West Virginia Football 2013 Spring Wrap Up

Spring Summary

The biggest theme and takeaway that we have from the spring practice sessions is that nothing is settled and everything is up for grabs. We still don’t have a clear cut QB, center and several OL spots.

The defense is looking better under a slightly new system under Keith Patterson instead of Joe DeForest, but it would have been hard to be as bad or worse than last year.

Potential breakout players

JUCO transfers Dreamius Smith (RB) and Kevin White (WR) showed some nice moves in the spring game. Hopefully they can step up and be solid contributors after losing both Tavon Austin & Stedman Bailey to the NFL Draft.

The quarterback race still needs to be settled between Paul Millard and Ford Childress, but historically even first year starters in Holgorsen’s system have tended to do well.

West Virginia QB Paul Millard (James Lang-US PRESSWIRE)

Position group grades

QB – incomplete, no clear cut front runner

RB – (B+)  With a chance to be an A or better, depending on the development of the OL. West Virginia has Andrew Buie and Dustin Garrison returning along with Smith (mentioned above). Breaking in a new coach (JaJuan Seider) here too.

WR – (C+)  Along with the aforementioned White, Jordan (Squirt) Thompson also had a big spring game, but he needs to show up when it matters in the fall. There needs to be a couple of others step up to help replace the production of Austin and Bailey. Help may be coming as incoming freshman in the fall. Coach Lonnie Galloway returns for a second stint in Morgantown (but the first under Holgorsen).

OL – Also incomplete, the frontrunner for the center (Pate Eger) job went down with a minor injury and missed the second half of spring drills. West Virginia also has to replace both interior guards. Another new position coach is here as well, Ron Crook, from a completely different philosophy at Stanford

DL – (B+)  An area of weakness and lack of depth last season turns into an area of strength and depth. Will Clarke and Shaq Rowell are the leaders of this group

LB – Unknown, not much has been reported on the linebacking corps as yet, but Nick Kwiatkowski seems to be the leader here.

CB – (C)  But really, another unknown, but Brodrick Jenkins returns and several freshmen who were thrown to the wolves last season return a year wiser and with an upgraded new and proven position coach in Brian Mitchell

S – (A-)  Freshman sensation Karl Joseph returns for his sophomore campaign looking to pick up right where he left off. Darwin Cook returns for his senior year determined to make up for the embarrassing season the WVU defense that was fielded last season.

K/P – (C)  Michael Molinari returns to handle the punting duties after a shaky season last year and freshman Josh Lambert was handling the placekicking duties during the spring game. The punting looked impressive with no rush and the field goals have been inconsistent.

Are there any “surprises” we can expect?

Just about everything could be a surprise. After the spring game, Coach Holgorsen mentioned that the roster and depth chart will likely undergo several changes as soon as other JUCO players and incoming freshmen report in the fall.

New coaches all over the staff and new players reporting in the fall have most people resigned for a record much like last season’s. The roster depth is beginning to be re-built after a couple of bad recruiting cycles.

The defense looks to be improved and as long as Holgorsen is the coach, the offense should still manage to score points, despite losing Smith, Austin and Bailey. However, life in the Big 12 will likely make for another tough season, although things are trending in the positive. Hopefully we can sneak up and shock a couple of the front runners.

WVUIE97 of Smoking Musket provided the information for our West Virginia Football 2013 Spring Wrap Up. For more West Virginia football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow WVUIE97 on Twitter @WVUIE97.