Post by WVUfanPHILLY on Aug 15, 2007 19:36:43 GMT -5
By MICKEY FURFARI, For The Inter-Mountain
MORGANTOWN — Dorrell Jalloh hopes to earn more playing time as a wide receiver for West Virginia’s football team this fall. The 6-0, 195-pound junior from Greensboro, N.C., started only two games last season, but played in all 13 as the Mountaineers posted an 11-3 record and finished No. 10 in the two major national polls. “Coach (Rich) Rodriguez knows he can put me in at any of the four positions and make plays,” Jalloh said. “I study the playbook and practice hard on blocking and running the routes. “We’re just trying to become more consistent with everything we do. We go out there, to be persistent and not quit. That’s what Coach (Tony) Dews keeps telling everyone. “ ‘Don’t be a quitter. Don’t hear the whistle (in practice). Play fast and keep going.’ We do a lot of extra drills.”
Jalloh, a dependable blocker on the perimeter and a deep threat for passes, said there’s little difference whether you’re playing on one side or the other.
“As long as you know X and Z, you can play both sides. But I can play any position. Outside routes are pretty much the same as the inside routes.”
He thinks if a wideout can understand the concept of which way to go, things will work out nicely for him.
There’s hardly any shortage of wide receivers per se. But the competition should be keener than it has ever been.
Running backs also are taking reps as slot receivers. So are quarterbacks Adam Bednarik and Nate Sowers, who will see action in those roles if not needed in the backfield.
Rodriguez says repeatedly that he wants to try to get the best 11 athletes on the field whenever possible.
In all, Jalloh has appeared in 24 games — nine as a starter. He caught seven passes for 124 yards last season after getting three receptions for 66 yards and one touchdown in 2005 as a freshman.
He was credited with eight knockdowns as a blocker in 2006, despite being hampered by an early-season stress fracture.
He had a pair of catches for 22 yards in the 24-19 loss to South Florida, but he came up big in the 41-39 triple-overtime victory over Rutgers.
Besides four receptions for 92 yards in that thriller, Jalloh caught the game-winning two-point conversion from quarterback Jarrett Brown in the third extra period.
Contact The Inter-Mountain at our two locations.
520 Railroad Ave., PO Box 1339
Elkins, WV 26241
Phone: 304.636.2127
Fax: 304.636.8252
40 East Main Street, PO Box 2076
Buckhannon, WV 26201
Phone: 304.472.8302
Fax: 304.472.6416
MORGANTOWN — Dorrell Jalloh hopes to earn more playing time as a wide receiver for West Virginia’s football team this fall. The 6-0, 195-pound junior from Greensboro, N.C., started only two games last season, but played in all 13 as the Mountaineers posted an 11-3 record and finished No. 10 in the two major national polls. “Coach (Rich) Rodriguez knows he can put me in at any of the four positions and make plays,” Jalloh said. “I study the playbook and practice hard on blocking and running the routes. “We’re just trying to become more consistent with everything we do. We go out there, to be persistent and not quit. That’s what Coach (Tony) Dews keeps telling everyone. “ ‘Don’t be a quitter. Don’t hear the whistle (in practice). Play fast and keep going.’ We do a lot of extra drills.”
Jalloh, a dependable blocker on the perimeter and a deep threat for passes, said there’s little difference whether you’re playing on one side or the other.
“As long as you know X and Z, you can play both sides. But I can play any position. Outside routes are pretty much the same as the inside routes.”
He thinks if a wideout can understand the concept of which way to go, things will work out nicely for him.
There’s hardly any shortage of wide receivers per se. But the competition should be keener than it has ever been.
Running backs also are taking reps as slot receivers. So are quarterbacks Adam Bednarik and Nate Sowers, who will see action in those roles if not needed in the backfield.
Rodriguez says repeatedly that he wants to try to get the best 11 athletes on the field whenever possible.
In all, Jalloh has appeared in 24 games — nine as a starter. He caught seven passes for 124 yards last season after getting three receptions for 66 yards and one touchdown in 2005 as a freshman.
He was credited with eight knockdowns as a blocker in 2006, despite being hampered by an early-season stress fracture.
He had a pair of catches for 22 yards in the 24-19 loss to South Florida, but he came up big in the 41-39 triple-overtime victory over Rutgers.
Besides four receptions for 92 yards in that thriller, Jalloh caught the game-winning two-point conversion from quarterback Jarrett Brown in the third extra period.
Contact The Inter-Mountain at our two locations.
520 Railroad Ave., PO Box 1339
Elkins, WV 26241
Phone: 304.636.2127
Fax: 304.636.8252
40 East Main Street, PO Box 2076
Buckhannon, WV 26201
Phone: 304.472.8302
Fax: 304.472.6416
