Jennings, WVU return team look for next step

At one point the clear goal of the West Virginia punt return team was to simply catch the ball.

And for good reason after the mishaps that plagued the team during the 2014 season in that department. Regardless who got the call, the Mountaineers struggled.

Now with an option that the coaching staff refers to as “dependable,” in sophomore wide receiver Gary Jennings the ultimate goal remains the same in cleanly fielding the ball but the Mountaineers want to take the next step in generating some field position for the offense.

“It’s not realistic to say we’re going to score a touchdown on every return but if we can get an extra first down it will help the offense,” coordinator Mark Scott said.

Jennings was the selection to serve as the primary returner for West Virginia after seeing time back there in that spot last season with departed senior KJ Dillon.

The difference in Jennings over the other options, a group that Scott refers to as the deepest the Mountaineers have been in recent years, is the confidence he has not only in himself but those around him on the return team.

“He’s natural catching the ball but it looks smoother and he looks more comfortable. He’s more confident than the other guys,” Scott said.

The return team has gone through a regimen of simulating live return reps throughout the course of camp and while it’s impossible to recreate the real thing the coaches have had four players surrounding the returners at all times clapping, yelling and running past them in order to distract them.

While sophomore Jovon Durante and freshmen Steven Smothers and Marcus Simms have impressed at times, it’s been the calm demeanor of Jennings that has risen to the top. A fact that is not surprising to his position coach Tyron Carrier who has seen many of the same things at wide receiver.

“He’s just a poised guy and he is never rattled at any point. He’s just a calm guy and you can trust in what he does,” Carrier said.

The Virginia native credits his ability to excel in that position to his focus and the fact that it has some naturally to him over the years. It’s a spot that doesn’t provide him any extra nerves.

Jennings has not only shown a knack for being able to cleanly field the ball but also has improved with his understanding of the return team and how to generate more yards in that aspect. But perhaps most important is the fact that he has shown the ability to make quick decisions and communicate that with everybody on the field to avoid a scenario of a bouncing ball touching a blocker.

“Regardless of what happens we want our offense walking out on the field. It our worst case scenario is a fair catch then so be it,” Scott said.

But that trust in his return team is something that Scott hopes leads to some more productive returns on the field. And accomplishing that is the ultimate goal.

“That is the next step is how can we get as much as we can,” Scott said.