Young WVU safety group works for chance to contribute
When West Virginia took six safeties in the 2017 class there was always going to be a chance. You don't sign that many without there being a need.
That chance being that one or more of those players could work their way onto the field in some capacity this coming season as true freshmen. No, there haven’t been any decisions made on that front quite yet but each of those prospects are working at various safety spots.
Derrek Pitts, an early enrollee that spent the spring with the football program, is first in line to make headway when it comes to seeing the field. Unlike the rest of his contemporaries, the freshman has a leg up on his avenue for playing time because he’s already become acclimated to the defense.
Still, even with those 15-practices under his belt he still has room to grow in order to be where safeties coach Matt Caponi wants him to be. Fortunately for him, he has time to do just that.
“He’s got to come along the next few practices to get to where he was at the end of the spring,” he said.
At the SPUR safety position West Virginia is repping both E.J. Brown and Ricky Johns, while Collin Smith and Exree Loe are seeing time at the bandit position.
The final component is the freshman that has generated the most buzz to date in the early stages of fall camp in free safety Kenny Robinson.
“The first couple days of practice Kenny Robinson stood out with great athleticism,” he said. “He’s a rangy type of kid and I kind of understand what we want from him.”
And even while not being happy with the progress of the defensive unit as a whole, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson offered the same sentiments on the freshman.
"He stands out a little bit, he's athletic," he said.
Caponi has also been impressed with how fast Robinson has picked up his assignments and the defense.
But that doesn’t mean he’s a lock to see the field either. One thing that each of these safeties could do is work their way onto the special teams units and they all provide long, athletic body types.
In fact, an early home at special teams could be more likely for many that make their way onto the field given the experience and depth at the safety spot in front of them.
“They’re all skilled,” he said.
And the Mountaineers also could shift those players around from spot to spot depending on how they develop opening up more doors in the future, if not this year.
“That’ll sort itself out,” Caponi said.