Scouting WVU: Defense

Bruce Irvin will be chasing down Daniels all evening (or whoever the starter is for USF)

The Mountaineers bring the unique 3-3-5 scheme to the field, going with only 3 down linemen, 3 linebackers, and loading the secondary with 5 players to play both zone and man coverage, causing a lot of issues for opposing offenses. Whether Daniels or Eveld gets the start, it will be a hard test throwing into that secondary.

Defensive Line

Junior Jorge Wright (6-2 264-pounds) gets the start at defensive tackle. He has 35 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks on the season. Senior Josh Taylor (6-1 278-pounds) has 9 tackles and a half tackle for loss as the back-up. Senior Julian Miller (6-4 260-pounds) is the other starting defensive tackle. He has 51 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks on the season. Junior J.B. Lageman (6-3 258-pounds) has 4 tackles as a reserve this season. Senior Bruce Irvin (6-3 235-pounds) is the starting defensive end. He has 38 tackles on the season, 13.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks on the season. He is one of the most dangerous pass rushers on the WVU team. Sophomore Will Clarke (6-6 265-pounds) has 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks on the season as his key reserve.

Linebackers

Freshman Jared Barber (6-1 215-pounds) is the starter at outside linebacker. He has 16 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. His key back-up is sophomore Doug Rigg (6-1 215-pounds) who has 24 tackles and 3 tackles for loss on the season. Senior Najee Goode (6-1 238-pounds) has 77 tackles on the season, including 11.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and one interception on the season (watch out for him). Freshman Jewone Snow (6-3 230-pounds) has 41 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks on the season, helping Goode lock down the center of the field. Senior Casey Vance (5-9 227-pounds) is the other starting linebacker. He has 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a half sack on the season. Junior Josh Francis (6-2 215-pounds) has 9 tackles on the season as a reserve.

Secondary

Senior Keith Tandy (5-10 198-pounds) is one of the starting corners. He has 54 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, and has broken up 9 passes on the season (good luck throwing on him). Freshman Ishmael Banks (6-0 185-pounds) has 8 tackles on the season. The other starting corner is sophomore Broderick Jenkins (5-10 182-pounds) who has 18 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions. The other key player that could get the start is junior Pat Miller (5-10 183-pounds) who has 63 tackles and 1.5 tackles on the season (big time tackling machine).

Senior Terence Garvin (6-3 215-pounds) is one of the starting safeties (use three of them on the field). He has 69 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions on the season. Sophomore Mike Dorsey (6-3 210-pounds) is his back-up. Senior Eain Smith (5-11 204-pounds) has 58 tackles, 1.5 tackles, and one interception as the other starter. Junior Matt Moro (5-11 190-pounds) has 3 tackles as the back-up. Sophomore Darwin Cook (5-11 205-pounds) has 77 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass break-ups on the season (big time player). Freshman Wes Tonkery (6-1 190-pounds) has 4 tackles and 1 tackle for loss as the back-up.