Life as a Mountaineer – Josh Chandler
September 26, 2019 01:00 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – Josh Chandler was recruited to West Virginia University to become the next David Long Jr. in the Mountaineers' 3-3 stack defense, but he's adjusted well to Vic Koenning's new 4-2-5 scheme.
The sophomore linebacker from Canton, Ohio currently leads the team with 32 tackles through four games. That's 10 more than the next guy, senior cornerback Hakeem Bailey, who shows 10 stops.
Outside linebackers coach Al Pogue says Chandler has the qualities needed to be a successful college linebacker.
"He's a really coachable guy who wants to be good," Pogue says. "He's one of those guys you can coach hard and he's not going to take it personal and he's just an effort guy. He's always seeking improvement so that's what makes him very special."
"Last year I played but I didn't play a lot," Chandler added. "Just being able to have things in my control to where I can place my own impact on the game and can affect others and help out the team in a bigger role … (that) has been the biggest thing."
Chandler says you have to be fearless to play linebacker in college football. It's not for the meek and weak.
"You've got to know that you're running into somebody to stop their momentum," he explains. "You have no idea where they're going or what they're doing and you have to stop that. You've got to have the mentality to do that.
"Offense is cool but you've got to have a certain mentality to play defense and I just feel like it has always fit my personality," he adds.
"He's one of those kids you don't have to tell him to study or anything," Pogue says. "He always asks quality questions and he's very invested in trying to improve each week."
However, there is one area where Pogue would like to see Chandler improve. He needs to speak up a little bit more.
"He had to become a leader really quick. Of course everyone knows we're young and inexperienced as a whole defensively and he dove into that role. I had him out early and I talked to him because he leads by example and I told him he needs to be more vocal for our room and he's accepted that role," Pogue says.
And while that's still a work in progress, the strong relationship Chandler has with his mother, Meka, needs no nurturing. It's stronger than ever.
"My mom is probably the best thing in my life," he admits. "Our relationship is a lot tighter than a normal mother-son relationship because she had me at a young age. It's still in the same time frame so there are a lot of things me and my mom relate to. She's more like my best friend than my mom."
As for being the starting linebacker for the only Power 5 football program in West Virginia, Chandler considers that to be a supreme honor – a role he takes very seriously.
"No matter where you go there's nothing like West Virginia. We represent 1.8 million people and we're the only (Power 5 football program) they've got, so we've got to represent them well," he concluded.
This week's life of a Mountaineer was produced by Chris Ostien and is presented each week by Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.
The sophomore linebacker from Canton, Ohio currently leads the team with 32 tackles through four games. That's 10 more than the next guy, senior cornerback Hakeem Bailey, who shows 10 stops.
Outside linebackers coach Al Pogue says Chandler has the qualities needed to be a successful college linebacker.
"He's a really coachable guy who wants to be good," Pogue says. "He's one of those guys you can coach hard and he's not going to take it personal and he's just an effort guy. He's always seeking improvement so that's what makes him very special."
"Last year I played but I didn't play a lot," Chandler added. "Just being able to have things in my control to where I can place my own impact on the game and can affect others and help out the team in a bigger role … (that) has been the biggest thing."
Chandler says you have to be fearless to play linebacker in college football. It's not for the meek and weak.
"You've got to know that you're running into somebody to stop their momentum," he explains. "You have no idea where they're going or what they're doing and you have to stop that. You've got to have the mentality to do that.
"Offense is cool but you've got to have a certain mentality to play defense and I just feel like it has always fit my personality," he adds.
"He's one of those kids you don't have to tell him to study or anything," Pogue says. "He always asks quality questions and he's very invested in trying to improve each week."
However, there is one area where Pogue would like to see Chandler improve. He needs to speak up a little bit more.
"He had to become a leader really quick. Of course everyone knows we're young and inexperienced as a whole defensively and he dove into that role. I had him out early and I talked to him because he leads by example and I told him he needs to be more vocal for our room and he's accepted that role," Pogue says.
And while that's still a work in progress, the strong relationship Chandler has with his mother, Meka, needs no nurturing. It's stronger than ever.
"My mom is probably the best thing in my life," he admits. "Our relationship is a lot tighter than a normal mother-son relationship because she had me at a young age. It's still in the same time frame so there are a lot of things me and my mom relate to. She's more like my best friend than my mom."
As for being the starting linebacker for the only Power 5 football program in West Virginia, Chandler considers that to be a supreme honor – a role he takes very seriously.
"No matter where you go there's nothing like West Virginia. We represent 1.8 million people and we're the only (Power 5 football program) they've got, so we've got to represent them well," he concluded.
This week's life of a Mountaineer was produced by Chris Ostien and is presented each week by Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.
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