Split-Squad Work Kicks Off Fall Training Camp for West Virginia

Photo by: Drew Mathis

Split-Squad Work Kicks Off Fall Training Camp for West Virginia

August 06, 2021 05:24 PM | Football, Blog

By: John Antonik

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Neal Brown jokingly calls day one of preseason football camp "flag football day," but his Mountaineer football team did get in some quality practice reps during this morning's split-squad workout.

Brown used split-squad practices last August as a safety precaution for the COVID-19 virus, but he said he is continuing them at the outset of camp this year because they have become a valuable teaching tool for his coaching staff.

Younger players who would not normally get physical practice reps are getting them now in this split-squad practice structure.

"The guys are out there for a shorter amount of time, but we get more total reps and our young guys, it really helps them because they get one-on-one coaching, and I think you always learn better by doing rather than by watching," Brown explained.

The coach noted a couple of special teams performers were discovered during split-squad work last year. Saturday's practice inside the stadium will be a full team workout with spectators who attend Fan Day encouraged to stick around to watch the morning practice.

Brown said the team will have a couple of additional split-squad workouts next week.

Three players were not suited up for today's practice – veteran tight end Mike O'Laughlin, who Brown said is dealing with a minor injury and was held out for precautionary reasons, freshman bandit safety Ja'Corey Hammett, who is still recovering from an ACL injury suffered in high school, and sophomore cornerback Naim Muhammad, who recently had offseason surgery and will be idle for a couple of weeks.

Brown also mentioned freshman running back Jaylen Anderson from Perry, Ohio, has not yet made it to campus.

"We're not sure when Jaylen will arrive," he said. "We're hopeful he will be here, but there are some clearinghouse things going on with him, and he's the only one not here right now."

On a positive note, senior place kicker Evan Staley was back out on the field nine months after suffering a serious knee injury in the Kansas State victory. Brown said veteran athletic trainer Vince Blankenship told him Staley's rapid recovery is one of the quickest he's ever seen from the type of injury he sustained.

Staley concluded the second split-squad workout by successfully converting his long field goal attempt.

Brown was asked about several transfers expected to help the team this year, including Spring Valley High's Doug Nester, who appears to have found a home at offensive guard. Last spring, the Virginia Tech transfer moved between guard and tackle.

"He's an extremely humble guy, and he wanted to make sure that he earned his spot," Brown said. "We bounced him around a lot at different positions, and I thought he was more confident today."

The four-year transfers on defense also look the part.

Brown said he likes the athleticism Penn State transfer Lance Dixon adds to the will linebackers. Maine transfer Deshawn Stevens gives the Mountaineers much-needed size at mike linebacker, while Tennessee transfer Darel Middleton brings additional size and experience to the interior line.

Middleton has only been in town for a couple of weeks, and Brown said he appears to be leaner than he was when he played last year at Tennessee.

Illinois State's Charles Woods is another four-year import who will provide immediate competition at the cornerback position.

"I like him because he's a quick learner," Brown said. "He loves football and just goes to work every day."

Hutchinson Community College transfer Caleb Coleman was also mentioned as a possibility in the secondary this fall. According to Brown, Coleman possesses good length and speed.

Overall, Brown indicated his team appears to be much longer and more athletic than his prior two West Virginia teams, particularly at outside wide receiver, defensive tackle and offensive line.

"Offensive line, we look a lot better," he said, adding, "we probably don't have all of the bodies we need there yet; we're probably still one recruiting class away from that. Defensively, we need to get some depth on the defensive line, but our first six guys we roll in there look the part.

"At linebacker, the additions we've made are guys that have length and size. In the secondary, our first group is experienced, and I think we've got a chance to be really good," he continued. "One of the things in camp is we've got to develop these young secondary guys in the second group. That's going to be critical, and they got a ton of reps today in the first practice. That's really going to be a defining group for how we go as a team this season."

Tomorrow's Fan Day is free to the general public and is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Milan Puskar Stadium's west concourse instead of inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility as in prior years.