Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Avery Expected to Help Lead WVU’s Experienced Defense in ‘18
July 09, 2018 03:07 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Senior bandit safety Toyous Avery is one of nine returning players with starting experience on West Virginia's 2018 defense.
The Covington, Georgia, resident made five starts last year during an injury-interrupted campaign that saw him miss five games completely.
In those eight games, he made 20 tackles and broke up four passes.
Two years ago, he saw action in 11 games, including a start against Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl when he matched his season high with five tackles and knocked down a pass against the Hurricanes.
His first year in 2016 playing Big 12 football was a big eye-opener for him.
"When I saw a third-string receiver get in on first down and run a go route, and then the second stringer got in on second down and do it and then the first-string guy came in on third down and run another go route, that's when I was like 'wow,' he recalled.
Avery has now got 19 total games under his belt playing in Tony Gibson's Mountaineer defense after transferring from Coffeyville Community College where he spent the 2015 season.
Avery admitted that West Virginia's aggressive style of play was really appealing to him when he was considering other power five football programs to attend.
"When I was being recruited here and I saw the defense I fell in love with it," he said recently. "Why wouldn't a DB want to come here? It's a hard defense but you've just got to be gap sound."
There were instances last year when that wasn't always the case, mostly because of inexperience. West Virginia was working in a lot of young, unsure players and there were times when some of their inexperience showed up on the field.
"This is a gap-sound defense," Avery explained. "If we do what we're supposed to do I feel like we can do anything. We've got plenty of guys that know what they're doing, and I think we're going to have more guys this year not afraid to make plays, too. We've got guys up front that can make plays as well.
"We've just got to bring people along," Avery said of developing more depth this season. "I do extra film work with the younger guys and extra footwork because I want everybody to be on the same page. I don't want any slack off whenever (a starter) comes off the field."
Among the younger players Avery has been mentoring includes promising freshman bandit safety E.J. Brown, junior spur safety Jovanni Stewart and spring sensation Josh Norwood, who opened eyes with his hard-hitting, reckless-abandon style of play.
Norwood is listed behind Kenny Robinson at free safety, but he could also possibly play some bandit or even spur because of his willingness to mix it up. He's one of the young guys still learning how to play like a Mountaineer - which Avery is perfectly willing to teach.
"Really anybody, I encourage everybody to come," Avery said. "Whoever I see it's like, 'come on, you don't have a choice.'"
Avery said he's aware that most of the questions surrounding this year's team revolve around a defense that finished dead last in the Big 12 against the run and eighth in total yardage.
WVU was also near the bottom in points allowed, pass efficiency defense, sacks and turnover margin.
When you've got as many explosive playmakers as West Virginia has returning on offense, naturally the perceived weaknesses on defense are going to be magnified or embellished.
"Yeah, we'd be lying if we said we didn't (read about it)," he admitted. "We've got a big chip on our shoulders. That's why everything we do now is hard. We work hard. We've got a dog mentality."
There are some aspects of this year's defense that are a little underrated, specifically relating to its athleticism and overall speed.
This is one of the faster groups Gibson has assembled and there are some special things a fast defense can do.
Avery explains.
"It can eliminate sideline to sideline runs," he said. "If you try and run sideways it's not going to work because everybody is going to be there."
This year's defense is also unique in that all eight guys lined up behind the front three are very similar in size and athleticism. There will be times when the quarterback goes under center and is not sure who the linebackers and the safeties are or where they are lined up.
All three linebackers this year are athletic enough to play safety.
"I can't explain it but we're everywhere," Avery said. "You don't know what we're about to do. I just like it."
Getting a bunch of athletic, aggressive guys playing angry has always been the hallmark of Gibson's defenses. Play fast and be athletes out on the field.
"He puts you in the right positions," Avery explained. "He always tells us, 'Don't try and make off-the-wall plays. If you do your job the plays are going to come to you.'"
That's why proven, veteran players such as David Long Jr. are sometimes allowed to do a little bit of freelancing, as long as the guys behind him are capable of covering the areas he's supposed to cover.
And that's where experienced, solid veteran players such as Toyous Avery really come into play.
"See hole, hit the hole - get there," Avery said. "If you get there and you make the play that's good. What can we say? I've always got his back. I tell Dave all the time, 'Do your thing.'"
Avery said he hasn't seen enough yet of new additions Jabril Robinson and Kenny Bigelow Jr. to know for sure how they are going to impact this year's defense, but both clearly look the part during summer workouts.
"I just see what I see so far," he mentioned. "They are working hard. Why wouldn't they? We have instilled that work ethic and they could see that we work hard here, but they definitely pass the eye test."
As for the opener against Tennessee looming in less than 55 days, Avery said the guys are beginning to get anxious for training camp to arrive.
"We're always going to be hyped up for the first game," he said. "Any game, really, but I'm not going to say it's going to be easy getting ready for Tennessee. It's just a mindset we have. Every opponent, it's just the next game up.
"We're going to treat everybody like it's the hardest game," he concluded.
Not a bad idea.
The Covington, Georgia, resident made five starts last year during an injury-interrupted campaign that saw him miss five games completely.
In those eight games, he made 20 tackles and broke up four passes.
Two years ago, he saw action in 11 games, including a start against Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl when he matched his season high with five tackles and knocked down a pass against the Hurricanes.
His first year in 2016 playing Big 12 football was a big eye-opener for him.
"When I saw a third-string receiver get in on first down and run a go route, and then the second stringer got in on second down and do it and then the first-string guy came in on third down and run another go route, that's when I was like 'wow,' he recalled.
Avery has now got 19 total games under his belt playing in Tony Gibson's Mountaineer defense after transferring from Coffeyville Community College where he spent the 2015 season.
Avery admitted that West Virginia's aggressive style of play was really appealing to him when he was considering other power five football programs to attend.
"When I was being recruited here and I saw the defense I fell in love with it," he said recently. "Why wouldn't a DB want to come here? It's a hard defense but you've just got to be gap sound."
There were instances last year when that wasn't always the case, mostly because of inexperience. West Virginia was working in a lot of young, unsure players and there were times when some of their inexperience showed up on the field.
"This is a gap-sound defense," Avery explained. "If we do what we're supposed to do I feel like we can do anything. We've got plenty of guys that know what they're doing, and I think we're going to have more guys this year not afraid to make plays, too. We've got guys up front that can make plays as well.
"We've just got to bring people along," Avery said of developing more depth this season. "I do extra film work with the younger guys and extra footwork because I want everybody to be on the same page. I don't want any slack off whenever (a starter) comes off the field."
Among the younger players Avery has been mentoring includes promising freshman bandit safety E.J. Brown, junior spur safety Jovanni Stewart and spring sensation Josh Norwood, who opened eyes with his hard-hitting, reckless-abandon style of play.
Norwood is listed behind Kenny Robinson at free safety, but he could also possibly play some bandit or even spur because of his willingness to mix it up. He's one of the young guys still learning how to play like a Mountaineer - which Avery is perfectly willing to teach.
"Really anybody, I encourage everybody to come," Avery said. "Whoever I see it's like, 'come on, you don't have a choice.'"
Avery said he's aware that most of the questions surrounding this year's team revolve around a defense that finished dead last in the Big 12 against the run and eighth in total yardage.
WVU was also near the bottom in points allowed, pass efficiency defense, sacks and turnover margin.
When you've got as many explosive playmakers as West Virginia has returning on offense, naturally the perceived weaknesses on defense are going to be magnified or embellished.
"Yeah, we'd be lying if we said we didn't (read about it)," he admitted. "We've got a big chip on our shoulders. That's why everything we do now is hard. We work hard. We've got a dog mentality."
There are some aspects of this year's defense that are a little underrated, specifically relating to its athleticism and overall speed.
This is one of the faster groups Gibson has assembled and there are some special things a fast defense can do.
Avery explains.
"It can eliminate sideline to sideline runs," he said. "If you try and run sideways it's not going to work because everybody is going to be there."
This year's defense is also unique in that all eight guys lined up behind the front three are very similar in size and athleticism. There will be times when the quarterback goes under center and is not sure who the linebackers and the safeties are or where they are lined up.
All three linebackers this year are athletic enough to play safety.
"I can't explain it but we're everywhere," Avery said. "You don't know what we're about to do. I just like it."
Getting a bunch of athletic, aggressive guys playing angry has always been the hallmark of Gibson's defenses. Play fast and be athletes out on the field.
"He puts you in the right positions," Avery explained. "He always tells us, 'Don't try and make off-the-wall plays. If you do your job the plays are going to come to you.'"
That's why proven, veteran players such as David Long Jr. are sometimes allowed to do a little bit of freelancing, as long as the guys behind him are capable of covering the areas he's supposed to cover.
And that's where experienced, solid veteran players such as Toyous Avery really come into play.
"See hole, hit the hole - get there," Avery said. "If you get there and you make the play that's good. What can we say? I've always got his back. I tell Dave all the time, 'Do your thing.'"
Avery said he hasn't seen enough yet of new additions Jabril Robinson and Kenny Bigelow Jr. to know for sure how they are going to impact this year's defense, but both clearly look the part during summer workouts.
"I just see what I see so far," he mentioned. "They are working hard. Why wouldn't they? We have instilled that work ethic and they could see that we work hard here, but they definitely pass the eye test."
As for the opener against Tennessee looming in less than 55 days, Avery said the guys are beginning to get anxious for training camp to arrive.
"We're always going to be hyped up for the first game," he said. "Any game, really, but I'm not going to say it's going to be easy getting ready for Tennessee. It's just a mindset we have. Every opponent, it's just the next game up.
"We're going to treat everybody like it's the hardest game," he concluded.
Not a bad idea.
Players Mentioned
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