2012 Statistics

ASST. COACHES

Off. Coordinator/QB Coach: Shannon Dawson (3rd season)
Previous: Stephen F. Austin Off. Coor.

Def. Coordinator/LB Coach: Keith Patterson (2nd season)
Previous: Pittsburgh Def. Coor. / LB Coach

Running Backs: JaJuan Seider (1st season)
Previous: Marshall RB Coach

Receivers: Lonnie Galloway (4th season)
Previous: Wake Forest WR Coach

Offensive Line: Ron Crook (1st season)
Previous: Stanford TE / OT Coach

Defensive Line: Erik Slaughter (2nd season)
Previous: Stephen F. Austin DL Coach

Cornerbacks: Brian Mitchell (1st season)
Previous: East Carolina Def. Coor. / DB Coach

Safeties: Tony Gibson (8th season)
Previous: Arizona Safeties / Special Teams Coor.

Special Teams: Joe DeForest (2nd season)
Previous: Oklahoma State Safeties / Special Teams Coach

    QUARTERBACK  

• Get ready for the biggest Mountain State battle of the fall with a contest to see who replaces the WVU all-time passer Geno Smith. Three candidates are vying for the job that won't likely be decided until the opening kickoff.
• Option 1 is the most experienced WVU signal caller on the roster - junior Paul Millard from the state of Texas. Good mental aspects and poise are his strengths, not a super strong arm that stretches the field. But he proved in high school he could toss the pigskin finishing as the No. 1 nationally rated quarterback in passing by MaxPreps. He didn't exactly shine in limited time last fall subbing in for Geno Smith but he has the most reps in Coach Holgorsen's scheme.
• Option 2 is Florida State transfer Clint Trickett who is immediately eligible after graduating college in Tallahassee this past spring. Trickett has two starts and 17 appearances under his Seminole belt while filling in for E.J. Manuael at FSU. He's not a runner but can be a cool cucumber in the pocket. Early word out of August camp is that Trickett is getting better with each rep and has carried a presence about him since arriving in Morgantown.
• Option 3 is redshirt frosh Ford Childress, a 6'5 Houston, TX product. The former ESPN Top 150 recruit is a pure pro-style passer who will likely need more time and seasoning. But he is obviously good enough to stay in contention for the starter's role.
• The consensus around the college football world is that the proven offensive genius Dana Holgorsen will get big numbers out of whoever plays behind center. While the numbers will continue to be eye-popping don't expect anyone in this mix to surpass what Smith accomplished last year as a senior.

    RUNNING BACK  

• The Mountaineers are still a passing team but expect coaches to lean a little more on the run in 2013 due to the wealth at this position.
• Much like at quarterback, position battle No. 2 will be at running back where returning team leading rusher Andrew Buie will fight for carries with University of Houston transfer Charles Sims. Given that WVU is dealing with a new signal caller the fact there are two proven ball carriers behind him is a blessing.
• Although the flash of Tavon Austin is gone there is still quickness in bigger Andrew Buie who led the team with 851 yards and seven touchdowns last fall. Buie is also the team's returning leading receiver. He's extremely quick out of his stance and hits the hole with a terrific burst.
• Transfer Charles Sims too has already proven to be a weapon accounting for over 4,000 yards and 37 total touchdowns during his three-year career with Houston. Because of his versatility, Sims is a player that can take snaps out of the backfield or lineup at various spots due to his receiving ability.
• Don't count out Dustin Garrison if he can finally stay healthy. As a true freshman in 2011 he posted a 742-yard season toting the rock. The speedster hurt his knee before the Orange Bowl that year and has not been the same since.
• If all this were not enough don't count out Butler CC transfer Dreamius Smith who could wind up one of the better backup RBs in the conference.
• The theme at this position is versatility and extreme quickness, the type of back Holgorsen likes to recruit. This group is deep and can rip off big yards in chunks.

    RECEIVER  

• The gasp this off-season, outside of losing Geno Smith, was also increased in volume by the loss of big time receivers Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and J.D. Woods. Don't fret just yet, the new guys will be just fine. That's how this offensive system rolls...quarterbacks and receivers are made famous and there's plenty of incoming talent to take advantage of the circumstance.
• Plenty of new faces enter the mix. Kevin White, a 6'3, 211 pound JUCO transfer from Lackawanna College is a perfect fit for this offense with nice hands and precision route running. White is considered the top option right now.
• Jacksonville First Coast product KJ Myers will attempt to fill in for Stedman Bailey. He has deep speed and is considered to be one of the team's top playmakers.
• Miami native redshirt freshman Devonte Mathis was a do-it-all playmaker in high school and has tremendous upside and potential to shine at any of the receiver sports.
• Ivan McCartney is back with the team after leaving the program in November. He boasts the most experience playing in 33 games with 11 starts.
• Former Alabama Crimson Tide receiver Ronald Carswell should see immediate time and provide quality depth.
• Trying to replace Tavon Austin on the inside slot will be in-state Madonna HS product Connor Arlia, Texas speedster Jordan Thompson who comes from the same physical/skill mold as Austin and Georgia Military College JUCO transfer Mario Alford.
• The best new prospect appears to be true freshman Shelton Gibson out of Cleveland. Arguably one of the team’s fastest players, he has the wheels to put up massive numbers once he gets his feet wet.
• Cody Clay is a big and exceptionally strong tight end/H-back who will also line up at fullback. Clay recorded six starts a year ago and is backed up by another young promising product in Will Johnson.
• Suffice to say, there are a ton of receivers on this roster to fill out these three-to-four receiver sets.

    OFFENSIVE LINE  

• This unit is the question mark on offense especially in the middle. New OL coach Ron Crook has to replace three fulltime starters with the biggest loss at center where Joe Madsen lined up.
• The good news here is that redshirt freshman Tyler Orlosky appears to have elevated his game and grabbed the center position with authority. Don't look for him to ever give up this spot over the next four years.
• Quinton Spain is the stud. The massive tackle started every game a year ago. He is versatile enough to play any spot on the line and has grown into the team's most reliable blocker.
• At the other tackle spot on the right side is another massive blocker in Curtis Feigt, a starter for most of last season after moving over from the defensive side two years ago. Not quite as sound, he has a huge frame that will be tough to get around and he brings a physical style to the ground game.
• The two top newbies expected to make the biggest impact are JUCO transfer Stone Underwood and Marcell Lazard. Both will push for time in the middle of this line where help is needed the most.
• Depth isn't so plentiful with this unit. The injury bug would not be a good sight in Morgantown.

    DEFENSIVE LINE  

• The Mountaineers will continue to utilize three tackles and an oversized outside linebacker in this scheme. The run defense should continue to be descent with good size across this front.
• Shaq Rowell is a tough former JUCO transfer who stepped up a year ago recording 42 tackles. He won't be found in the opposing team's backfield too often but he is a 300-pound veteran who knows how to play in this scheme.
• Will Clarke has done a descent job trying to fill the shoes of former greats Bruce Irvin and Julian Miller. The rangy 6-7 down lineman is not a speed rusher but can be a match up problem for blockers. His backup Eric Kinsey may be that sack specialist called upon on passing downs.
• The pass rush is lagging without a proven sack producer and usually has to be generated from other areas of this defense. On paper none of these guys up front grade out as possessing the ability to bring the heat, an issue that could be devastating for a pass defense just trying to get out of the statistical Big 12 basement.
• After getting ripped apart in the bowl loss to Syracuse plenty of questions still remain concerning this group.

    LINEBACKERS  

• If WVU is going to step forward as a team, this is where the changes have to start. This unit was a weekly charade of busted assignments and gaffs that cost the team dearly in 2012.
• This may not be the most talented set of linebackers but it's also not starving for players. Despite his youth, Isaiah Bruce is the leader of the bunch after finishing second on the team with 94 tackles as a redshirt freshman. A strong presence on the inside, the former Florida state hurdles champions Bruce is a big hitter with track speed.
• Nick Kwiatkoski is the next brightest presence with weight room powers and physical skills. A reserve last year who can play either inside spot.
• The pass rush has to be generated on the outside with guys like Wes Tonkery at SPUR. Built like a safety he can hit. He recorded ten tackles and an interception, but no sacks.
• Hopes are that JUCO transfer d'Vante Henry from Arizona Western can offer some help in the sack department. He will join with another JUCO transfer Brandon Golson from Georgia Military College trying to provide heat from the outside.
• Whether it is getting after quarterbacks, dropping in coverage or holding up against the run, these backers have a long way to go. Coaches are flirting with changes on the depth chart but until someone proves to be a force getting in to the opponent's backfield this defense will continue to struggle.

    DEFENSIVE BACKS  

• Can this group get any worse? These Mountaineers finished second-to-last nationally in pass efficiency defense and at times made it difficult to watch those Big 12 games that more resembled a video game.
• Working on a few positives, many feel the best player on either side of the ball is safety Karl Joseph. The free safety lived up to his high school billing leading the team in tackles as a true freshman last fall earning him WVU Defensive Player of The Year. He is one of the league's premier defensive backs.
• At boundary safety, former receiver Darwin Cook enters his senior year after posting impressive numbers the previous two seasons. Great against the run he needs to get better defending the pass as do most of the players on this unit. Coaches have stated the backups at safety are not ready to step into a starting role and have much to learn.
• First year cornerback coach Brian Mitchell has his hands full. If these covermen don't make a massive change for the better this WVU defense will be in trouble again. Six different players are fighting for playing time on the corner. They didn't receive much help when it was announced projected starter Nana Kyeremeh would be out for the entire season to undergo shoulder surgery.
• Senior Brodrick Jenkins has speed and experience but needs to perform much better if these corners are to make a difference. The cornerback situation has to be the biggest team concern.
• The move into the Big 12 was a massive shock in the first year. This conference knows how to toss the pigskin around. The secondary is full of younger players trying to find some form of chemistry. If there's going to be a big improvement it will start with both safeties Joseph and Cook.

• What's needed here? At least the holder and long snapper are back. How about a new punter, kicker, kickoff returner and punt returner?
• No one on the current roster attempted either a punt or a kick in 2012. Well OK, Mike Molinari got one punting attempt. Those starting duties belonged to double-duty man Tyler Bitancurt, who despite a rocky season last year, finished as the school's second-leading all-time scorer after four years as the starter.
• Redshirt frosh Josh Lambert has already been dubbed as the kicker by Holgorsen to start fall camp despite having never kicked in a game before. He has an exceptionally strong leg. Special teams coach Joe DeForest says he feels comfortable letting Lambert try a few from 53 to 54 yards. However, Lambert needs to focus more on being consistent from shorter ranges.
• The punting game was absolutely miserable last year. Nick O’Toole, a JUCO transfer, should be an instant remedy. The 6-5, 220-pounder from Fullerton College averaged 41.8 yards per try and should be able to blast away far better than Bitancurt managed. Lambert can also take over at punter if needed and Mike Molinari will get a long look too.
• Tavon Austin won't be returning punts and kicks anymore, at least not at the collegiate level. Whoever steps in has some mighty big shoes to fill. Don't expect them to be filled quite the same maybe ever again.