MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Neal Brown’s first team at West Virginia already has a different feel before playing its first game.
Following a spate of summer additions – and, of course, a few subtractions – Brown felt a different vibe as the Mountaineers opened fall camp Friday morning.
“We didn’t have the level of energy I wanted to have in spring,” Brown said. “Really, we had dangerous depth at some positions. We look like a different football team than we did in the spring.”
Brown feels the Mountaineers have upgraded the most at wide receiver with the additions of Temple transfer Sean Ryan and Florida State transfer George Campbell.
“We needed another body that could play. At receiver, we weren’t good enough in the spring,” Brown said. “I basically said that all spring. We’re significantly better at that position.”
As a graduate transfer, Campbell is eligible to play immediately. Ryan, who left Temple following two coaching changes, is still awaiting word from the NCAA on whether he has to sit out this season. Ryan is entering his sophomore season.
Campbell signed with Florida State as the tenth-ranked wide receiver in the country in 2015, but multiple injuries limited his ability to get on the field as more blue-chippers arrived to pass him on the depth chart.
“He has a ton of potential, and been here all summer,” Brown said. “He’s got great energy. Been part of a winning program. New opportunity for him, really a chance at redemption for his career. He’s got a chance to end it successfully.”
Campbell is 6-foot-4 and Ryan is 6-3, which helps replace some of the length that was lost with Gary Jennings and David Sills graduating.
“We needed length,” Brown said. “We went from not very big at wideout to where now we have some significant length.”
Brown wanted Campbell in part because there are no other seniors playing receiver. It’s a similar story along the defensive line, where West Virginia brought in Michigan transfer Reuben Jones to help lone senior Reese Donahue.
“When we look at these transfers, they have the talent, but they also add something to our locker room,” Brown said. “Reuben, like George, is a juice guy.”
Brown said that Jones has the ability to play end or tackle, but his intangibles stick out even more than his versatility.
“Jones is a high-effort guy. He played in limited role at Michigan last year but you could see that he’s extremely active on film,” Brown said. “We just didn’t have a lot of guys in that room that were bouncing around. Guys that show up smiling every day. When the weight room opens up, they’re the first ones there. The first ones out in juice squad. They set the tone with the energy level. We have that with him.”
New additions
West Virginia players added since spring practice
Senior WR George Campbell (Florida State)
Sophomore WR Sean Ryan (Temple)
Senior DL Reuben Jones (Michigan)
Senior CB Alonzo Addae (New Hampshire)
“He will sit out this year as a redshirt. He has the flexibility to play multiple positions but work at corner now.”
Junior QB Jarrett Doege (Bowling Green)
“He’s a two-year starter. His numbers are really good. I’ve known his family a long time. I’m excited about getting him here.”
Sophomore S Noah Guzman (Cerritos CC)
“We needed depth at safety. We’ll count on him for depth and to help us on special teams.”
Sophomore OL John Hughes (Navarro JC)
“He’s got versatility to play guard or tackle. He moves well, he’s strong. I like his work ethic. He will help us immediately.”
Walk-ons
Freshman OL Nick Malone (Morgantown)
“He got some reps with the twos today. He’s extremely athletic.”
Freshman WR Graeson Malashevich (Spring Valley)
“You talk about someone who has turned players’ heads all summer. He’s come in and worked extremely hard. You could see why he was one of the top players in the state of West Virginia.”
Junior FB Jackson Knipper (Western Michigan)
“He’s a blocking back who has a chance to get in the mix for us.”
