Pankey to left tackle is latest in OL shuffling
West Virginia has used a different starting lineup all three games on the offensive line and position coach Ron Crook is hoping the latest is one that sticks.
Redshirt senior Adam Pankey slid over from guard to left tackle in large part due to his past experience at the position. But it was an experiment that often didn’t work as much as it did. In his first attempt at the tackle position, Pankey was only a sophomore and struggled with his confidence as well as injuries.
“It was a lot of things laid on him,” Crook said.
But during the off-season, Pankey made it a goal to prepare himself for the possibility that he could be used at tackle again this season. And after the season-ending injury to Yodny Cajuste, it became clear that the move was going to be made to have experience on the left side.
In fact, Pankey took it upon himself to prepare for the role even before he was anointed to it. And after missing the season opener due to a suspension, he was able to get his feet wet against Youngstown State.
From there, the coaching staff believed he was ready for the switch.
“He’s older, mature and his body is in better shape. It all helps him play at a higher level,” Crook said.
At left tackle, Pankey brings athleticism and a willingness to improve which has been evident throughout the season. Along with Crook, the redshirt senior has worked with offensive coordinator Joe Wickline to prepare himself for any situation and how to respond and react to defensive ends.
“We’ve put him in there and tried to show him as many pictures as we could and how he’s going to react. He’s not a finished product,” Wickline said.
Against BYU, Pankey slid into the spot of redshirt freshman Colton McKivitz bumping him to the right side to split time with redshirt junior Marcell Lazard. The move was to get experience on the edge and because Pankey had experience there previously there wouldn’t be a huge transition.
“He knew the techniques and knew what we were going to ask him to do. It’s just a matter of getting his body used to doing it again,” Crook said.
The plan moving forward is to keep rotating McKivitz and Lazard on the right side, while McKivitz also could flip back to the left if needed. Because Pankey was removed from the interior, the onus now falls on redshirt junior Grant Lingafelter to step up at the guard positions.
“We’re going to keep working with him and hopefully by the time we get to this weekend he will be ready to step in and help us,” he said.
Things won’t get any easier for West Virginia this weekend against a Kansas State defense that ranks as the nation’s best in several categories. Led by defensive end Jordan Willis, the Wildcats have a difficult front that will challenge the newly re-tooled West Virginia offensive line.
“It’s almost like a recording. The guys in the middle are big and hard to move. They’re very experienced on the edges and they are athletic and strong. They play with a great pad level and great explosion,” Crook said.