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Preseason notebook: Two WVU walk-ons receive scholarships

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Coach Dana Holgorsen said West Virginia has awarded scholarships to safety Shane Commodore and receiver Alejandro Marenco, both fifth-year seniors.

A junior college transfer who sat out 2015 and did not see action last season, Marenco emerged as a playmaker during the spring. He could become a factor at outside receiver with Marcus Simms suspended and Jovon Durante transferring.

“He hasn’t played a whole lot but his G.P.A.’s out of sight and his work ethic is out of sight,” Holgorsen said.

Commodore, the Morgantown High graduate who has earned Big 12 All-Academic honors, was the second-team free safety for part of 2015. He forced a kick return fumble in last season’s win over TCU.

“He’s a great kid and he’s put his time in,” said defensive coordinator Tony Gibson. “He deserves it.”

Stir crazy to start season

Holgorsen says the NCAA’s elongated preseason is “kind of dragging a little bit” and lamented the fact there’s still 11 more days before the season opener against Virginia Tech.

“I don’t know why the first game couldn’t be this weekend,” he said. “There’s a whole lot of FCS games this weekend. Heck, there’s even three or four FBS game this weekend

“There’s only so much you can do practicing against each other. It’s going to be five full weeks (of practice) before first game. That, to me, is insane.”

Having attended last week’s scrimmage between the Texans and the Patriots at The Greenbrier, Holgorsen said that kind of preseason pairing could be useful for college programs.

“That would be cool, but it’s never going to happen,” he said.

Offensive line depth

Redshirt sophomore Kelby Wickline, the son of offensive line coach Joe Wickline, has emerged as the No. 3 tackle who can swing sides behind starters Yodney Cajuste and Colton McKivitz.

Redshirt freshman Josh Sills is working as the third guard behind Kyle Bosch and Grant Lingafelter.

Who will kick off?

The race to handle kickoffs boils down to a pair of redshirt freshmen — Jonn Young or Romney native Evan Staley. That allows senior Mike Molina to focus solely on field goals.

Specifying packages

Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital said coaches have progressed through the trial-and-error stage to determine which players best fit into certain groupings.

“Now you start having the personnel talks,” he said. “You really start saying, ‘If I’m going to run this play, then I need to have this kid in the game rather than that kid.’ That’s where the discussions go, so that you don’t ask that kid to do something he’s not capable of doing.”





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