WR Jock Sanders (ICON SMI Photo)
2010 SCHEDULE
9-4-10 COASTAL CAROLINA
9-10-10 at Marshall (Fri.)
9-18-10 MARYLAND
9-25-10 at Louisiana State
10-9-10 UNLV
10-14-10 SOUTH FLORIDA (Thur.)
10-23-10 SYRACUSE
10-29-10 at Connecticut (Fri.)
11-13-10 CINCINNATI
11-20-10 at Louisville
11-26-10 at Pittsburgh (Fri.)
12-4-10 RUTGERS
Coach: Bill Stewart
19-8, 2 years

2009 Statistics

2009 RESULTS: 9-4
LIBERTY WON 33-20
EAST CAROLINA WON 35-20
at Auburn LOST 30-41
COLORADO WON 35-24
at Syracuse WON 34-13
MARSHALL WON 24-7
CONNECTICUT WON 28-24
at South Florida LOST 19-30
LOUISVILLE WON 17-9
at Cincinnati LOST 21-24
PITTSBURGH WON 19-16
at Rutgers WON 24-21
GATOR BOWL
Florida State LOST 21-33

2009 Final Rankings
AP-25, Coaches-22, BCS-16

 


Projected 2010 record: 9-3
DB Robert Sands (ICON SMI Photo)
WEST VIRGINIA
2009 Statistical Rankings
OFFENSE
 
National
Conf.
Rushing:
24
1
Passing:
90
8
Total Off:
61
4
Sacks Allow:
57
4
DEFENSE
 
National
Conf.
Rushing:
37
4
Passing:
46
4
Total Def:
36
4
Sacks:
45
6
RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Geno Smith, 32-49-1, 309 yds., 1 TD

Rushing: Noel Devine, 241 att., 1465 yds., 13 TD

Receiving: Jock Sanders, 72 rec., 688 yds., 3 TD

Scoring: Noel Devine, 14 TD, 84 pts.

Punting: None

Kicking: Tyler Bitancurt, 13-15 FG, 41-42 PAT, 80 pts.

Tackles: Pat Lazear, 78 tot., 37 solo

Sacks: Julian Miller, 9 sacks

Interceptions: Robert Sands, 5 for 9 yds.

Kickoff Returns: Tavon Austin, 17 ret., 25.1 avg., 1 TD

Punt Returns: Jock Sanders, 17 ret., 8.6 avg., 0 TD

 

 
WEST VIRGINIA
2010 College Football Preview
OFFENSE - 8
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 9
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Jarrett Brown-QB, Alric Arnett-WR, Wes Lyons-WR, Selvish Capers-OT
DEFENSE: Reed Williams-MLB, Ovid Goulbourne-WLB, Nate Sowers-S, Franchot Allen-S, Scott Kozlowski-P

 

2010 OUTLOOK
Some concern existed about which direction the WVU program would head in once Bill Stewart was handed the reigns. After modest success, his efforts, least of all, have kept the program in the Top 25. The school’s current streak of eight-consecutive winning seasons, the second longest streak in WVU history (next to the winning campaigns from 1914-26), will continue. But apparently, this 9-3 season has drawn the ire of angry Mountaineer fans…they can do better. Expectations do this to a program. Stewart however, has all the pieces in place to make 2010 special if incumbent sophomore QB Geno Smith’s prep reputation as a superior hurler pans out (No.3-rated pro-style passer, Rivals). This ground attack is setting up to be wild and wonderful, much like the Mountaineers became accustomed to with Pat White running in open spaces. Noel Devine is back with 3,381 career rushing yards (6.5 average) and he will have the benefit of running behind an offensive line that returns every starter but tackle Selvish Capers. Senior slot receiver Jock Sanders will continue to do wonders with the ball in his hands and there exists talent among the first teamers but depth could prove to be an issue in these multiple receiver sets. In terms of overall speed and quickness, WVU has it across the board. The defense has been getting better the past two years, and the secondary has made some major strides in that same time. Linebacker J.T. Thomas will continue to wreak havoc and team-leading tackler Pat Lazear will continue to make a nice compliment to Thomas. But these defensive backs have really grown. Give a great deal of credit to secondary coach David Lockwood, who molded what once was a major weakness into a unit that boasts two NationalChamps.net Preseason All-Americans in Brandon Hogan and Robert Sands. The defensive line is poised to be one of the best WVU has fielded in quite some time. Chris Neild is thick as a bull, Scooter Berry has been an All-Conference performer during his four years of starting and Julian Miller rose up out of nowhere a year ago to haul in nine sacks and earn All-Big East honors. Still, it all boils down to what type of QB play coaches will get. OK, so maybe a Top 10 preseason start is not the norm anymore, but it can be soon. Recruiting is working out well, and this fairly new coaching staff deserves a little of the credit. A 10-win season still may not be good enough, but that's a good sign for how far this program has evolved.

 

2010 OFFENSE

 

 

RB Noel Devine

 

WEST VIRGINIA 2010 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Geno Smith-So (6-3, 210) Coley White-So (6-0, 175)
TB Noel Devine-Sr (5-8, 180) Shawne Alston-So (5-11, 222)
SLOT Jock Sanders-Sr (5-7, 179) Reggie Rembert-So (5-7, 157)
WR Tavon Austin-So (5-9, 173) J.D. Woods-So (6-0, 192)
WR Brad Starks-Jr (6-3, 190) Ryan Nehlen-So (6-2, 198)
TE Tyler Urban-Jr (6-5, 249) Will Johnson-Sr (6-2, 238)
Ryan Clarke-So (6-0, 247) (FB)
OT Don Barclay-Jr (6-4, 304) Cole Bowers-RFr (6-5, 289)
OG Josh Jenkins-Jr (6-3, 300) Ryan Spiker-RFr (6-3, 288)
C Joe Madsen-So (6-4, 290) Jeff Braun-So (6-4, 308)
OG Eric Jobe-Sr (6-2, 290) Tyler Rader-Jr (6-3, 291)
OT Matt Timmerman-Sr (6-3, 294) Pat Eger-RFr (6-6, 288)
K Tyler Bitancurt-So (6-1, 198) John Howard-RFr (5-11, 198)

 

2010 DEFENSE

 

 

CB Brandon Hogan (ICON SMI Photo)

 

WEST VIRGINIA 2010 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Julian Miller-Jr (6-4, 260) Will Clarke-RFr (6-6, 265)
NT Chris Neild-Sr (6-2, 301) Josh Taylor-Jr (6-1, 278)
DT Scooter Berry-Sr (6-1, 287) Larry Ford-Sr (6-3, 255)
SLB Anthony Leonard-Sr (6-1, 246) Branko Busick-RFr (6-0, 231)
MLB Pat Lazear-Sr (6-0, 237) Najee Goode-Jr (6-1, 238)
WLB J.T. Thomas-Sr (6-2, 225) Donovan Miles-So (6-1, 234)
CB Brandon Hogan-Sr (5-10, 189) Brodrick Jenkins-RFr (5-10, 182)
CB Keith Tandy-Jr (5-10, 198) Pat Miller-So (5-10, 183)
SS Terence Garvin-So (6-3, 215) Trippe Hale-Sr (5-10, 198)
FS Robert Sands-Jr (6-5, 221) Eain Smith-Jr (5-11, 204)
BS Sidney Glover-Sr (5-11, 207) Darwin Cook-RFr (5-11, 205)
P Corey Smith-So (5-11, 214) Gregg Pugnetti-Sr (6-1, 208)