Looking ahead to next year----CB

[DCWV4life]

It’s the Big 12. You need 4 solid corners.

WVU will probably lose 2 corners.
1. Banks. 8 games. 3 starts. He was the 3rd corner on this team. He started the 2 games (OU and KU) when Worley was out and the 1 game (OSU) when Chestnut was out. He was dependable but not great. 19 tackles, 0 INT, 1 PBU on the year. WVU is not losing an NFL corner but he had 44 games under his belt.
2. Napoleon. Played 10 games on special teams in 2013 as a redshirt freshman. Sat out this season with a knee injury. Rumor is that he is leaving the team. Not sure if transferring or not playing football.

WVU is returning both starters.
1. Worley jr. Started 10 games. Despite being suspended 2 games he was 5th on the team in tackles and led the team with 3 INT. Good player but not quite elite yet. When matched up against NFL talent this year he didn’t quite hold his own. But this was his first season as a full time CB.
2. Chestnut r-sr. Similar to Banks. Dependable but not a difference maker. 26 career games with 17 starts. He had 1 INT last season and 5 PBU which was 2nd to KJ Dillon.

WVU needs to find 2 more guys out of this group.
3. Rumph sr. He has bounced between corner and safety. Plays a lot of special teams. Has played in 30 games. Played all 12 games this year and had 1 INT. Was forced into action in the Baylor game when Worley and Chestnut were out and played well.
4. Myers r-sr. Was a JUCO All-American but didn’t qualify until the close of fall camp. Was forced into action but did not play that well. Played 9 games but didn’t have an INT or PBU. Looked slower than advertised. However, now the team has bowl practice, spring, and fall camp to actually teach him the defense. Has “Worley” type of length at 6-2, 195.
5. Kyeremeh r-jr. Played 13 games and started 1 as a true freshman in 2012. Injured all of 2013. Had injuries this year as well and only got in 3 games.
6. Richardson r-sr. Was a JUCO transfer that the coaches liked in spring and fall camp. Suffered an injury to start the season and only got into 1 game (Iowa. St.)


WVU did not sign any freshman CB last year. But going hard after them this year. Here are the 4 commits.
7. Tyrek Cole. Miramar guy. #11 by Scout. #9 by ESPN. Recruited by Alabama, Auburn, Florida St., LSU, Ohio St. etc. 103rd best player according to ESPN. If WVU lands him he has a shot to be the 3rd or 4th CB right away.
8. Antonio Howard. #106 by Scout. #97 ESPN. Penn St and Clemson also interested.
9. Jordan Adams. #58 best ATH by ESPN. Could be a WR as well. V-Tech and Wisconsin offered.
10. Jacquez Adams. #71 ATH by ESPN. Only other offer was Wisconsin. Not as highly recruited as a WR/DB as his brother. Probably because he was playing QB at his high school.


The good news is that WVU returns its top 2 CB and all the backups are upperclassman. WVU just needs to develop 2 more veteran guys to get through next season or land/develop some of these high schoolers.

 

[Anotherwvufan]

good assessment. After our top 3, there appeared to be a significant dropoff. Without Chestnutt or Worley in the KSt game, nobody could cover Lockett. Alot of pressure was put on this group as our Dline could not get to the QB and we had to blitz to get any pressure in many games. They were often put out on an island and did well. For the most part, Worley and Chestnutt were solid, but not shutdown, corners. If we can learn to pressure the QB next year, they could end up being shutdown corners.

I could see Cole possibly breaking into this group if he is as good as advertised with Nana or Myers making up that finishing out the top 4. I don't think that Rumph has the cover skills or speed to be a difference maker.