WVU Camp Storylines: Newcomers
West Virginia is set to open fall camp Tuesday as players report over the weekend. WVSports.com examines some of the major storylines to follow throughout the course of the next two weeks. Today we look at the newcomers.
Fall camp is always an exciting time. First it brings the sights, sounds and satisfaction of football back in the air. There is a palpable buzz in the air as the pads start popping and West Virginia football has returned. But with every fall camp comes the first glimpses of the newcomers to the program.
This year is no different as players will be making their unofficial debuts this fall.
Junior college safety Kyzir White will be firmly in the mix for the opening at the SPUR position battling spring starter Marvin Gross. The youngest brother of Kevin and Ka’Raun, White was one of the premier junior college safeties in the nation and will have every chance to make a play to see significant time.
Another junior college standout that will be in the mix for a large role is running back Justin Crawford. The NJCAA offensive player of the year, Crawford finished last season with over 2,000 all-purpose yards and is a fit for what the Mountaineers do on the offensive side of the ball given his versatility. While he will start behind both Rushel Shell and Kennedy McKoy the opportunity is there to see the field.
Keeping on the junior college route, no position is as wide open as cornerback and a pair of players from that level will compete for time this fall. Both Mike Daniels and Elijah Battle enrolled at West Virginia in June and all indications are both are developing well and will be in the mix for a role.
Also at the cornerback position, it will be the first look at Iowa graduate transfer Maurice Fleming. The senior saw action in all 14-games last season for the Hawkeyes and will bring on-the-field experience to a position that is lacking it for the Mountaineers. Fleming is in the same boat as the two junior college prospects in the fact he arrived in June but given how wide open the position is he has a chance to make a dent in the rotation and earn time with a strong camp.
When it comes to true freshmen each of the newcomers will have an opportunity but the spotlight will shine bright on players on each side of the ball.
On the defensive side, top prospect Brendan Ferns will step into position battle at linebacker that also has some room for competition.Ferns is already a college-ready linebacker from a size and intelligence standpoint and could potentially play all three of the spots in the Mountaineers defensive scheme.
He will unquestionably be one of the most watched players on either side of the ball when it comes to newcomers. There are going to be opportunities for Ferns as there will be for the rest of the freshmen linebackers on the roster.
Offensively, the same can be said for wide receiver Steven Smothers. While he doesn’t possess the college ready-size of Ferns he makes up for that with a natural instinct to make plays. A dynamic athlete, Smothers will have every chance to see if he can carve out a role at inside wide receiver given his natural abilities and game-breaking skill set at that spot.
At safety West Virginia will have two players that could make a play for time this fall with junior college transfer Toyous Avery and true freshman JoVanni Stewart. Both have reportedly impressed throughout the course of the summer workouts after arriving on campus.
A lot of fresh faces. A lot of juicy storylines.