related redshirt, is viewed as a future defensive leader and Gibson wants him to grow comfortable in the middle before being cross-trained.
With Long expected to miss the first three games, WVU’s plan is to develop some combination of redshirt freshman Dylan Tonkery, sophomore Adam Hensley and junior college signee Quondarius Qualls.
“It’s the unknown. What are they going to do when the lights come on?” Gibson said. “But I have complete confidence we’ll have Dylan ready and Hensley ready and Qualls ready. It may take three guys to fit one spot, whether it’s 30 reps apiece or somebody flat-out wins it.”
Cajuste putting knee ‘behind me’
Starting left tackle Yodny Cajuste, lost to a knee injury on the 13th offensive play of last year’s opener, discussed dealing with the disappointment.
“Just praying every day. It’s uncontrollable,” he said. “I’m just blessed to be back out here. I’m trying to put the knee behind me. I’m out there now and I feel good.”
A junior, Cajuste has missed 18 games due to injury and started seven the past two seasons.
Offensive lineman departs
Sophomore guard Ja’HShaun Seider has left the team after failing to see action the past two seasons. He’s the younger brother of former WVU running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider, who joined Florida’s staff in February.