Laptops can be thin. Same with hair. Even, apparently, Lizzys.

Now, add West Virginia's defensive line to the list.

After losing two rock-solid starters in Keilen Dykes and Johnny Dingle from last season, the search has been on for replacements.

Tackle Scooter Berry, however, had been shelved following arthroscopic knee surgery.

And now defensive end Zac Cooper is out for the rest of spring drills, according to Mountaineer line coach Bill Kirelawich. Head coach Bill Stewart called it a "medical condition'' that concerns the heart. The coaches are asking doctors to monitor the junior's heart, which has been experiencing racing bouts. ("We want to take every precaution," Stewart said.)

"The only guys we've really had are [tackle Doug] Slavonic and [nose tackle Chris] Neild,'' Kirelawich said. "The only others are [junior defensive end Larry] Ford and [tackle Julian] Miller."

Kirelawich calls capably filling the line positions "critical - absolutely critical'' if WVU is to fulfill lofty preseason expectations.

"When have we been this thin [at defensive line]?'' said Kirelawich. "Probably five years ago when Rich [Rodriguez] brought me back.''

Back then, WVU played in the Gator Bowl with Ernest Hunter, then a sophomore, at nose, between Ben Lynch and Jason Hardee. Fred Blueford and Pat Liebig had been injured.

Kirelawich said the good news is Berry is back - and that's a start.

"Neild and Scooter are two good guys to build around," said the coach. "A great foundation."

After that, though, come the unknowns.

At tackle, Kirelawich seems solid, if unspectacular, with Berry and Slavonic. At nose, Neild seems well on his way to winning over the rugged assistant coach.

"Neild is a hell of a player," Kirelawich said. "He has the size, the footwork ... He's tough and smart. He has the whole package. The only thing he's lacking is experience.''

Laptops can be thin. Same with hair. Even, apparently, Lizzys.

Now, add West Virginia's defensive line to the list.

After losing two rock-solid starters in Keilen Dykes and Johnny Dingle from last season, the search has been on for replacements.

Tackle Scooter Berry, however, had been shelved following arthroscopic knee surgery.

And now defensive end Zac Cooper is out for the rest of spring drills, according to Mountaineer line coach Bill Kirelawich. Head coach Bill Stewart called it a "medical condition'' that concerns the heart. The coaches are asking doctors to monitor the junior's heart, which has been experiencing racing bouts. ("We want to take every precaution," Stewart said.)

"The only guys we've really had are [tackle Doug] Slavonic and [nose tackle Chris] Neild,'' Kirelawich said. "The only others are [junior defensive end Larry] Ford and [tackle Julian] Miller."

Kirelawich calls capably filling the line positions "critical - absolutely critical'' if WVU is to fulfill lofty preseason expectations.

"When have we been this thin [at defensive line]?'' said Kirelawich. "Probably five years ago when Rich [Rodriguez] brought me back.''

Back then, WVU played in the Gator Bowl with Ernest Hunter, then a sophomore, at nose, between Ben Lynch and Jason Hardee. Fred Blueford and Pat Liebig had been injured.

Kirelawich said the good news is Berry is back - and that's a start.

"Neild and Scooter are two good guys to build around," said the coach. "A great foundation."

After that, though, come the unknowns.

At tackle, Kirelawich seems solid, if unspectacular, with Berry and Slavonic. At nose, Neild seems well on his way to winning over the rugged assistant coach.

"Neild is a hell of a player," Kirelawich said. "He has the size, the footwork ... He's tough and smart. He has the whole package. The only thing he's lacking is experience.''

Neild, 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, did get in 11 games last season, including the Fiesta Bowl, and had 13 tackles.

"He looks like he can be our starting nose," Kirelawich said.

The backup to Neild could be a junior college transfer. D.J. Shaw, 6-1, 290, seems likely to beat out walk-on Josh Taylor, who, Kirelawich said, still has "a long, long way to go." Morgantown native Junius Lewis' knee, meanwhile, is a "complete disaster,'' according to the coach.

Kirelawich, though, won't comment on Shaw.

"He looked OK on film," said the assistant coach. "But everything depends on how well he can play and adapt here."

Kirelawich likewise wouldn't talk about Tevita Finau, perhaps the Mountaineers' No. 1 recruit in February. Finau, 6-5, 290, is expected to play end.

Ford, now behind Cooper, is 6-3, 232 pounds.

"He's learning, picking up things,'' Kirelawich said of Ford. "He needs to get bigger."

Kirelawich said he has Miller, 6-4, 247, at tackle.

"He's feeling his way," said the assistant. "He's coming along OK. He's just not putting on much weight. He's got a way to go.''

Kirelawich said he'd like to see Miller at 300 pounds, but would be happy with 280.

Briefly

To contact sports editor Mitch Vingle, use e-mail or call 348-4827.