MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The second day of spring drills for West Virginia’s football team brought with it sunny weather and a spirited, non-contact session.
Neal Brown’s squad worked inside Mountaineer Field for nearly two hours Saturday, though it won’t don full pads until Monday.
“It was a beautiful day in Morgantown,” said Brown moments after Saturday’s practice ended. “You’ve heard me say this before – spring practice is one of my favorite times of the year. Our guys flew around today. They enjoyed (the media) being there, and we appreciate you all coming out.
“This is our last day of playing flag football,” chuckled Brown, as his club will begin full-contact drills next week. “It’s really hard to evaluate anyone, other than the skill players (when not in full pads).
“I thought day one (on Wednesday) after watching the film, the offense clearly had the better day,” he added. “The quarterbacks really did a nice job of throwing, and I thought the receivers had a nice day.
“Today, I thought the defense clearly won once we got into our team and seven-on-seven periods,” Brown continued. “In particular our defensive backs had a couple interceptions and clearly had a productive day.
“When get to the point where you think you have a good football team, there is going to be some give and take. We hope to see that competitive spirit moving forward.”
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The most dangerous thing an observer of spring practice can do is try to formulate a definitive two-deep out of what the coaches put on the field. Brown has said he won’t release any kind of depth chart this spring, so every job is still in flux.
Along West Virginia’s offensive line, returning starters Brandon Yates, James Gmiter, Zach Frazier and John Hughes saw extensive work Saturday, as did Parker Moorer, Nick Malone, Tyler Connolly, Tairiq Stewart and Jordan White. So did Virginia Tech transfer Doug Nester. Mainly a guard for the Hokies, Nester saw a great deal of time at right tackle in Saturday’s practice session. Frazier started out at center, but moved over to guard at times, giving reps to Gmiter, normally a guard, at center as well. Connolly and White were used at center, as WVU looks to build depth at that position after losing last year’s starter Chase Behrndt to graduation.
“We’re going to try to find our best five out there,” said Brown of his offensive line. “In the process of doing that, we’re going move some guys around during spring ball and try to develop some versatility.
“At center, Zach Frazier, James Gmiter and Jordan White are all going to get some snaps there,” the coach explained. “Doug Nester is going to get snaps at guard and tackle; the same with Hughes and Parker Moorer. (Left tackle) Brandon Yates probably won’t move around as much, but all those guys who are in the mix there are going to play multiple spots this spring.”
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At wide receiver, the Mountaineers return a great deal of experience in the form of Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Isaiah Esdale, Sean Ryan, Sam James and Winston Wright, to go along with freshman Reese Smith and Sam Brown, who each saw action last fall.
Young pass catchers Devell Washington and Kaden Prather both got to show their abilities on Saturday as well. Washington did see limited action in two games last year as a true freshman, but he didn’t haul in a pass. Prather, who just enrolled at WVU a couple of months ago, comes to the Mountaineers with great acclaim and got plenty of reps on Saturday.
“I think we’re talented in that room,” said Brown of his receivers. “I think the main challenge for us is we have to do a better job of controlling our emotions and our response when things do go poorly. When they do go poorly, we have to be better. We can’t let one mistake or one dropped pass effect another play.
“Those guys have had great winters,” continued Brown, who holds an overall record of 11-10 in his first two seasons at WVU. “Winston Wright looks significantly different. Bryce Wheaton and Sam James look significantly different than when you saw them after the bowl game. Sean Ryan is in that same mix.
“We have talent in that room. We just have to be more consistent. They put a lot of work into catching the football over the break, but until they do it in games, I probably shouldn’t forecast.”
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West Virginia’s coach also noted the passing of Howard Schnellenberger, who grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and was an All-American end at the University of Kentucky (1952-56).
Schnellenberger went on to a coaching career that spanned 53 years and included head coaching stints with the Baltimore Colts (1973-74), the University of Miami, Florida (1979-83), the University of Louisville (1985-94), the University of Oklahoma (1995) and Florida Atlantic University (2001-11).
Schnellenberger died Saturday at the age of 87.
“I learned while we were at practice today that a legend from my home state passed away today. My condolences to Howard Schnellenberger’s family,” said Brown, who is a native of Danville, Kentucky. “I grew up listening to my granddad tell stories about Coach Schnellenberger as a player. He was fortunate enough to coach him in an all-star game there in the state of Kentucky. And then the whole time I was growing up, he was coaching and was at Louisville.
“I also was fortunate enough to coach against him when I was at Troy and he was at Florida Atlantic. I always thought a lot of him. He was a pioneer in coaching, especially on the offensive side.”
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The Mountaineers are slated to return to the practice field Monday and will hold three practice sessions next week (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday) before taking a five-day break over Easter weekend.
WVU will conclude spring practice on Saturday, April 24 with the annual Gold/Blue Spring Game. That contest will be open to the public and will kickoff at 1 p.m.
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WVU Spring Football Notebook: Day Two Brings Spirited Work, Though Also Sad News | WVU | West Virginia Mountaineers sports coverage - Blue Gold News
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