Deep WVU linebacker pool set to battle for openings
While some untapped, unproven potential one thing is true about the West Virginia linebacker group.
“We’re deeper than we’ve been since I’ve been here,” coordinator Tony Gibson said.
The Mountaineers have a cupboard full of nine scholarship linebackers on the roster. That total shrinks to seven if you consider junior David Long and freshman Exree Loe will miss the spring but still a collection of players at the three positions that could compete for time on the field.
Now having numbers and then having players that can help you are two entirely different things altogether but that's what spring is for, right?
There is no question that Long will again return to handle the outside WILL spot, while the onus of the coaching staff will be squarely on identifying who will flank him.
The Mountaineers need to find a replacement in the middle after the graduation of two-year starter Al-Rasheed Benton but the possibility of sliding Long into that spot was never considered, Gibson said.
“Why would I move him? That guy is our best player,” he added.
Even though a shoulder injury will keep him sidelined throughout the entire duration of spring drills, Gibson full expects that he will be active at practice coaching and explaining things to his teammates.
One player that has been moved that could help alleviate the loss of Benton is redshirt sophomore Dylan Tonkery who handled both outside spots a season ago but is more of a natural inside. That’s in large part because of his toughness, intelligence and ability to get ball carriers to the ground.
Moving him inside allows him to focus on the run game and not worry about mixing it up on the edge because he already holds a strong understanding of the scheme and what to do.
“He’s an aggressive player and he can be a lot more aggressive on the inside,” Gibson said.
For now, Gibson is satisfied with those two spots if Long and Tonkery can take the jobs and run with them but he still has questions at the final position SAM and who will play behind them.
In the middle, West Virginia will have redshirt sophomore Brendan Ferns competing for the spot who has battled injuries to his knee and shoulder the past two seasons limiting him to only a handful of games. He could potentially slot at several different locations but he has made a full recovery.
While he has looked good to date, the real challenge will be when the practices become more physical and Ferns will have to see how he can hold up to that element.
“If he can beat somebody out then good for him. He will have every opportunity to do that,” he said.
The final spot appears to be a two-way battle between senior Quondarius Qualls and redshirt sophomore Charlie Benton who enrolled at West Virginia in January. Both are former junior college prospects that have one thing in common when it comes to their style of play.
Their length. And the Mountaineers are looking to move more towards having rangier athletes at that spot to help in pass rushing situations to basically create a four-man look at times.
“The ability to bring them off the edge with a longer body,” Gibson said.
Freshman Josh Chandler, junior Adam Hensley and redshirt sophomore Zach Sandwisch also figure to be in the mix this spring battling for the right to earn time on the field.
But one thing Gibson is not concerned about is the size of the group. While some have held serve from last year others have added more weight to their frame such as Tonkery getting up to around 230-pounds and Benton now settling in just under 220-pounds.
“I like where we’re at,” Gibson said.
Now it’s about proving it on the field.
