MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Notes from West Virginia’s practice on Wednesday evening, during which the media was allotted a 30-minute viewing session:
— Junior receiver Jovon Durante was missing again, same as with Sunday’s practice.
— As players moved between stations, receivers coach Tyron Carrier sternly reminded senior Ka’Raun White, “You need to lead in everything. Even when we’re jogging, you need to be out front.” This came a day after White said he liked playing for Carrier because the coach is so tough on him.
— While working on a bunched screen formation that uses rub routes to create confusion, Will Grier educated young receivers to look for the ball quickly.
— An All-Big 12 candidate at left guard, Kyle Bosch took reps at center with the second unit, part of line coach Joe Wickline’s cross-training philosophy.
“Just snapping a little bit,” Bosch said. “I’m like the emergency, emergency center. And I’m a shotgun guy. Under center I don’t like anybody playing with my parts.”
— True freshmen safeties Derek Pitts and Kenny Robinson look to be the future of the secondary, though they’ll likely have to bide time behind Dravon Askew-Henry, Kyzir White and Toyous Avery.
“A freshman guy is going to have to be pretty special here the next two weeks to be able to crack the depth chart,” said safeties coach Matt Caponi. “They have great upperclassmen ahead of them that are leading in the right way.”
— While Grier and Chris Chugunov took turns operating run-game handoffs, Miami transfer Jack Allison hung close to offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, mimicking their footwork. Allison enrolled only last week and must sit out this season.
“He is kind of itching to get out there and throw it around and play,” Holgorsen said. “I’m like ‘Just relax, you have some time here to soak it all in and learn it.’
“For the quarterback spot, the year off does a lot of good. Now I look at a guy like (transfer receiver) TJ Simmons or (transfer tight end) Jovanni Haskins and I wish those guys could line up and play right now.”