Post by WVUfanPHILLY on Aug 15, 2007 0:37:06 GMT -5
Top recruit is one of several WVU true freshmen up for playing time
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
MORGANTOWN — Rich Rodriguez isn’t ready to declare any of his true freshman as fit and ready to play, but toward the end of West Virginia’s first week of preseason camp he admits that a handful are already pushing hard.
And, yes, that includes Noel Devine.
Rodriguez said Thursday between practices that Devine — the much-heralded freshman from North Fort Myers, Fla. — and fellow Floridian Jock Sanders are both pushing veterans for the backup tailback spot behind consensus All-America Steve Slaton.
Junior Ed Collington and redshirt freshman Eddie Davis entered camp as the top two contenders for the spot, which can also be manned by fullback Owen Schmitt.
“It’s still wide open,’’ Rodriguez said. “Besides Steve, we know Owen can play there some. But a couple of those freshmen, Devine and Jock Sanders, are going to push Eddie Davis and Collington. We haven’t had a scrimmage yet and only one day of pads, but it’s still wide open.’’
And when will a decision be made?
“It could happen by the first [game], it could happen by October, it could change in November,’’ Rodriguez said. “It’s kind of day to day.’’
Indeed, playing time for Devine and Sanders will certainly depend upon their progress in camp and beyond, and if they aren’t ready by the Sept. 1 opener against Western Michigan it doesn’t mean either or both will be redshirted. Slaton, for example, played sparingly the first part of his freshman season in 2005 before bursting through in the fifth game of the season against Virginia Tech. He was the starter the next week and ever since.
So what has Rodriguez seen so far in Devine, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound speedster?
“Like a lot of great backs he has the ability to make somebody miss and be able to get to a small space and make positive yards,’’ Rodriguez said. “He’s not a big guy, but he’s a pretty explosive runner.’’
Sanders, too, has come on of late. Another small back at 5-8 and 185 pounds, he had worked primarily as a slot receiver until the past few days, when he was tried more at tailback.
“He’s a kid in high school who played a little bit of everything and he seems like he’s a natural there,’’ Rodriguez said. “They’re both little guys. They’d have a hard time seeing over this podium. But they run hard and they’re learning pretty quick.
“We always have to temper our enthusiasm because as a freshman they haven’t been in the bright lights and they’re still figuring out what’s going on. But they’re willing to go in there and mix it up. And that’s a good thing.’’
Those aren’t the only two freshmen in the mix on offense. Brandon Hogan, a 6-foot, 175-pounder who played quarterback at Osbourn High in Manassas, Va., is heavily in the mix at slot receiver, as is 6-2, 200-pound Will Johnson, from Dayton, Ohio, at wide receiver.
Both seem virtually certain to play.
“[Hogan is] learning some of the concepts as quickly as any freshman we’ve had at the slot,’’ Rodriguez said. “He can play [both] slot positions already, I believe. He’ll make some mistakes. We could probably throw him in at quarterback. He knows some of the reads because he played in a very similar system in high school and he’s just a kid that understands football. I’ve been very impressed with him so far.’’
© Copyright 1996-2007 The Charleston Gazette
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
MORGANTOWN — Rich Rodriguez isn’t ready to declare any of his true freshman as fit and ready to play, but toward the end of West Virginia’s first week of preseason camp he admits that a handful are already pushing hard.
And, yes, that includes Noel Devine.
Rodriguez said Thursday between practices that Devine — the much-heralded freshman from North Fort Myers, Fla. — and fellow Floridian Jock Sanders are both pushing veterans for the backup tailback spot behind consensus All-America Steve Slaton.
Junior Ed Collington and redshirt freshman Eddie Davis entered camp as the top two contenders for the spot, which can also be manned by fullback Owen Schmitt.
“It’s still wide open,’’ Rodriguez said. “Besides Steve, we know Owen can play there some. But a couple of those freshmen, Devine and Jock Sanders, are going to push Eddie Davis and Collington. We haven’t had a scrimmage yet and only one day of pads, but it’s still wide open.’’
And when will a decision be made?
“It could happen by the first [game], it could happen by October, it could change in November,’’ Rodriguez said. “It’s kind of day to day.’’
Indeed, playing time for Devine and Sanders will certainly depend upon their progress in camp and beyond, and if they aren’t ready by the Sept. 1 opener against Western Michigan it doesn’t mean either or both will be redshirted. Slaton, for example, played sparingly the first part of his freshman season in 2005 before bursting through in the fifth game of the season against Virginia Tech. He was the starter the next week and ever since.
So what has Rodriguez seen so far in Devine, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound speedster?
“Like a lot of great backs he has the ability to make somebody miss and be able to get to a small space and make positive yards,’’ Rodriguez said. “He’s not a big guy, but he’s a pretty explosive runner.’’
Sanders, too, has come on of late. Another small back at 5-8 and 185 pounds, he had worked primarily as a slot receiver until the past few days, when he was tried more at tailback.
“He’s a kid in high school who played a little bit of everything and he seems like he’s a natural there,’’ Rodriguez said. “They’re both little guys. They’d have a hard time seeing over this podium. But they run hard and they’re learning pretty quick.
“We always have to temper our enthusiasm because as a freshman they haven’t been in the bright lights and they’re still figuring out what’s going on. But they’re willing to go in there and mix it up. And that’s a good thing.’’
Those aren’t the only two freshmen in the mix on offense. Brandon Hogan, a 6-foot, 175-pounder who played quarterback at Osbourn High in Manassas, Va., is heavily in the mix at slot receiver, as is 6-2, 200-pound Will Johnson, from Dayton, Ohio, at wide receiver.
Both seem virtually certain to play.
“[Hogan is] learning some of the concepts as quickly as any freshman we’ve had at the slot,’’ Rodriguez said. “He can play [both] slot positions already, I believe. He’ll make some mistakes. We could probably throw him in at quarterback. He knows some of the reads because he played in a very similar system in high school and he’s just a kid that understands football. I’ve been very impressed with him so far.’’
© Copyright 1996-2007 The Charleston Gazette
