Holgorsen on timetable for Durante’s return: ‘Don’t know if he will’

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Jovon Durante remained a no-show at West Virginia’s preseason camp Sunday, putting the receiver’s status for his junior season in jeopardy.

“He has not reported. Don’t know if he will, don’t know when he will,” coach Dana Holgorsen told reporters before the Mountaineers’ evening practice.

“He’s got personal things that he’s got to work on, and we’re going to get some other guys ready to go.”

The 6-foot junior from Miramar, Fla., made 59 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns over his first two college seasons. He was academically ineligible for the Cactus Bowl as a freshman and subsequently was suspended for 2016 spring practice.

A threat to beat corners deep or turn quick-screens into big gainers, Durante caught the game-winning touchdown in last season’s 17-16 win over Kansas State.

West Virginia remains stable at outside receiver thanks to Ka’Raun White and Marcus Simms, though Holgorsen isn’t satisfied with the depth.

“We need to continue to develop backups,” he said. “I haven’t been thrilled with that.”

Winfield, Gross injury updates

Graduate transfer cornerback Cory Winfield practiced with a wrap on his right hand but will miss a chunk of the preseason once he undergoes finger surgery.

“It’s going to put him on the shelf for like two weeks,” Holgorsen said. “He’s a tough kid. It’s a little unfortunate.”

A two-year starter at Syracuse, Winfield could return in time for gameweek preparation before the Virginia Tech season opener.

Spur safety Marvin Gross, the backup behind fellow senior Kyzir White, was not at practice and could be sidelined up to three weeks with a knee injury.

“Marvin, he’s so dang old he can afford to miss some time,” Holgorsen said. “He knows what to do, so that’s a minor thing.”

The absence of the lanky 6-foot-3 Gross means more reps for sophomore Jovanni Stewart, a completely different body type at 5-foot-9.





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