MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The first week of June is apparently safety awareness week at West Virginia University.
The Mountaineers announced the addition of transfer safety Alonzo Addae on Thursday, marking the third consecutive day of news involving a transfer of a player at that position.
Addae comes to West Virginia via FCS program New Hampshire. While players can play immediately when they transfer down to the FCS level, Addae will have to sit out the season as he moves in a more unconventional direction.
While many players refer to WVU football as having a family atmosphere, in Addae’s case it will be literal. His cousin, Jahmile, is the Mountaineers’ defensive backs coach.
Alonzo Addae has one year of playing eligibility remaining due to redshirting his first season at New Hampshire. The 5-foot-11, 178-pound Addae is a native of Pickering, Ontario, Canada. As a sophomore at New Hampshire, he played in 11 games, recording 25 tackles (18 solo). Addae started in four games and played in 13 as a redshirt freshman, recording 36 tackles along with six pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
Even though he can’t play this season, Addae’s arrival will help assure the Mountaineers of having enough bodies on the practice field. Three West Virginia safeties have entered the transfer portal this week — All-Big 12 junior Kenny Robinson, junior Derrek Pitts and sophomore E.J. Brown. Robinson and Pitts were both in line to start this season.