MORGANTOWN - Bill Stewart admits that some of his rookies might have to step up quickly to fill needs at two of West Virginia's thinnest positions - tailback on offense and cornerback on defense.
MORGANTOWN - Bill Stewart admits that some of his rookies might have to step up quickly to fill needs at two of West Virginia's thinnest positions - tailback on offense and cornerback on defense.
What came as a bit of a surprise during West Virginia's first fall practice Saturday, however, was who one of those rookies was - cornerback Brandon Hogan.
That's right, cornerback.
Hogan is no rookie, of course, having seen plenty of playing time last season as a true freshman slot receiver. But his move to defense in an effort to shore up one of the Mountaineers' most critical needs makes him just that.
"We moved Brandon Hogan just to look at him. We just don't have any corners,'' Stewart said. "Brandon Hogan could be a hit in the secondary or he could be back on offense [before long].''
Cornerback is problematic for the Mountaineers because the top three from last season - Larry Williams, Antonio Lewis and Vaughn Rivers - are gone. Those three played nearly 90 percent of the snaps in 2007.
Ellis Lankster and Kent Richardson are at the top of the depth chart to start camp, backed up by Guesly Dervil and Eddie Davis, the latter playing his third position (running back and wide receiver were the others) in a year. Of the four, only Lankster has significant experience. A junior college transfer expected to help, Brantwon Bowser, is out for the season with a knee injury.
Enter Hogan, who is perhaps the most versatile player on an entire roster made up of some pretty versatile players. A quarterback in high school, Hogan made an immediate impact last season as a slot receiver, playing in 10 games and catching 12 passes. He can also return kicks and even play quarterback in a real emergency.
With a wide array of players in the mix at slot receiver, though (Dorrell Jalloh, Jock Sanders and newcomer Mark Rodgers, among others), Stewart can afford to experiment early in camp and see if the 6-foot, 170-pound Hogan can fill a need.
"Do we have to have him to get through the year? No. Is it essential? No,'' Stewart said. "But [if it works out] it's just icing on the cake. He may end up getting a starting job. The guy's pretty special. He was a great high school cornerback and a pretty darn good safety. He's just never played much corner. That's what camp's about.''
This camp, in particular, is also about finding a backup at tailback to sophomore Noel Devine. And the possibilities are varied.
MORGANTOWN - Bill Stewart admits that some of his rookies might have to step up quickly to fill needs at two of West Virginia's thinnest positions - tailback on offense and cornerback on defense.
What came as a bit of a surprise during West Virginia's first fall practice Saturday, however, was who one of those rookies was - cornerback Brandon Hogan.
That's right, cornerback.
Hogan is no rookie, of course, having seen plenty of playing time last season as a true freshman slot receiver. But his move to defense in an effort to shore up one of the Mountaineers' most critical needs makes him just that.
"We moved Brandon Hogan just to look at him. We just don't have any corners,'' Stewart said. "Brandon Hogan could be a hit in the secondary or he could be back on offense [before long].''
Cornerback is problematic for the Mountaineers because the top three from last season - Larry Williams, Antonio Lewis and Vaughn Rivers - are gone. Those three played nearly 90 percent of the snaps in 2007.
Ellis Lankster and Kent Richardson are at the top of the depth chart to start camp, backed up by Guesly Dervil and Eddie Davis, the latter playing his third position (running back and wide receiver were the others) in a year. Of the four, only Lankster has significant experience. A junior college transfer expected to help, Brantwon Bowser, is out for the season with a knee injury.
Enter Hogan, who is perhaps the most versatile player on an entire roster made up of some pretty versatile players. A quarterback in high school, Hogan made an immediate impact last season as a slot receiver, playing in 10 games and catching 12 passes. He can also return kicks and even play quarterback in a real emergency.
With a wide array of players in the mix at slot receiver, though (Dorrell Jalloh, Jock Sanders and newcomer Mark Rodgers, among others), Stewart can afford to experiment early in camp and see if the 6-foot, 170-pound Hogan can fill a need.
"Do we have to have him to get through the year? No. Is it essential? No,'' Stewart said. "But [if it works out] it's just icing on the cake. He may end up getting a starting job. The guy's pretty special. He was a great high school cornerback and a pretty darn good safety. He's just never played much corner. That's what camp's about.''
This camp, in particular, is also about finding a backup at tailback to sophomore Noel Devine. And the possibilities are varied.
If the season began today, the job would fall to Sanders, the slot receiver. But Zach Hulse, Mark Rodgers and Terence Kerns provide three unique options. Hulse is a speedy junior college transfer with experience, Rodgers a fast freshman from California who didn't play football last year and Kerns a punishing 240-pound freshman.
Stewart admits that relying on untested players, especially freshmen, to prove themselves in just a few weeks can be frustrating.
"Will it come? We hope so,'' Stewart said. "Jock Sanders can play if we need to, but we need to have Zach Hulse, Mark Rodgers and Terence Kerns step up big. We'll throw everything at them in the next four days, see how they respond and then go back and teach them again and see what they can do.''
Stewart did manage to say, however, that much of his frustration over finding a backup tailback is that the starter, Devine, is so talented that everyone pales in comparison.
"[Devine] just spoils everything,'' Stewart said. "He's like my older brother, who could do everything. Compared to him I was the knucklehead.''
Briefly
Of the 104 players in camp for the first day, only All-America right tackle Ryan Stanchek didn't practice Saturday. "He's OK. He's just a little sick and I didn't want to put him out there and make him really sick,'' Stewart said. "We're not going to baby these guys. Ryan fought me on it. But I want him ready to go next week.''
Stewart raved about the overall effort of the defense. "I'm glad we didn't play our defense. We could have been in trouble,'' Stewart said. "They are very active. We didn't have pads on, but you can't coach effort. They either do it or they don't.''
Pat Liebig practiced, but is still awaiting word on his appeal for a sixth year of eligibility. The defensive lineman was turned down initially by the NCAA, but can appeal it as long as he continues to bring up relevant information. "A friend of mine got a sixth year [at Miami] last year and he didn't win his case until two days before the season started,'' Liebig said. "But I've been stressing out about it all weekend. I was supposed to find out Friday. They [the NCAA] aren't open today, are they?''
Aside from the tailbacks, the freshman with perhaps the best chance to play this season is 6-foot-6 safety Robert Sands. "Robert Sands looks like what [safeties] are supposed to look like,'' Stewart said. Now, can he do it? We'll see.''
One player not in camp is erstwhile star recruit Jason Gwaltney. Stewart said Gwaltney will report when the roster expands at the start of classes in two weeks and will be assigned to the scout team. Reach Dave Hickman at 348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.
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