MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Following West Virginia’s 52-17 Week 2 win over Youngstown State, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson pleaded for more out of Mike linebacker Dylan Tonkery. Not exactly a big ask, considering the redshirt sophomore didn’t record a single tackle.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a middle linebacker not have a tackle,” Gibson said.
Tonkery heard the message, loud and clear. He was more active against Kansas State on Saturday, recording five tackles – four of which were solos and 2.5 of were for loss.
Among those lost-yardage tackles was the undisputed game-changing moment. Tonkery snuffed out a K-State audible on fourth-and-inches, leading a defensive charge that dropped Wildcats running back Alex Barnes 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Riding the wave after Tonkery’s stop, the Mountaineers scored on their next four possessions to turn a 7-0 lead into a 35-6 blowout 35-6.
Tonkery also was in on a forced fumble, stripping the ball free from Kansas State’s Justin Silmon in the third quarter.
Tonkery didn’t want to repeat the disappointment of how he played against Youngstown.
“After that game, Coach Gibby got on me a little bit,” Tonkery said. “I was like, ‘Dang. I didn’t have any tackles.’ I didn’t know what was going on. I missed like two or three. So he really got on me that Sunday and throughout practice.”
Tonkery was fired up for an immediate shot at redemption against N.C. State. Of course, that chance never came because of Hurricane Florence, giving him another week to stew on a performance he wanted to put behind him.
“Everyone wanted to play N.C. State. That offense is good,” Tonkery said. “We were really looking forward to that game.”
Though the unscheduled bye was frustrating, Tonkery said it was also helpful. The Mountaineers got a couple extra days to prepare for the Wildcats, and any soreness accrued in the first two games of the season were gone by the time the teams hit the field on Saturday.
“When I came out to play, I was like, ‘I’ve really got to start making tackles and help the defense out,’” Tonkery said.
He wasted no time.
Tonkery was credited with a tackle on Kansas State’s third play from scrimmage, stopping Skylar Thompson after a 3-yard gain. It only got better from there against the dual-threat quarterback. Tonkery and the Mountaineers limited Thompson to 18 yards on 12 carries, and the Wildcats ran for only 91 yards overall on 36 carries.
Gibson expected a bounce-back game from the Bridgeport native Tonkery.
“He’s got West Virginia running all through him,” Gibson said. “He’s proud to be here and he plays that way.”