ShaDon Brown leads mix of veterans, transfers and newcomers in WVU secondary

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU co-defensive coordinator ShaDon Brown covers a lot of ground as the defensive backs coach with the Mountaineers. In his first season as a WVU assistant, Brown works with safeties coach Dontae Wright to lead West Virginia’s last line of defense.

“At times I will coach the safeties and he will coach the corners. We’ll split things up throughout practice where he coaches the field and I will coach the boundary,” Brown said.

“We work together and it is truly a collective effort in coaching those guys. I think that is good because we have good camaraderie. I can’t see everything and I can’t be at every place. I trust him to be one voice and we speak the same language. It has been great so far.”

The Mountaineer secondary is made up of players ranging from true freshmen to sixth-year seniors. Brown makes every effort to mix the veterans with the newcomers in as many practice situations as possible.

West Virginia’s Nicktroy Fortune (11) talks to Alonzo Addae during spring practice. Photo by Greg Carey/WVMetroNews.com

“Never have all old and never have young only with young. If I have two young DB’s, I am going to put them in there with two older guys. So they have somebody I like to call a buffer, when they don’t know, or if there is something they have not seen, that communication may not be there, they are always going to have somebody to look to on the grass with them.”

While each of the three safety positions carry different responsibilities, Brown may mix and match with players that can play both safety and corner.

“I rank the kids one through however many we have, not necessarily number one corner, number one safety. If they are the best five guys let’s figure out how to get those best five on the field. If number six is a corner but he can be the second-best spear or second-best safety, if we have an injury, let’s get that guy on the field.”

One of the more versatile players in the secondary could be their newest defensive back. Transfer Charles Woods has played two seasons at the FCS level in 2018 and 2019.

WVU DB Charles Woods (Photo by Joe Brocato)

“At Illinois State, he was primarily playing on true outside at corner. I am a big believer in cross training guys. He has played some inside at our spear position this fall camp as well as played outside at corner,” Brown said.

“Charles is really mature. Coming over from Illinois State, he played a lot of ball. He was an FCS All-American. He is a very heady guy. He is what I call a ‘tell me once’ kind of player. You can coach him up one time on a mistake and he has got it.”

While competition for playing time continues, it is likely that three veterans in Nicktroy Fortune, Alonzo Addae and Sean Mahone have starting spots locked down. Each excelled in starting roles in 2020.

“Nicktroy Fortune is doing an unbelievable job of putting together some good days. One of the things when I got here is that I wanted to change his mentality. He is a very heady, cautious player. I want him to be a little more aggressive, because aggressiveness as a DB leads to making more plays on the football. That’s how you are judged as a DB.

WVU DB Nicktroy Fortune (Photo by Joe Brocato)

“Alonzo Addae has become the leader of the room there. He communicates very well with the players and he has the respect of the room.”

“I would say the guy that has flashed for me, after he had an injury in the spring, is Sean Mahone. I am really pleased where he is. He has flashed every single day with playing the ball and being in the right spot.”

With Fortune penciled in to start at one cornerback spot, junior Jackie Matthews, Jr. and sophomore Daryl Porter, Jr. are in the mix to start on the opposite side of the field.

“Jackie Matthews has been steady. He’s a guy that didn’t play a lot last year that’s having the opportunity to maximize his reps. He is also a high-energy young man. When he is playing at his best, he is playing with a lot of energy and passion.

“If we had seven good practices, I would say Daryl has had six really good ones. Daryl is making plays and running with the 2’s right now and I rotate him in with the 1’s every now and then. He could easily be a starter for us.”

Brown says that true freshman Andrew Wilson-Lamp is also in the mix for playing time this season. Wilson-Lamp was a receiver and defensive back at the prep level.

“I think he has made some strides understanding how to play man coverage and things of that nature. As a DB, you play with your back to the ball, which is totally different. The ball is thrown behind you. As a receiver, a lot of the time you are fronting the ball. He is learning that but I think he has been eager to learn. He gives great effort. He is probably the fastest guy in the 100 meters on our football team.”





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