MORGANTOWN - West Virginia coach Bill Stewart was simply going over the injury report.
MORGANTOWN - West Virginia coach Bill Stewart was simply going over the injury report.
Standard fare during his daily press conference.
When he decided to address linebacker Najee Goode.
And that standard fare became delicious for those seeking camp news.
"Najee Goode dislocated his finger,'' Stewart said. "[But] you can't keep him out. I mean this guy is a man just roaming the sideline to hit people.
"No. 52, Najee Goode.''
Got that?
If you look at the school's media guide, you won't see much in Goode's bio. "Adds depth at the weak-side linebacker position,'' says the guide. It adds he "looks to compete for playing time this season.''
Filler stuff, right?
But Goode seems poised to rewrite that bio. And Stewart would happily author that rewrite.
"I'll tell you what, he's having a hell of a camp,'' said the coach.
You read correctly. A helluva camp. Coach Stew was moved to those words by the 6-foot-1, 242-pound redshirt freshman from Cleveland.
"He's awesome,'' Stewart continued. "He's as good as any scholarship kid out there we're recruiting. If he stays healthy, he's going to play a lot of football for the Mountaineers. A bunch of football for the Mountaineers.''
The question is: where? WVU is loaded at linebacker, especially if Reed Williams is healthy.
"Middle linebacker or Sam behind Mortty Ivy,'' said the coach.
nn
Goode isn't the only one catching the attention of coaches. Offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen on Wednesday pointed to a tiny athlete from Lawndale, Calif.
"I really like what Mark Rodgers is doing,'' said Mullen. "He came in here this summer and it really shows. You can see his knowledge of the offense.
"We've been using him as a slot and tailback, two different positions, which is difficult. But he's exciting to watch.''
nn
The whispers from the previous coaching staff were that true freshman Tyler Urban would be used as the next Owen Schmidt.
Mullen, however, sees Urban in a different light.
"Urban is more of a tight end,'' Mullen said Wednesday. "Owen was more of a fullback. Urban is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound kid who runs vertically more than laterally.
"He's a corner-route-running guy. Owen was more of a blocking type of guy. Urban is more of a line kind of guy. Owen was a backfield kind of guy.''
Camp notes
Pat Liebig's first day of true eligibility was spent in a green jersey, which limited contact.
WVU is planning a dress rehearsal of sorts this weekend. On Friday, the team will go to Washington, Pa., stay in a hotel and rehearse a road trip.
"We learn how to get on a bus, where people are supposed to sit ... and how to act,'' said Stewart. "When we go on a road trip as West Virginia University, it's a business trip. This isn't a pleasure-seeking joy ride.''
A freshman-oriented "Gong Show'' is also planned.
On Wednesday, WVU's team went in full pads with officials. "I was pleased with the hitting,'' said the coach. "We're really popping each other. We had two pro scouts here and usually they want to come up and ask how's this guy or that. This time they said, 'Gee whiz, your guys know how to practice.' ''
The Mountaineers had a scrimmage of "over 60 plays'' that Stewart called intense. He complimented Noel Devine, Pat White, Jock Sanders and, defensively, Mortty Ivy, Pat Lazear and the defensive line, including Larry Ford, who, the coach said, is beginning to "catch [the staff's] eye.''
He said a Brandon Hogan hard tackle on a screen was "big time.''
In case you're wondering, 6-6 freshman defensive back Robert Sands is the real deal. Whenever he gets a little more meat on the upper body, watch out.
The praise keeps rolling in for Devine.
"He practices so hard,'' Stewart said. "I've seen some great tailbacks, going back to 1979 when, at the University of North Carolina, we had Famous Amos Lawrence. Then Kelvin Bryant and Napoleon McCallum at Navy. This guy [Devine] works as hard as any of them.''
And finally . . .
In regard to injuries, H-back Will Johnson was back on the field Wednesday, although he wasn't allowed contact. Guesly Dervil's finger is still jammed. Williams, WVU's leading tackler from last season, is still under an injury "watch'' after off-season shoulder surgery, according to Stewart.
Reach sports editor Mitch Vingle
at 348-4827 or mitchvin...@wvgazette.com.
MORGANTOWN - West Virginia coach Bill Stewart was simply going over the injury report.
Standard fare during his daily press conference.
When he decided to address linebacker Najee Goode.
And that standard fare became delicious for those seeking camp news.
"Najee Goode dislocated his finger,'' Stewart said. "[But] you can't keep him out. I mean this guy is a man just roaming the sideline to hit people.
"No. 52, Najee Goode.''
Got that?
If you look at the school's media guide, you won't see much in Goode's bio. "Adds depth at the weak-side linebacker position,'' says the guide. It adds he "looks to compete for playing time this season.''
Filler stuff, right?
But Goode seems poised to rewrite that bio. And Stewart would happily author that rewrite.
"I'll tell you what, he's having a hell of a camp,'' said the coach.
You read correctly. A helluva camp. Coach Stew was moved to those words by the 6-foot-1, 242-pound redshirt freshman from Cleveland.
"He's awesome,'' Stewart continued. "He's as good as any scholarship kid out there we're recruiting. If he stays healthy, he's going to play a lot of football for the Mountaineers. A bunch of football for the Mountaineers.''
The question is: where? WVU is loaded at linebacker, especially if Reed Williams is healthy.
"Middle linebacker or Sam behind Mortty Ivy,'' said the coach.
nn
Goode isn't the only one catching the attention of coaches. Offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen on Wednesday pointed to a tiny athlete from Lawndale, Calif.
"I really like what Mark Rodgers is doing,'' said Mullen. "He came in here this summer and it really shows. You can see his knowledge of the offense.
"We've been using him as a slot and tailback, two different positions, which is difficult. But he's exciting to watch.''
nn
The whispers from the previous coaching staff were that true freshman Tyler Urban would be used as the next Owen Schmidt.
Mullen, however, sees Urban in a different light.
"Urban is more of a tight end,'' Mullen said Wednesday. "Owen was more of a fullback. Urban is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound kid who runs vertically more than laterally.
"He's a corner-route-running guy. Owen was more of a blocking type of guy. Urban is more of a line kind of guy. Owen was a backfield kind of guy.''
Camp notes
Pat Liebig's first day of true eligibility was spent in a green jersey, which limited contact.
WVU is planning a dress rehearsal of sorts this weekend. On Friday, the team will go to Washington, Pa., stay in a hotel and rehearse a road trip.
"We learn how to get on a bus, where people are supposed to sit ... and how to act,'' said Stewart. "When we go on a road trip as West Virginia University, it's a business trip. This isn't a pleasure-seeking joy ride.''
A freshman-oriented "Gong Show'' is also planned.
On Wednesday, WVU's team went in full pads with officials. "I was pleased with the hitting,'' said the coach. "We're really popping each other. We had two pro scouts here and usually they want to come up and ask how's this guy or that. This time they said, 'Gee whiz, your guys know how to practice.' ''
The Mountaineers had a scrimmage of "over 60 plays'' that Stewart called intense. He complimented Noel Devine, Pat White, Jock Sanders and, defensively, Mortty Ivy, Pat Lazear and the defensive line, including Larry Ford, who, the coach said, is beginning to "catch [the staff's] eye.''
He said a Brandon Hogan hard tackle on a screen was "big time.''
In case you're wondering, 6-6 freshman defensive back Robert Sands is the real deal. Whenever he gets a little more meat on the upper body, watch out.
The praise keeps rolling in for Devine.
"He practices so hard,'' Stewart said. "I've seen some great tailbacks, going back to 1979 when, at the University of North Carolina, we had Famous Amos Lawrence. Then Kelvin Bryant and Napoleon McCallum at Navy. This guy [Devine] works as hard as any of them.''
And finally . . .
In regard to injuries, H-back Will Johnson was back on the field Wednesday, although he wasn't allowed contact. Guesly Dervil's finger is still jammed. Williams, WVU's leading tackler from last season, is still under an injury "watch'' after off-season shoulder surgery, according to Stewart.
Reach sports editor Mitch Vingle
at 348-4827 or mitchvin...@wvgazette.com.
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