Story by John Antonik, wvusports.com
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – More split-squad work was on the menu today for the West Virginia University football team.
The first group got on the field a little after 9 a.m. and concluded work around 11:30 and the second group was off the practice field by 1 p.m.
Practices were conducted again today in shorts and shoulder pads.
Typically, the Mountaineers would be well into team work by practice No. 8.
“Things have been so different,” West Virginia coach Neal Brown said after today’s second practice. “In a normal year, I’d say we are a little bit behind. I know we’re behind physically, but mentally, we are a little ahead just because of all of the meeting time we’ve had and the OTAs definitely helped.”
He added, “Physically, in short bursts, we play fast, but where we’re having issues is when we have extended drives either offensively or defensively when we have to play four or five plays in a row, and it’s a struggle right now, and that’s just because we’re not where we need to be from a conditioning standpoint,” he said.
Brown’s practice standouts included wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, tight end Mike O’Laughlin and defensive lineman Quay Mays among the first group, and wide receiver T.J. Simmons, true freshman quarterback Garrett Greene and true freshman cornerback Daryl Porter Jr. with the second group.
This is the second time Brown has specifically cited Porter’s work. He’s a 5-foot-11, 179-pounder from American Heritage High in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“Daryl Porter Jr. was sharp,” Brown said. “He’s going against Sam James every day, and he’s getting better. He really competed hard today.”
Brown said O’Laughlin came up with a couple of big catches during some of the end-of-games scenarios the team worked on, and he noted that Greene, a true freshman from Tallahassee, made “some big-time throws.”
Additionally, Brown mentioned the play of redshirt freshman linebacker Jared Bartlett.
“Jared Bartlett was tough to block. He really showed up with great energy and ran around. That’s a guy that we need to take a big step here,” Brown said.
The coach said sophomore cornerback Nicktroy Fortune continues to remain at home with his family following the death of his mother, Iliana, last week.
“We are kind of leaving that open ended and let him spend as much time with his family as he needs right now,” Brown said.
The coach also indicated he will provide an update on the transfers the Mountaineers have recently added to the program during his next scheduled video conference with media on Wednesday afternoon.
The two squads will have another walk-through this afternoon and will continue practice work on Wednesday. The schedule calls for another recovery day on Thursday.