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WVU spring football practice opens, special teams competitions launch

(Neal Brown Zoom conference)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Fifteen spring practices have been scheduled over the next 32 days for the West Virginia football team as head coach Neal Brown begins his third lap as the leader of the Mountaineer football program.

Speaking with media following the first practice Wednesday morning, Brown praised several newcomers, including Spring Valley alum and Virginia Tech transfer Doug Nester.

“Our hope is that he is going to be a significant player for us,” Brown said. “I haven’t seen anything that makes me think any different. I have been really pleased with how he has approached his work ethic.”

WVU head coach Neal Brown (Photo by WVU Athletics)

After missing out on his senior season due to COVID cancellations in Maryland, wideout Kaden Prather enrolled early and has adjusted nicely. Prather is one of the most highly-decorated recruits in WVU’s Class of 2021.

“Kaden Prather is definitely talented. That’s a position he can play. He is hungry. He made a couple touchdowns today. I will be eager to see how he is going to progress through the spring.”

On defense, Finland native Edward Vesterinen has settled in well, according to Brown.

“Edward has been a surprise to me. He moves really well and is strong. His understanding of the game is better. The guys really, really like him.”

Brown also praised new defensive backs Andrew Wilson-Lamp and Davis Mallinger and quarterback Will Crowder.

Special teams competitions in more ways than one

Neal Brown has often mentioned the need for special teams to be an edge on opponents for his squad. With that in mind, special teams coordinator Jeff Koontz is leading a spring ball competition complete with a draft that was held Tuesday. Exree Loe, Tony Mathis, Jalen Thornton and Reese Smith are the four team captains.

“We want to master fundamentals. We want to teach our base concepts. We want to identify personnel. Basically, everyone outside of the interior defensive line and the offensive linemen go through and learn our techniques and fundamentals. And competitions are huge,” Brown said.

“They are in controlled environments. So there is not 11-on-11. For instance, there may be a guy running down on kickoff and on return there may be only two or three people going rather than all eleven. So it is less likely that somebody will be on the ground and you get pileups. We do those competitions. You get points for winning and losing. You get points for executing your assignment or lose them for missed assignments. Between food and gear, we have a pretty good package as we get to the end of the spring for them.”

As far as individual competitions go, kicking assignments are very much up for grabs with veteran returners. Evan Staley is coming off knee surgery. Troy transfer Tyler Sumpter and Casey Legg are also in the mix.

“Tyler finished the year. He was just okay in the bowl game. But he has been consistent throughout his career in that role both at Troy and here. I thought Casey, when he first got in the game after Evan got hurt, he did a good job and then kind of fell off. I think he is more healthy now than he was, as far as being fresh and his leg looks stronger. We are basically splitting reps right now. We’ll put those guys in more pressure situations as we get into practice. We aren’t necessarily going to crown anybody the winner after spring. That will carry into fall and we will see where Evan is at as well.”

Don’t wait for a depth chart

Brown said that several experienced veterans like Josh Chandler-Semedo, Sean Mahone, Dante Stills and Leddie Brown will receive reps throughout the spring but are all known quantities. They will mix in throughout drills on units that don’t necessarily feature ‘starters’ or ‘reserves’.

WVU LB Josh Chandler-Semedo (Photo by WVU Athletics)

“We are not going to play any games. So we are not in a spot where, starters or backups, it doesn’t matter. The 1’s and 2’s are mixed. There is a distinct difference between guys getting reps and guys that don’t get reps. But there is not necessarily one, two or three at any position. You won’t see a depth chart.”

New addition

Kirk Ciarrocca was added to the WVU staff Tuesday as an offensive analyst. He has previously worked as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Penn State and Minnesota. Ciarrocca worked with Brown at Delaware in 2005.

“His body of work speaks for itself. If you look at what he did at Western Michigan and at Minnesota, and they played well down the stretch last year. I think some of that got blown out of proportion at Penn State. I think he is as good as anybody in the country. He is going to add a level of expertise on offense.”





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