MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s kick-coverage group has experienced schematic and personnel changes throughout the season. However, the Big 12’s lowest-ranked net coverage unit delivered two takeaways in Saturday’s 34-10 over TCU.
Reserve safety Marvin Gross set an immediate tone by stripping Deante Gray on the game’s opening kickoff. After Nana Kyeremeh recovered at the TCU 17, the Mountaineers punched in the go-ahead score three plays later.
On a kickoff late in the third quarter, walk-on safety Shane Commodore forced Gray to fumble again at the 22, and the TCU offense was denied another possession.
“I saw the return going the other way and I don’t think the returner saw me, so I went to tackle him and stripped it,” Commodore said.
That touched off a wild scramble with the ball bouncing forward through the arms and legs of multiple players. Ultimately Commodore somehow wiggled through the scrum to make the recovery at the TCU 31.
“I saw some of our teammates trying to scoop it up and I guess it got kicked to me. God is good.”